Chapter Twenty-One
Mason
Fuck me.
I have no idea what the hell Katia thinks she’s doing, but it’s only making me want to punish her more.
That’s because you weren’t hard enough on her the past few times.
Letting her off the hook for not stopping London when she wanted to see her father was one thing.
I can even understand why she didn’t step in with Noah at the club since London insisted on taking care of things herself.
But bringing London here, to her ex-boyfriend’s house, is almost like Katia wanted me to rain down fire and brimstone.
It is taking every ounce of self-control I have not to drag her into the nearest back alley and unleash my fury.
My fingers itch with the desire to inflict pain.
I haven’t spent the past forty-five minutes telling myself to remain calm and collected just to have them barge in here and fuck it all up.
Any earlier fuzzy feelings I had toward London’s selfless diner offer quickly evaporate.
You didn’t honestly think she would stay put, did you? You know her better than that.
I should’ve known she’d get through to Katia, who has developed a soft spot for London, much to my chagrin.
What the hell do I do now?
“Katia, lower the gun.”
“You’re supposed to be helping,” London adds. “What are you doing?”
Katia yanks Noah backward and forces him back into the chair. Then she towers over him, a familiar, deadly gleam in her eyes. “I’m taking care of the problem.”
“That’s not why we’re here,” London protests. She holds her hands up on either side of her and tries to remain calm. “He hasn’t done anything.”
Katia’s eyes darken. “If that’s what you need to convince yourself, that’s on you, Blondie. You’re too blinded by your feelings.”
“But—”
“That’s why you’re here,” Katia interrupts. “I’m here to bring a stop to this.”
The color drains from London’s face. “What is that supposed to mean?”
Katia raises an eyebrow. “You’re not stupid, Blondie, so don’t act like it. You know who I am and what I do.”
London swallows. “But he’s not—”
Katia taps the gun against Noah’s temple, and he winces. “I don’t give a shit what you think. As far as I’m concerned, he’s a loose end, and I’ve been dying to get my hands on him for months.”
I cover the space between us and wait for Katia to look at me. “I’m still questioning him. Now, lower the gun before I make you.”
Katia quirks a brow. “He should be bleeding and begging for his life, and you know it.”
Katia knows me better than most people, and she’s been to her fair share of interrogations.
She knows every trick up my sleeve, and she knows why I’m holding back.
Because I can’t stop replaying London’s words on a loop in my head.
I’m terrified that if I lay a finger on him, that will be what makes her leave.
Even now, he can’t stop screwing with us.
Fucking Noah.
You know what needs to be done. Quit stalling and do what you’ve been trained to do.
“I’m getting to that part,” I respond. “But he’s mine to question, not yours.”
“He’s going to deny it,” Katia says.
“Yes.”
“I didn’t do anything,” Noah sputters. “I don’t know how reporters and journalists wound up at your estate.”
I turn to Noah. “So, your brother looking into me is just a coincidence?”
Bullshit.
Noah is hiding something, and if I have to spend days waiting him out, I’ll do what needs to be done.
But I can’t do it with London standing a few feet away, looking like she’s going to be sick all over the hardwood floors.
A muscle ticks in Noah’s jaw. “I already told you that I didn’t…”
He trails off, and a flicker of something jumps into his eyes.
In one quick move, I snatch the gun out of Katia’s hand and inch closer. “You fucking said something.”
Panic springs to Noah’s eyes, and he swallows. “I was just venting about what happened between London and me. Ryder and I hadn’t seen each other in years, and I was so angry…”
“Noah.” London’s voice catches toward the end. “What did you do?”
“I swear, I didn’t think he was even listening, Lo. I told you how Ryder is. You know how self-involved he is.”
I withdraw the gun and use the butt to smack the side of his head. “And you’re a self-absorbed moron. What did you think would happen?”
Noah clenches his jaw and turns back to me. “I wasn’t thinking.”
I draw the gun back again, but London’s sharp cry stops me.
I know what I need to do, but I can’t bring myself to do it.
Noah has been a nuisance since the moment I first laid eyes on him, but of all the scenarios I expected, an accidental slipup wasn’t one of them.
Jesus.
How can I enjoy making him pay now?
“I wasn’t behind the kidnapping,” Noah adds when the silence stretches on for too long. “But I remember overhearing them when they were holding your father and I, Lo. The kidnappers were talking about someone else. Someone on the inside—”
“You’re not telling us something we don’t already know, Nolan,” I bite out. “If I’m going to let you walk out of here, you’d better give me something good.”
Noah’s eyes flash. “What the fuck do you want from me? I don’t know anything.”
“You have until the count of five.” I slowly remove the safety on my gun, roll my shoulders, and sigh. “One.”
Noah throws his hands up in the air. “Jesus. Fuck, man. You won already. Isn’t that enough?”
“Two.”
“It’s not enough that you got her.” The words pour out of Noah in a rush. “Why is it so important to you that I’m out of the picture?”
“Three.”
“Mason.” London appears next to me and clears her throat. “He didn’t mean to make things worse.”
“Four.” The word tastes funny in my mouth. “Time’s running out, Noah.”
A thin sheen of sweat breaks out across Noah’s forehead. “Lo, I swear—”
“Time’s up.” I pull Noah to his feet and take two steps back so the gun is pointed at his chest. “Any last words?”
Noah’s face is white now, and he’s trembling. “Alright, fine! I pushed Ryder to look into you, okay? I knew a few slipups here and there would push him to dig deeper. He’s like a dog with a bone when he gets a whiff of something big, and I knew that all I had to do was push him hard enough.”
The anger inside of me floods my veins and melts everything in its path.
I clench my free hand into a fist. “What else?”
“Nothing, I—”
I point the gun at Noah’s foot and pull the trigger. “Don’t fucking lie. The only reason you’re not already bleeding out in a basement somewhere is because of her. I will not hesitate to kill you in front of her if I need to.”
London’s worst fears are coming true.
You warned her about what would happen, and she came anyway.
Noah has tears streaming down his face and is biting back a few whimpers of pain. The color drains from his face as he shifts his weight to his uninjured foot. “My father suspects something, but I didn’t tell him anything.”
“We both know it wasn’t out of the goodness of your heart.”
Noah is panting now, and he sways a little on his feet. “I knew London wouldn’t forgive me if I took things too far.”
I curse and point the gun at his other foot. “I should cut off your fucking balls and hang you up—”
“No.” London wedges herself between us and raises her chin to look at me. “The damage has already been done. Hurting him won’t change anything.”
“Get out of my way.”
London holds firm. “No.”
I turn to Katia, who is leaning against the nearest wall. “Take her back to the house and keep her there. I’ll deal with you later.”
Katia crosses over to London.
She grabs London’s hand and pulls. London pulls away, and the women struggle.
Abruptly, London draws her weight back and kicks free of Katia’s hold, momentarily surprising the assassin.
Katia recovers quickly and wraps both arms around London’s waist. London throws herself back, and they crash to the floor with a thud.
Katia jumps to her feet and snarls. “Get your ass outside.”
“The only way I’m going is if you drag me,” London replies. “Don’t forget that you’re the one who’s been teaching me to fight.”
I growl, and they look at me.
“Katia, take care of him.” I tilt my head at Noah. “I’ll take care of London.”
I cross to London, who doesn’t hide her surprise as I throw her over my shoulder.
She bangs her arms against my back, but I don’t loosen my grip until I reach the car. Then, I throw her into the back and pin one hand on either side of her as she bucks and thrashes, her face turning a bright red.
I wait for her to stop struggling.
She fights me longer than expected.
I’m jealous of the fierce loyalty and determination Noah inspires.
The little weasel doesn’t deserve it.
How did he win her heart to begin with?
He sure didn’t hesitate to throw her to the wolves to appease his wounded ego.
How could he live with himself knowing London would get caught in the crosshairs?
He was probably hoping she’d come back to him if he took you down. You know he still loves her.
I blink when I realize London has gone still and is regarding me with wide eyes.
“Can I trust you not to run out of this car?”
She narrows her eyes. “You can’t expect me to just sit here.”
“I can, and I do,” I reply. “When are you going to learn to do as you’re told?”
London’s face darkens. “When it comes to the people I love? You can’t expect me to do nothing.”
I release one arm and growl. “You really think that little of me?”
“I know he caused problems you don’t need, but he was hurt. We’ve all done stupid shit when we’re hurt. He doesn’t deserve to die because of it.”
I release her other arm. “And what, in your opinion, is enough to pull the trigger?”
London frowns. “I don’t know.”
I lean back to study her. “What if he had told you he had done it on purpose? Would you have been okay with killing him?”
London winces and looks away. “Well, no. But I don’t believe in violence—”
“That right there is the problem, Pigeon,” I interrupt. “My world is surrounded by it. It is violence, and I’ve told you that it’s the only way to survive.”
London swallows audibly. “I know that, but—”
“But what? You expected me to make an exception because of your history? I made it clear that I wouldn’t.”