Chapter Twenty-Two
London
“Are you sure you’re not going to get in trouble for this?”
I gesture vaguely at the armed man behind me, and frown. “He can drag me back anytime, but since he hasn’t, I think I’ll enjoy this while I can.”
I know it won’t last.
Whatever illusion of freedom I have is quickly fading, and each incident, each death, ensures the walls are closing in tighter.
I’m not sure how much longer I have before there’s no way out, and the urge to keep glancing over my shoulder has been with me for the past few hours.
I can’t shake the feeling that I’m being watched.
Even within the confines of the Payne club, I know I’m not safe.
You’re not safe anywhere, London, but at least here, you’re safer.
The man left to guard me hasn’t said two words all night, but I have a feeling he’s a lot more lethal than he looks.
He’s coiled tightly and has made no effort to hide the guns under his jacket, but the sight of them is oddly comforting.
As is being back in the Payne club, leaning over the counter with Miss Deveroux on the other side, eyeing me intently.
I take another sip of my drink as I take in the empty corner of the club and the low din of music.
“Business hasn’t picked up at all?” I frown at Miss Deveroux.
She shrugs. “Some of us are allowed to work here for now, but since the rumors broke, we lost a lot of our usual clientele.”
I grimace. “That’s bad, isn’t it?”
Miss Deveroux leans closer and drops her voice to a whisper. “Some people are getting too close to the truth. I have a feeling it will get a lot worse before it gets better.”
I sigh. “You should get out while you still have the chance. If you need money…”
Miss Deveroux squeezes my hand. “I’ve got enough stashed away for a clean break if I need it.”
I lean back to study her face and the unfamiliar gleam in her eyes. “Why don’t you? Leave, I mean.”
Miss Deveroux blinks and stands up straighter. “I know this is going to sound crazy, but this place… it’s my home. I’m not as young as I was, and the idea of starting over somewhere new isn’t as appealing as it once was.”
I frown. “Miss Deveroux—”
“Delilah,” she interrupts. “I think we’ve known each other long enough to be on a first-name basis, don’t you?”
I swallow and instinctively reach for my drink. “Delilah. If things get bad, I don’t think anyone will be safe.”
I don’t want her anywhere near the club or the Payne family if things fall apart.
She’s the closest thing I have to a friend around here.
I just hope the foundation the Paynes have built is sturdy enough to withstand a full-on assault. Otherwise, we’re all on borrowed time.
Miss Deveroux nods and reaches under the counter for a glass. She pours herself a drink and tips it back. “Like I said, this is my home.”
I blow out a breath. “You’re a lot braver than I am.”
“Having second thoughts?”
“No, but I wish I had done more to protect my family. They won’t return my calls, and I can’t go and see them for obvious reasons.”
Miss Deveroux pats my hand. “I’ll reach out to them.”
My shoulders sag with relief, and I swallow past the lump in my throat. “Thank you.”
Miss Deveroux glances over her shoulder at my bodyguard. “I see you’re keeping different company tonight.”
I glance over my shoulder. “Yeah, I don’t know what’s happening. He won’t say a thing.”
Miss Deveroux clears her throat. “I hate to be the one to say this, but you need to have a backup plan, London. In case things go to shit.”
My stomach lurches. “What do you mean?”
“You can tell them he’s been keeping you here against your will,” Miss Deveroux says. “Tell them he threatened your family, and that you owe him money. They’ll go easy on you. He won’t contradict your story.”
I search her face and pause.
It’s not like the thought hasn’t crossed my mind, but betraying Mason and abandoning him when he needs me, even to save myself and my family, doesn’t sit right. The mere thought of it sends a fresh wave of pain through me.
I know it’s the smart choice, and I know Mason would forgive me, but I can’t bring myself to do it.
There will be no turning back if you don’t turn on him. Remember that. You still have a chance.
“I’ll keep that in mind,” I respond. “But I—”
“You.” The voice makes the hairs on the back of my neck rise. I swivel on my stool and easily find the source of the voice. Steven is making a beeline for me, his hair plastered to his forehead, and a murderous gleam in his eyes. My bodyguard steps in front of him and gives him a long look.
“Of course, you hide behind him.” Steven leans sideways to look at me. “Call off your dog or I’ll tell this whole club what you did.”
I jump off the stool and ignore the twinge in my chest. “I don’t know what you’re talking about.”
Steven’s lips twist into a sneer. “Oh, I bet you don’t, Princess. Is that why you won’t call off your bodyguard?”
I reach Steven. “He’s here to make sure assholes like you don’t step out of line.”
His expression tightens. “I always had a feeling about you, but I never knew what it was. I told Noah that he wouldn’t be able to handle you, and it turns out, I was right.”
At the mention of Noah’s name, my stomach lurches again, and guilt courses through me.
What the hell did Noah tell Steven?
I ignore the blood roaring in my ears. “You’re wasting my time. I’ve got better things to—”
“I know you did something to Noah,” Steven hisses. “Don’t bother denying it. There’s more to the story than what Noah told me. You wouldn’t have just left him like that unless it was someone powerful or important or both. Women like you like to upgrade.”
I offer Steven a blank look. “I never took you for a conspiracy theorist.”
Steven takes a step in my direction, and my bodyguard throws out his arm to stop him. “If you have nothing to hide, why is he here?”
I step closer to the bodyguard. Then I lean in, so my mouth is next to his ear. “I know you have your orders, but I’m pretty sure you don’t want a scene, and that’s exactly what he’s going to cause if you don’t back off.”
A muscle ticks in the bodyguard’s jaw.
“There are enough problems as it is,” I add. “You don’t have to like me to know I’m right.”
Given how powerful a client Steven is, the last thing I want is to draw attention to myself. I have no idea where Mason or Katia are. While my new bodyguard seems to take his job seriously, I have no idea how far or how deep his loyalty goes.
Or if one word from Jack Payne is enough to call him off.
After a tense moment, the bodyguard steps to the side. I move to stand in front of Steven, and I don’t miss the cruelty in his eyes. He glances from the bodyguard to me and back again. Then, without warning, he lashes out, and I throw myself sideways, so his hand misses my face by a few inches.
“I’m going to find out what you did to him.” Steven’s face is one of fury. “Don’t bother denying it. I don’t care who you’re fucking. These walls can’t protect you forever.”
He tries to punch me again, and I sidestep again, tasting fear on my tongue.
Several of the people in attendance are staring at us, and a few are whispering.
The hairs on the back of my neck rise when Steven gets a little too close, and my bodyguard intercepts him.
He twists Steven’s arm behind his back and holds him still.
Steven releases a litany of curse words, his face turning red as he writhes.
I swallow past the lump in my throat and let my arms fall to my sides.
“I don’t owe you anything, Steven. We both know you’re a shit friend. Now, I don’t know what game you’re playing here, or why you’re putting on a show, but you and I both know that what Noah and I had was real.”
“Lying bitch.” Steven is bristling now. “I should’ve taken care of you when I had the chance.”
“I don’t care if you believe me,” I say. “I still care about Noah, and I wish him nothing but the best.”
Steven mumbles something unintelligible.
I motion to the bodyguard, who releases him.
Suddenly, Steven charges me, and I spread my legs shoulder-width apart and stand my ground. Once he’s close enough, I punch him in the stomach. He doubles over, and I knee him in the groin, forcing him to crumple to the ground. His eyes are filled with hatred as he glances up at me.
“I’d suggest you leave before you get yourself into even more trouble.”
Steven lunges at me again, but he’s pulled back by the scruff of his neck.
I blink and realize that Katia has both his arms pinned behind his back.
She presses him against the nearest wall and says something into his ear.
Steven stops squirming, and the color leaves his face.
Abruptly, Katia releases him, and he scurries past without a backward glance.
“I was beginning to think you’d found someone else to…” I trail off when Katia moves closer, and I see the bruises on her face and the marks on her arm. Terror slams into me as I step forward. “What happened?”
“You need to come with me.” Katia’s eyes dart around the club before she looks at me. “Unless you want to find some other way to get yourself in trouble.”
My throat closes as I fall into step beside her.
We take the back door out of the club and cross the lawn and path separating it from the estate.
My mind spins as I imagine all the things that could’ve gone wrong.
When we reach the estate, there are even more guards patrolling than usual, and they center around Katia, who has her arms by her sides, her steps long and measured.
Olivia is waiting for me near the door to the manor.
She and Katia exchange a quick look before the latter disappears.
My throat is dry as I follow Olivia down a series of dimly lit, carpeted hallways.
We stop outside a set of double doors, and when I see Oliver leaning against one wall with Mathew and Jack against the other, my heart jumps into my throat.
Olivia turns to face me. “Mason was ambushed.”
My stomach drops. “What do you mean he’s been ambushed? Where is he?”
Olivia exhales. “The doctor is taking a look at his wounds right now.”
“Here? Shouldn’t he be in a hospital?”
“That’s what this wing is for.” Oliver’s voice is hoarse. “And the doctor has the equipment he needs, and a discreet team that knows what to do.”
I’d seen glimpses of the room, but it wasn’t enough.
Not as far as I was concerned.
My anger rises. “I don’t think this is the time to be worried about discretion. If it’s serious enough to need surgery, he should be in a real hospital.”
Olivia places a hand on my arm. “He’s going to be fine, London. He’s in good hands.”
I shake Olivia’s hand off and step away. “I want to see him.”
“I don’t care how much leeway my son has given you,” Jack says. “If you don’t stop being a nuisance, I’ll do what I should’ve done when I first learned about you.”
“You’re not going to risk Mason’s wrath,” I reply. “Despite your claims, you need him.”
Shut the hell up, London. Have you forgotten who you’re dealing with?
Olivia steps between us and fixes her gaze on me. “Let’s go for a walk.”
“I don’t want to go on a fucking walk.” My eyes never leave Jack’s face. “I’m staying right here.”
I don’t trust Jack not to finish the job himself.
An ambush is a good way for Jack to get rid of Mason without getting his hands dirty, and with a war raging at our doorstep, it’s the perfect opportunity to lay the blame at the enemy’s feet.
You cannot take Jack on, and you know it. Keep your mouth shut and pray that Mason makes it out of this alive.
Olivia tugs on my arm again, and I look at her. “You’d be doing me a favor.”
After a brief pause, I reluctantly let Olivia lead me away.
We go back the way we came, and each step away from Mason feels harder than the last. When we make it to the living room, Olivia releases my arm and releases a shaky breath.
“Listen, I know I said you were brave, but there’s a fine line between being brave and being stupid. Are you trying to get yourself killed?”
“If Mason was ambushed, Jack was behind it.”
Olivia presses one finger to each of her temples and rubs in slow, circular motions. “Look, our father is an asshole. He’s conniving and manipulative, but he wouldn’t kill Mason.”
“He tried to shoot him when we first got here.”
Olivia exhales. “He never would’ve hurt him. Trust me on this.”
“How can you—You sound so sure.”
Olivia runs a hand over her face. “I am. He’s punished us before, and once or twice, he’s taken it too far, but he wouldn’t seriously hurt us. In his own twisted way, he does love us.”
“I’m sorry if I’m finding it hard to believe that when he’s repeatedly threatened us, assaulted Mason, and is having my family watched.”
Olivia blows out another breath. “That’s fine. I understand why this is a hard pill to swallow, but I’m telling you our father’s bite is worse than his bark. At least when it comes to us.”
My stomach lurches as I stand up straighter. “We still shouldn’t leave Mason alone with him.”
"When Mason pulls through—”
“If he pulls through.” My voice catches on the last word. “How are you so sure?”
Olivia’s hand falls to her side. “Because my brother is an arrogant and annoying jackass when he wants to be, but he’s also stubborn and tough as nails. He’s going to want to hang on to punish whoever did this himself.”
I swallow. “I hope you’re right.”
Olivia steps closer to me. “I know this is all new to you, but you need to be smart about this.”
I nod.
“If you really want to help, you can help me send a message to someone.”
I stare at her for a few seconds. “Does this have anything to do with the rumors I’ve heard about how you were involved with someone from this world?”
Myriad emotions dance across Olivia’s face, and she stiffens. “How much did Mason tell you?”
“He didn’t tell me anything, and I didn’t push.”
Olivia’s eyes move over my face. “It’s true. I was involved with someone. I don’t know if our history will help end this war, but I think it’s a worth shot.”
“Mason doesn’t approve, does he?”
Olivia grimaces. “You know how he can be. Overprotective to a fault, but he needs help, and he’s too proud and stubborn to admit it. He’ll be keeping a close eye on me, so you’ll have to help me establish a line of communication.”
I taste bile in the back of my throat. “You want me to lie to him?”
“Unless you have any other suggestions.”
I blow out a breath. “That depends. What do you want me to do?”