Chapter Twenty-One #2
London clears her throat. “There’s got to be some other way to clean up this mess.”
“Noah needs to learn to keep his fucking mouth shut.”
“I know.”
Abruptly, I lean away from her and run a hand through my hair. “Katia will make sure he gets the point.”
London loses a sharp breath. “I know that you need to make a point. I understand…”
“She’s not going to kill him.”
“Won’t it just cause more problems if… wait, did you just say she’s not going to kill him?”
The relief in London’s eyes makes me want to hurry out of the car and hunt Noah down.
He doesn’t deserve her sympathy.
“I just said I wouldn’t,” I snap. “Contrary to what you might think, I’m not fueled by bloodlust and impulsive decisions. As much as I would love to put Noah in the ground, I know better than to invite more scrutiny. His dad is a mayor.”
London exhales, and her shoulders sag. “Oh.”
“He still loves you,” I tell her flatly. “The fact that he’s the mayor’s son gets him a pass this time. Next time, he won’t be so lucky.”
I already know I will regret this.
You were going to find a loophole anyway, and you know it. London can forgive an interrogation, but she would have never looked at you the same way if you had killed her ex.
Fuck.
When did I turn into a pathetic sap who agonizes over feelings?
When did London dull my sharp edges?
“Mason, I… thank you. I’m sorry.”
“Sorry you ignored the fact that I told you to stay away, or sorry that you still care about him?”
“I never lied to you about my history with Noah,” London replies. “I won’t hide the fact that I still care about him. I’m always going to care about him. He was in my life for years…”
“Do you still love him?”
A part of her still has to. Why else would she be here, risking everything between us for him?
London shakes her head. “No.”
I want to believe her, but when all evidence points to the contrary, I’ve learned to trust my instinct.
Everything I have is screaming to cut my losses and move on.
But the thought of facing a world without London is unbearable and unimaginable.
“Even if I hadn’t realized how I felt about you, I wouldn’t have gone back to him,” London adds. “You know that, right? I loved Noah, but I wouldn’t have been happy with him in the long run. It just took me a while to realize that.”
Silence stretches between us.
London reaches for me again, but I push the back door open and get out. I straighten my back, exhale, and wait for a few seconds. Then, I get behind the wheel and lock the doors. I start the engine and adjust the rearview mirror so I can see London.
She’s so fucking beautiful that it hurts.
As I drive back to the estate, the headache in the back of my head spreads to the rest of my skull. The wrought-iron gates part to admit the car, and I press down on the gas.
Olivia and Oliver are waiting for me by the front door.
Olivia takes one look at London’s face and steps forward.
Then, the women disappear up the stairs, and I’m left in the kitchen with my brother.
I retrieve a bottle of bourbon from the cupboard in the back and pry the lid off with my teeth.
I spit it out and take a long swig, but the smooth liquid does nothing to ease my upset stomach.
Oliver leans against the counter and stares at me. “How long are you going to keep us here, Mason?”
I take another swig, and my stomach lurches. “I’m not keeping you here. You’re free to leave.”
“You know it’s not that simple.”
“You weren’t supposed to be involved in any of this,” I reply. “I’ve done my best to honor the deal, but I can’t control other people.”
Oliver pushes himself off the counter. “I overheard Mathew talking about how you screwed up, and how it’s your fault we’re here.”
I grip the marble counter and press my lips together. “He’s not wrong.”
“We have lives, you know. I know it might not seem like much compared to the life you’re building here, but I have a good, quiet life.”
I grip the counter more tightly. “I know.”
“We deserve to be able to stay away from all of this.” Oliver’s voice rises in anger. “That was the deal, right?”
I release the counter and look at my brother. He looks so much like our mother in that moment that it sends a fresh wave of pain through me.
I wonder what she’d think of all this mess I’ve made in the name of love.
I doubt even she would’ve approved.
“I will make this right,” I say. “It’ll take a while, but I’m a man of my word.”
Oliver studies me, his face tight. “You mean like you kept your word last time?”
I frown. “I did what I could.”
It’s not my fault they had to relocate several times because our enemies are resourceful.
They still think it’s because of my screw up and not because of the fact that I was outmaneuvered.
It’s better for them to believe I’m the villain than to have to live with the truth of the blood spilled in their name.
Oliver stiffens and shoots me another look. “We’ll see.”
“Where are Mathew and Dad?”
He shrugs. “Keeping tabs on people is your area of expertise, not mine.”
“We need to have a family meeting,” I say.
I’m glad Mathew isn’t around to gloat, but it’s worrisome that neither of them is here to rub my face in my latest screwup.
Neither of them misses a chance to criticize me, especially when it comes to London.
They’ll have a field day when they learn about Noah’s involvement.
Can you blame them? You’ve allowed London to cloud your judgment and blind you to the truth. Hell, you even made an exception for her by not killing Noah on the spot.
As painful as dealing with the mayor would’ve been, I’ve dealt with my fair share of irate politicians.
Noah’s father would’ve been no exception.
You can still fix this. You know where Katia is taking Noah. You can get back in the car right now.
Olivia returns a short while later, heads to the fridge, and pours herself a shot of tequila. She downs it all in one gulp and grimaces.
“How are we going to fix this?”
“We’re not going to fix anything,” I respond quickly. “Neither of you should be anywhere near this. All you need to focus on is making sure you’re ready to go at a moment’s notice.”
“Go where?”
“Back to your lives,” I say. “I know you don’t believe me when I say this, but things were never supposed to turn out this way.”
For the first time in a long time, I have no ace up my sleeve or backup plan in the works.
I’m not sure what I’m supposed to do next.
Between Noah, the Fitzpatricks, and the Everetts, I’m spread thin, and my head is spinning in a hundred directions, trying to figure out all the ways it could get worse.
Pretty soon, you won’t be able to stop any of this. Come on, Mason. Think
I leave my siblings without a backward glance and storm off in search of Carlisle.
I find him lurking near my office. He follows me into the room and waits until I pour myself a drink. Then, I look at Carlisle, who is standing with his back erect and his hands fisted at his sides.
“Have arrangements been made for our guest?”
Carlisle nods.
I take a sip of my drink and eye him over the rim. “Good. My instructions are clear. He’s not to come to any serious bodily harm.”
A flicker of surprise moves across his face.
I know what he’s thinking.
Why in the hell am I not ripping Noah limb from limb?
I’ve done far worse for a lot less.
I’m tempted to stride over to the closed-off section of the manor and take care of the problem, but I have to get under control first. The beast I keep under lock and key is too close to the surface, and he’s itching to come out.
I don’t trust myself to do what needs to be done with Noah, and I’m in no mood to face the man who has caused problems since I laid eyes on him.
“You’ll take over for Katia until she’s done,” I tell Carlisle. “I want eyes on London at all times.”
“I can assign one of the other men—”
I step out from behind the desk, cross over to Carlisle in a few strides, and pin him against the nearest wall. Fury radiates off me in waves. “I didn’t fucking ask for anyone else. You will do as you’re told.”
Carlisle avoids my eyes. “Yes, sir.”
“Make sure there are eyes and ears on Oliver and Olivia, too.” I release him. “It appears we have another traitor in our midst.”
Carlisle’s fingers move to his throat, and he swallows. “How do you want me to handle this?”
“I’ll handle it myself.” I turn my back on him and step back behind the desk. “When I find out who it is, they’ll beg for death.”
Then, I dismiss Carlisle, who runs into Elise on his way out.
She does a double-take when she sees the look on my face before lifting her hand to rap and adopting a careful expression. Elise clears her throat and steps in, the light glinting off her dark hair, with not a single wrinkle in her expensive suit.
“I wasn’t aware we were meeting today.”
Elise stops on the other side of the desk to study me. “We were supposed to meet to discuss engagement preparations, but imagine my surprise when I heard the rumors about my father.”
Shit.
In all the excitement, I’d almost forgotten I have him under guard in a guest wing.
“Elise—”
“What the hell are you doing?” Elise steps forward, her eyes bright with fury. “We have an agreement. We provided you with men, and this is how you repay us?”
I pour myself a drink without taking my eyes off her. “Your father is playing me for a fool.”
Elise scowls. “You and I both know he’s not stupid enough to cross you.”
I lift the glass to my lips and study her. “Not even for the right price?”
Elise leans against the desk and levels me with a look. “Let him go.”
“Not until I’m sure he wasn’t involved.”
Elise bristles. “Let him go, or I’ll—”
I set my glass down. “Or you’ll what? I don’t think your dad would approve of all your secret meetings with the mob bosses.”
“I have no idea what you’re talking about.”
I scoff. “You’re not as careful as you thought.”
“Mason—”
“Still, I imagine he could forgive a power move if it worked,” I continue, in harder voice. “What I imagine will be harder to forgive is your relationship with his enemy’s son.”