Chapter 50
Mia
“Mother fuck!” I blurt out, my voice echoing through Aiden’s gym.
My clothing is stuck to my sweaty body. I’m exhausted, and frankly, pissed off that Aiden is hell-bent on making me stronger so that if Dagger comes for me again, I’ll be ready.
I’m also thoroughly turned on because I learned this afternoon that Aiden is a true warrior.
The demons and horrors of his past that he doesn’t talk about live within his rugged and beautiful package of muscle and ink.
He hovers over me now, on hour two of testing my strength. He’s been taking me down effortlessly, and I’m ready to either hit him or fuck him, or both. “I thought you were a brown belt?” he asks, a moment of playfulness sneaking through, because up until now, he’s been ruthless.
Prick.
“In fact, I think you’re full of shit. I’m gonna have to meet this Briggs soon to see how he’s been training you,” he muses, pinning me down harder onto the mat.
“Because”—he swipes his thumb along my bottom lip, bringing it up and sucking it into his mouth—“you’re bleeding, goddess.”
I imagine he’s Briggs and swing hard, clipping Aiden on the chin. A good one. It makes me smile as I spit out my own blood.
“I’m only bleeding because you made me bite my lip, fucker!” I shout, then use the last of my strength to flip him off me.
He’s laughing as he lands on his back, and I clock him square in the face. The impact splits his lip open.
“Oopsie. Now you’re bleeding too.” I smile at him as I shove off the mat, heading to where my phone buzzes on the weight bench.
Aiden chuckles as he jumps up and wraps his arms around me, pinning me against the wall before I can get away.
“Fuck, I’m so hard right now.” He chuckles as he kisses me, and I reach for his solid cock. I squeeze tight, still not ready to give in to him, and he hisses.
But then his lips come down on mine, and I only last so long before I’m allowing him in, parting my lips and tasting our blood commingled. I let go of his dick and get up on tiptoes to wrap my arms around his neck.
He squeezes my ass so tight, I wince. “You done playing hard to get?”
“Fuck you,” I whisper into his lips as my phone buzzes again.
He chuckles. “Shower, now. I’m already late, and I have an hour’s drive.”
That gets my attention.
“Where are you going?” I ask as he backs up and passes me a bottle of water. I crack it and take a sip.
“Henderson,” he says, referencing the state penitentiary.
“Back when Marco was prez, we used to deal fent, or H, whatever the lowlife K-6ers wanted. One of our members, Arlo, is serving three years. I wanna see if he knows anything. He’s a piece of shit, but he was close with Gator, and I can add some money to his commissary account to get him to talk.
He doesn’t have any allies here anymore, so I expect him to be forthcoming. ”
He pats his face with a towel and moves closer. “Shower, now,” he repeats, plucking at my nipple through my tank.
“Don’t order me around.” I lift my chin. “You’re not my prez.”
He smacks my ass, the sound loud in the padded space, then leans down to gently bite my tender lip. I flinch.
“Fucking right, I am,” he growls, following the bite with a kiss. “Let’s go, woman!”
I smile and pick up my phone, and my stomach instantly drops.
Mason
I’m at the house. Where are you?
My heart beats faster, and I wonder if Dagger already got to him.
I thought you weren’t back for a couple more weeks?
Mason
I’m in town this weekend for Robby’s birthday, and wanted to check on you.
I conclude that if Mason knew anything, he’d be losing his fucking mind rather than talking the way he would any other day.
Mason
Where are you? When was the last time you were here? The plants are half dead.
Fuck me. I have to tell him the truth.
I’m working out.
Mason
What the fuck is going on, Mia? There’s barely any food here.
I don’t have a chance to reply before he sends another message.
Mason
Grady’s at 11.
Grady’s is the diner my family has gone to since we were kids, and it’s an order for me to meet him, not a request. I can’t tell Aiden I’m meeting him, or he’ll want to come, which would be a disaster.
This might actually be perfect timing, with Aiden heading to Henderson.
I have to handle this and make Mason understand.
I’ll be there.
* * *
My hands shake slightly on the wheel. I pull into Grady’s parking lot on the outskirts of Lakeside.
Aiden left for the prison just before I headed out, so I didn’t have to explain anything.
The sooner Aiden finds out if Dagger was involved in Nic’s rape and where he is, the sooner Dagger will be dead, and we can put all this behind us.
But first, I have to survive this breakfast.
My dad used to take me and Nic to Grady’s for toast and strawberry jam when we were little, and a pang of grief hits me. They’re both gone. The orange booths and the smell of bacon frying are the same as they’ve always been. I walk through the door and see Mason sitting by the window.
“’Bout time, where the fuck have you been?” he says and takes a sip of coffee, then stands. “The house smells stale, Mia.” He gives me a brotherly hug, examining me closely as we take a seat. “Shady as fuck.” He shakes his head.
“I have a hard time being there, Mase,” I say truthfully.
“I’d rather be anywhere else, especially with you gone.
” This seems to appease him for the moment.
The server interrupts, and we order breakfast. I make idle conversation as we eat, asking about Virginia, sharing which courses I’ve picked for the fall.
I talk about everything and anything except Nic and the house, but he doesn’t let me off the hook as I push what’s left of my bacon and eggs around my plate.
“If you’re not at the house, where have you been, Mia?”
“I’ve made new friends… I’m getting shit ready for school…”
“Where?” he asks pointedly.
“Where?” I repeat.
“Where have you made new friends?”
I throw his question back at him. I get it. I’m his sister, but I don’t need a babysitter.
“Do I ask you who you’re spending time with?” I query, leaning back against the booth.
“That’s different,” he grunts.
“How?”
“You’re my sister, Mia! I worry about you.” We share a glance of mutual sorrow.
I lean forward and put my hand over his. “I worry about you too,” I admit, “but I don’t dig into every detail of your life.”
“Mason Fucking Tyler!” I freeze instantly. I’d know Dagger’s voice anywhere. It makes the little hairs on the back of my neck stand up.
He’s been following me, or Mason, and chose this busy restaurant to make his move. He’s going to tell Mason everything, right here, because he knows I can’t try to kill him in a restaurant full of families.
I open my mouth to speak first. “Mase, I need to—”
“And who’s this young lass?” Dagger asks as he shakes Mason’s hand, his beady eyes on me.
“This is my sister, Emilia.”
“Emilia.” My name drips off Dagger’s tongue like poisoned honey. “Nice to meet you.” He grins maliciously, offering a handshake.
I stare up at him, unsure of his angle.
“Mia…” Mason coaxes, and I gag as I take his hand, then pull back quickly.
Mason and Dagger chat while my mind races.
My phone buzzes on the table, and I glance down at it.
A
I’m back at Lavish. Meet me here. I’ll fill you in on my meeting.
I flip the phone over and wait for Dagger to tell Mason I’ve been working at Lavish and have been with Aiden all summer, but he doesn’t. He just talks to Mason, ignoring me.
“I gotta go, brother, but it’s been good catching up.” Dagger wags a finger in my direction. “You know, you look so familiar,” he says, toying with me, and I can’t wait for the opportunity to slit his throat. He thinks he’s smart, fucking with me, and I can’t wait to watch Aiden gut him.
“She has that kinda face,” Mason says. His brow furrows, and I know he doesn’t like Dagger looking at me any more than I do. Anyone can tell he’s creepy.
“That must be it,” Dagger says with an evil grin before backing up and disappearing out the diner door.
“Good fucking riddance. I can’t stand that fucking guy,” Mason grits out.
“Yeah, no shit,” I answer. I take the last sip of my orange juice and glance at the door. I need to get the fuck out of here and tell Aiden that Dagger was here.
“Be fucking honest with me,” Mason says, watching my expression as the server brings the check. “Are you okay, really?”
A pang of guilt flashes through me, but I know I can’t tell Mason, not until Dagger is dead, and the faster I get out of here, the faster that might happen.
“I’m okay. Just trying to keep as busy as I can.” I hope at least that honesty will satisfy him.
He pulls money from his wallet and drops it on the receipt. “It’s been good being out of state,” he admits. “Nothing in Virginia reminds me of her.”
I realize that’s part of the reason it’s been easier to be with Aiden. Nothing about my life since I met him resembles my life before Nic died.
I promise to stop in and see Mason again before he leaves on Sunday, and then I can’t get out of the restaurant fast enough. I’m rushing so quickly to get to my car that I don’t notice the black bike still parked in the lot, right beside Mason’s, with the custom dagger painted on the gas tank.