Chapter 5
Mason
10 Years ago
W hen I had woken up the morning they had left, Sal had been livid. Throwing things, accusing everyone of being involved in their disappearance. Marie and Genevieve leaving had been the start of his decline and no one could know just how bad he would become.
The house is going about their everyday tasks. Sal is ordering everyone around, like normal. It feels like he is trying to get everyone out of the house. Cyber and Atlas have been sent on a mission, Lennox is on a stakeout and Sal has told me to go and watch the Blackmere mansion to see if there is any unusual activity.
He suspects that Genevieve and Marie are there, but he can never get the proof. He trusts that I can.
I walk out the front door and down to where my Mustang is parked – my chick magnet. There is no time for picking up girls today though, I have to go and stake out Blackmere.
Walking around the hood of my car, my fingers glide across the smooth, painted metal and around to the door, pulling the door handle and climbing inside. I place my hands on the steering wheel, gripping the leather as it creaks under my grasp. I close my eyes and relax against the headrest.
Inhaling a deep breath and holding it for a few moments, I release the breath and open my eyes, reaching forward and turning on the car. It is turning to dusk, so my headlights are needed.
“Time to do this,” I say to myself. I have my suspicions that they’re there too. Sal has, after all, looked everywhere else.
I put my foot on the accelerator, speed down the driveway and head south towards Blackmere. It is a boring drive there. The workday traffic is already home and it is an easy drive. Too much traffic makes me antsy. I am used to driving at night when there is no one around.
I park about fifty metres away from the Underbelly’s house, along the curb. From here, I can watch as cars drive in and out of the gates.
They are all focusing on what they are doing and not even taking a second glance at my car. Across the street from Blackmere’s organisation is an apartment building with people walking in and out. It is where they house the less important and newer members. They have houses all around the area.
A tap against the window makes me jump and I glance over. Marie De Luca. She has not changed in five years.
For once, Sal’s suspicions are correct, but, now that I know they are here, I am not going to say anything to Sal. I would never betray Genevieve and Marie after Marie helped raise me and Genevieve…well, after what Genevieve means to me.
“Mason?” Her eyes squint as she looks into the window.
I lean across the car and unlock the passenger door, pulling the door handle and pushing it open. She steps back and hesitates slightly before sliding into the passenger seat.
“How are you Mrs. De Luca?” I ask as the door clicks shut.
“I am well, darling.” She smiles sadly at me. “Just hiding from Salvatore is exhausting.”
Her eyes widen suddenly as she realises why I’m here. I know exactly what she is thinking. “No, no. It’s okay, I am not here for that.” I hold my hands up, trying to reassure her. “He sent me, but I promise I am not going to say anything to him.”
Her shoulders relax and she releases the breath she is holding. “Do you want to come upstairs?” she asks, looking over at me now.
“I’m not sure if that is a good idea.” I glance over towards the Blackmere mansion. Her hand rests on my shoulder.
Turning to face her again, she smiles at me. “I trust you, Mason. I know that, even though Salvatore trained you to do whatever it is you do, you wouldn’t do anything to harm me or Genevieve.”
I nod and climb out of the car, walking around to the passenger side, meeting up with Marie on the other side. “We are up on the fourth floor dear,” she says, walking off into the direction of the apartment building.
The building isn’t much in the way of looks, but when you are part of an Underbelly organisation, your living arrangements do not mean much. The building is an off-white colour with a deep maroon trim. There are cracks lining the walls, both outside and in.
We make our way over to the elevators and hit the button to go up. “She could use a friendly face again after so many years,” Marie says.
The doors open with a ding and we make our way inside. “She will be so happy to see you Mason dear.” She pats my arm as we make our way into the lift and up to the fourth floor.
The levels are just as run down as the main entrance. There are water stains on the walls, paint flaking away, and there seem to be holes punched in the wall.
Marie steps out in front of me and makes her way left down the hall. Apartment twenty-two. She pushes the door open and I am instantly hit with the aroma of mint with a hint of jasmine.
“Who was out there, Mum?”
That voice, so grown now from what I remember. She is a woman now.
Genevieve turns on the couch. Her eyes land on me over her mother’s shoulder, then dart to her mother a second later. “Mum, what’s going on?”
“It’s ok darling,” she says, walking over to Genevieve. “We can trust him.”
“Mason?” Her voice is quiet as she stands up off the couch and walks around to where I stand awkwardly in the doorway.
“It’s me, Princess.” I hold out my arms and, in that short moment, she visibly relaxes and runs towards me, wrapping her arms around me.
I lift her off the ground as I hug her. She is squeezing me tightly, not wanting to let go. So I walk over to the couch where Marie is sitting with a smile on her face.
Genevieve’s arms are still wrapped tightly around my shoulders. I never realised how much I missed her until right now, with her in front of me.
“Have you both been well?” I don’t know what else to ask.
“Yes, we are being looked after,” Marie says. “Genevieve has applied to go to college, but she’s not yet sure what subject she wants to study.”
“Yeah, I want to go to college,” she says, lifting her head slightly, looking into my eyes. “Now that I am eighteen, I need to look towards my future.”
I nod. “We are never going back to Murwood, Mason,” Marie says, a sad look crossing her face.
“I wouldn’t expect you to come back,” I say, giving her a sad smile in return. “He started going insane after you both left and he has been declining ever since.”
My hand instinctively goes to Genevieve’s head and I begin stroking her hair. Her body is relaxing against me.
We sit in silence for a long time and I enjoy the company of two women I called my family.
Marie stands and walks over to where I am sitting, Genevieve asleep on my lap. “I’m going to bed. Please let yourself out when you are ready and lock the door behind you,” she says as she squeezes my shoulder.
“Of course,” I nod, smiling up at her as Genevieve stirs.
Marie makes her way towards the back of the apartment and into the bedroom, closing the door softly behind her.
“Princess?” I whisper, squeezing her shoulder gently.
“Hmmm.” She groans. “What time is it?”
“It is ten pm. I should get back to Murwood before they send someone looking for me.”
“Do you have to go?” She sits up, rubbing her eyes.
“Yeah, I do.” I hold her hand and squeeze gently. “But I can come back tomorrow to see you?”
“I would love that.” She leans closer. “I’ve missed you, Mason.”
“I’ve missed you too, Princess.” I lean closer to her, our faces centimetres from each other.
I’ve always known that Genevieve had a crush on me in the last few years before she left. She was just a kid, and I was focused on finding my place in Murwood. But, now that she is older, I can hardly hold myself back from her. She’s the most beautiful woman I’ve ever known.
She licks her lips, her eyes dropping to my mouth. I can’t hold myself back anymore.
I close the distance, my lips connecting with hers as I pull her closer. Her body responds to mine as she straddles my legs.
My hands run underneath her shirt, her back arching towards me. I follow the curve of her hips as she starts to grind against me. My cock hardens as I breathe in her scent, feeling the warmth of her body against mine.
She pulls back from the kiss, looking at me. “Please don’t leave me again. Stay with me.” Her eyes are sad.
“I have to go home tonight, but I will come back tomorrow.” I place my hands on either side of her face. “And then I will never leave you.” I made the promise to her mother when we were young that I would always look after her. I’ve failed to do that for five years. Now, I won’t let her down again. I won’t let her out of my arms.
“Promise?” she whispers, her forehead resting against mine.
“I promise.” I bring my lips to hers again. I need more of her, to taste her, to feel her.
“Okay. I will see you tomorrow,” she says, leaving one final kiss on my lips.
She stands up and makes her way down to her bedroom. “Good night, Mason,” she says as she walks into her room.
“Good night, Princess,” I whisper back to the space where she once was.
* * *
When I wake up the next morning, I have minimal things packed into a small duffle and I am ready to head back to Genevieve.
After seeing her yesterday, I am ready to throw this all away just for a chance to be with her.
The drive back isn’t too bad; no one asked me questions about what is in the bag as I left the mansion, and I am constantly checking my mirrors to make sure there is no tail.
With the way I am driving, it doesn’t take me long to get there. If it was physically possible, I would be out of the car before I had even had the chance to stop it, and let the car roll down the road.
But I stop the car, pull the handbrake, and jump out, closing the door behind me. I run towards the lifts and keep hitting the up button until one of them opens.
I step into the lift and hit the fourth floor button. What feels like a hundred years to make it to the fourth floor is only a few seconds. The lift dings and the doors open. I start a quick step down the hall to apartment twenty-two.
The door is slightly ajar.
My heart drops. Pushing the door open, I reach behind my back, palming the cold metal that is my gun.
There is a shadow standing at the back of the living room I had been sitting in last night . Only, now, Marie and Genevieve are not there.
“They are no longer here, boy,” the shadow says. “I suggest you turn around and go back to where it is you came from.”
“Where are they?” I ask, wanting to know if they are okay.
“They are fine, don’t worry,” the shadow says. “But I suggest you do not look for them. I can not trust you or anyone else to have their best interests in mind. That’s why they have been relocated.”
My whole world freezes. She has been ripped from me again. I have lost her again, only this time it is going to hurt so much more. I failed. I have failed her and I have broken the promise I made to her last night. I never should have left.
Dropping to my knees, I look at the ground. The shadow walks past me, placing a strong hand on my shoulder. “I’m sorry, son,” he says, before he continues out of the apartment.
A tear runs down my cheek and I sigh. Sitting in the middle of an empty room, I have the empty feeling of nothing to strive for anymore.