Chapter Twenty-Seven
Mason
I draw my hand back and land another punch, earning a grunt from Carlisle. “You should’ve been keeping a closer eye out. How did you fucking miss this?”
What’s the point of keeping a lumbering man like him around if he’s not going to do his job?
I blame Carlisle because it’s easier than admitting the truth.
I let this happen.
Keeping London from prying eyes painted a target on her back.
Your first mistake was not bragging about her. You always talk about your conquests.
With London, it didn’t feel right.
She isn’t like the other women I’ve been with, and I knew that from the start.
Part of the allure was keeping her a secret, but looking back, a part of me also wanted to protect her from my world.
If such a thing was possible.
Fucking hell.
Why did I think any of this was a good idea?
I’ve spent the past few hours in a blood fueled haze, breaking whatever was in reach and yelling at everyone in my path. While a part of me knows I need to reign it in before the whispers start, the other part of me doesn’t care.
I can’t remember the last time I was this terrified and uncertain.
Half of me wants to get London back just to punish her myself, and the other part wants to storm every enemy warehouse guns blazing till she’s in my arms again.
Jesus Christ.
How in the hell did she manage to worm her way into whatever was left of my heart?
And why hadn’t I stopped her before she did?
Because you thought you were immune. London isn’t the first woman to try and bring out the man behind the mask, but she’s the first woman to make you care enough to try.
I should’ve just stuck to Katia. At least with her, I know what I am getting into, and so does she.
Katia wouldn’t have gotten herself kidnapped.
Nobody would have dared touch an assassin like her.
I growl and land another punch to Carlisle’s stomach, but he remains upright, his jaw tight. “You better have a damn good reason for letting this happen on your watch.”
Carlisle presses his mouth into a thin line and says nothing.
I wonder how far I can push him before he breaks. Even a man like Carlisle has limits to his loyalty.
I don’t want to test them. I can’t afford to have Carlisle on the fence about his loyalties. Despite his shortcomings, I need him.
And I know Carlisle’s only crime is being an easy target for my anger.
When I withdraw my hand, the door to my office bursts open, and Katia walks in. Carlisle groans when I punch him again, but he still says nothing. He barely even reacts, and if it weren’t for the furrow between his brows, I wouldn’t know he was affected.
Katia pauses, her eyes remaining on Carlisle for a second too long. I release him and reach for a napkin to wipe my knuckles. Then I turn to face Katia. My stomach hardens as I finish cleaning my hands and throw the napkin onto the floor.
Katia’s expression gives nothing away.
“I’ve gone to all their usual haunts, and I followed a few of their men. The Everetts and Fitzpatricks are behind this, but they’ve covered their tracks.”
This isn’t the news I was hoping for.
Unlike Carlisle, Katia won’t let me take my anger out on her in the way I need.
I can tell by the glimmer in her eyes that she has other things on her mind.
She’s probably relieved that London is out of the picture. Without knowing it, the Fitzpatricks and Everetts have taken care of the problem for her.
Another smaller voice in the back of my mind wonders if she orchestrated the whole thing.
Katia wouldn’t betray you like that. No matter her personal feelings toward London, she wouldn’t do that to you.
Especially because she knows that no matter our history, if I uncover even a speck of evidence linking her to any of this, I will make her pay.
The kind of punishment even an assassin like her tries to avoid.
I clear my throat. “What the fuck does that mean?”
Katia takes a step in my direction. “It means I don’t know which one of them did it yet.”
As if being in bed with each other isn’t bad enough.
I picture myself dragging them into a dark basement and getting what I need from them.
All I’d need is a few minutes.
If London hadn’t disappeared, I’d be out doing just that. But until I have evidence of where they’re keeping her, I can’t risk letting them know I’m on the prowl.
They probably already know you are. Katia is discreet, but they know you aren’t stupid. Even if you won’t give them what they want, you still want to make them pay.
Everyone is expecting it.
I need to retaliate. The longer I go without a reaction, the worse it’ll be.
“Tell the driver to bring the car around.”
Katia looks surprised.
“Now,” I bark. “They need to remember who they’re dealing with.”
“I wouldn’t do that if I were you.” Mathew pokes his head into my office and pushes the door open all the way. He sees Katia, and his expression turns deadly. “Why don’t you make yourselves useful? My brother and I have business to discuss.”
Katia looks at me and waits.
I give her a small nod.
Mathew’s hand darts out to touch Katia, and she grabs his wrist so fast, he barely has time to react. A heartbeat later, she twists his arm behind his back and presses a knife against his throat.
“Unless you want that pretty head of yours to be banged up, you’d better let go,” Mathew says. “Don’t forget who you’re dealing with, Katia.”
Katia presses a mouth to his ear. “You’re the one who shouldn’t forget. I don’t owe you anything.”
Mathew tries to turn and face her, but she tightens her grip. “You owe the Paynes everything. I see my brother has failed to teach you your place.”
I growl. “What the fuck do you want, Mathew? I don’t have time for this.”
Katia twists his arm further, and he yelps. “I’d be happy to escort him out.”
Being the second oldest Payne brother gives him perks, but Mathew isn’t above reproach. One word from me, and Katia can drag him into a backroom and show him exactly why she’s the underworld’s most notorious assassin.
She’s already salivating at the thought of punishing him.
I’m tempted to give her a little freedom when it comes to my twin.
He has been a pain since his arrival.
Maybe he’s the one who pointed our allies in London’s direction.
It’s just the kind of thing he would do to discredit me.
“Call her off, or you’ll have bigger problems to worry about than your whore being taken,” Mathew says through gritted teeth.
Katia releases him, and Mathew barely has a chance to dust himself off before I pin him against the nearest wall.
“Today isn’t the day, brother,” I warn. “Talk quickly, or what Katia will do to you will be nothing compared to what I have in mind.”
Mathew scowls angrily. “You’re not going to sic your rabid dog on me.”
I bare my teeth at him and drop my voice. “You want to take that chance?”
Mathew glances behind me, and I imagine Katia’s deadly smile. He looks back at me and stiffens. “It’s no wonder business is suffering. You need to learn how to discipline the women in your life.”
I tighten my grip on him. “You’re not in a position to be giving me advice.”
Mathew scoffs. “Advice? We’re past that.”
I bring his face closer to mine. “So, I can put your head through the wall, then? Or maybe I’ll just take out my gun.”
Mathew’s laughter stokes my anger. “All of this for a whore? What happened to her being just another woman?”
“She is,” I maintain through gritted teeth. “But I will not be made a fool of.”
“Get your fucking head on straight,” Mathew snaps. “You can’t make a move against the Everetts or the Fitzpatricks unless you’re prepared to go to war.”
“I see you still have nothing better to do than spy on me,” I retort. “Get a goddamn life.”
Mathew’s expression darkens. “I have one, and if it weren’t for your fuckup, I’d be able to get back to it.”
I release Mathew and choke back a laugh. “So, you’re here to bitch because the only thing Father trusts you with is keeping an eye on me? That sounds like your problem, not mine.”
Mathew takes a swing at me and misses. “Fuck you, asshole. The only reason Father chose you is because you manipulated him into thinking you’re the better choice. Once he hears about your latest fuckup, you’re going to wish I was the one dealing with you.”
I lunge at Mathew’s middle and tackle him. “You always had a big mouth, little brother. It’s time I taught you some respect.”
Mathew bucks and throws me off. “Like the respect the Everetts and Fitzpatricks have for you? Or the respect your little plaything has?”
Fucking weasel.
I hate that he’s there, and I hate it even more because he’s getting a front-row seat to all of this.
It’s just my luck.
I lunge at him again, but he’s prepared this time. Mathew gets me in a chokehold, and we spin in a circle, grunting and scowling. He lands a few hits.
Still, I feed off his chaos, needing it to numb my rising panic.
I know Mathew is right.
I’m the reason London was taken.
Maybe if I’d kept her on a tighter leash and made sure she knew her place in all of this.
Maybe if I hadn’t let her get under my skin.
Any move I make, any retaliation, could bring a halt to a decades-long alliance.
Makes you wonder if they planned this all along.
My father won’t care about the secret meetings or that our allies are overreaching.
I fucking loathe that Mathew isn’t wrong. I’m almost relieved to have someone to take my anger out on who won’t just stand and take it. I want Mathew to hit me back, and I want it hurt.
Somehow, we wind up on the carpet, rolling around and landing punches.
My muscles are screaming by the time I force myself to my feet and shove Mathew against my desk.
He growls and pushes me away. Suddenly, he throws a punch, and it hits the side of my face, making stars break out in my field of vision.
The anger bubbling inside of me grows.
I spit out a mouthful of blood and kick out my leg, forcing my brother to his knees.