42. Mason
FORTY-TWO
MASON
Stalking in silence is one of the many skills I’ve acquired over the years of being a private investigator, and right now, I’m executing with precision, parked in the shadows of the lot across the street from the motel, waiting to see where Chase ends up.
The three of them appear from the main office, Lily walking next to her brother, the long-haired blond heading into a different room than the two of them. Swallowing down the sharp stabs that pierce my chest as I watch her disappear behind closed doors, I roll out of the lot and head to Lily’s apartment complex.
There are things I need to take care of. Things she’ll hate me for but will ensure she isn’t left here in Raindale unprotected.
I’ll revel in her hatred as long as it’s keeping her safe. I’ll let her think the worst of me. Let her believe that everything between us was forged from my lies, even though the reality is that, with her, I’m the realest I’ve ever been. And honestly, I’m not sure how I’ll recover from the loss.
But my father knows where she is. Worse, knows who she is to me, and as long as she’s by herself, working every day of the week and having baby Chase stay with Susan, they’re vulnerable. And I’m not willing to take the risk.
It’s long after the hot Arizona sun has fallen beneath the horizon, the full moon rising in its place, that I head back to the motel and knock on Chase’s door.
The red wood swings open, Chase’s eyes widening before they turn into slits, his arms crossing over his chest. “What the fuck do you want?”
I raise a brow. “I think you say fuck more than any person I’ve ever met.”
His jaw clenches. “Do you honestly fucking think that joking with me is something we do now?” He shoves his finger into my chest, and I have to temper the urge to rip his hand off me. “I was nice to you because I had to be, but that was before you fucked with my baby sister.”
His anger spirals off him like steam in the cold, and my respect heightens, because despite my size and the fact I could break all his fingers before he could throw a punch, he’s standing up for Lily. Making sure I know my place. He has the type of loyalty most people dream of having, and it makes my attitude toward him warm—just a little.
“It’s because of your sister that I’m letting you get away with talking to me like that.” I take a step forward until I tower over him. “But do it again and we’ll have problems.”
I grab a toothpick from my pocket, my body screaming for a cigarette to calm the nerves. But there’s no time for that right now. “Listen, I don’t have much time. Can I come in?”
His eyes are calculating as they size me up, his jaw muscle tensing as the seconds tick by.
“ Please ,” I bite out, the urgency I feel in my veins bleeding into my voice. Time is running out for me to say what I need to say; my father expects me in Phoenix within the hour.
Sighing, he runs a hand through his hair, tugging at the roots before opening the door and walking away. I blow out a breath of relief and follow him in, glancing behind me, making sure there are no wandering eyes. I wouldn’t put it past my father to have someone watching me, even though he knows he has me by the balls.
My stomach somersaults at the idea of being in the public eye. Of being scrutinized . Nausea churns at the mere thought, and I realize that if Lily hates me now, things are going to get a lot worse when she turns on the news and realizes who my father really is. Another thing I never got around to telling her.
I follow Chase into his room, anxiety making me jumpy as I shove my hands in my pockets and bounce on the balls of my feet.
“So what is it?” he says, sitting on the edge of the bed.
“I’m in love with your sister.”
His nostrils flare, and he opens his mouth, but I keep talking, rushing out the words so I can get to the point. “I just thought we should get that out of the way. I didn’t mean for it to happen, but it did. And maybe it’s unprofessional?—”
“It’s unprofessional as fuck , you sleazy prick,” he cuts in.
I smirk. “I won’t deny it. But I love her, and she loves me too.”
His eyes narrow. “How do you know?”
My hand presses against my chest, hoping that the weight of my palm will help subdue the ache. “Trust me.” My voice pinches. “I know. You can hate me for it all you want, but it doesn’t change the truth.”
His brow quirks. “And what truth is that?”
“That I stalked her for a paycheck, and then we fell in love, and now I need your help to keep her safe.”
“I have always tried to keep her safe,” he hisses.
I nod, my eyes softening at the defensiveness in his tone. “I know.”
He pinches the bridge of his nose. “Just how long did you know about her being here before you actually told me?”
I purse my lips. “Awhile.”
He huffs.
“Honestly, you can get upset about that shit later. But listen to me, Chase.” I slap my hand into my open palm. “There are people in my life who will use her to hurt me.”
“Of fucking course there is.” He glares, rage swirling through the hazel center of his eyes.
“My father is Thomas Wells. He’s running for president and he’s…” My jaw tenses as I try to figure out the best way to say it. “He’s not a good man. He found out about Lily and now he’s using her to make me his bitch.”
Chase’s elbows rest on his knees, his hands pressing into his eyes as he groans. “Jesus, what the fuck , dude?”
“I know it sounds crazy. But Lily isn’t safe here. Not if she’s alone.”
He looks to the side, his face trying to hold back the pain that’s clear as day in his features. “She won’t come back with me.”
I shake my head. “She will. She’ll find out tomorrow that she’s being evicted.”
Chase’s eyes widen, and he jerks forward in his chair. “What?”
Running a hand over my face, I cringe. “I may have talked to her landlord. It didn’t take much to convince them. She’s three months behind on rent.” My heart thunks against my chest, knowing she didn’t have the money but was too proud to ask for help—knowing I’m taking advantage of that fact now. “I did what needed to be done.”
Chase’s eyes are wide and he shakes his head. “I thought I was an asshole, but you really take the cake.”
I shrug. “I don’t want to live in this world if she’s not in it. And I’ll never forgive myself if something happens to her or Chase.”
He nods, exhaling through his nose. “No, I get that.”
Relief floods through me. “Look, she has demons in Tennessee. Ones she’s afraid of meeting.” Our eyes lock. “I’m trusting you to keep her safe.”
He nods.
“I need to be sure you understand me.” I step forward, tilting my head. “She isn’t safe here.”
“I won’t leave without her.”
Blowing out a breath, I turn to walk out the door, but something makes me pause at the threshold, words on the tip of my tongue that I’m dying to get out.
“Her son… He…” I pause, praying for my heart to settle from where it’s twisting violently in my chest. “He loves pancakes, but not the boxed ones. The fancy ones with chocolate chips baked in with whipped cream and chocolate sauce on top.” My voice breaks and I clear my throat. “He’ll throw back some bacon, but only if it’s crispy, and he hates sausage.” I peer at Chase from the corner of my eye.
His nostrils flare, tongue running over the front of his teeth.
“He likes it when you make a smiley face with ketchup on top of scrambled eggs, and…” I continue. “And he’s so goddamn special.” I exhale a shaky breath.
I thought my heart was already broken, but it isn’t until this moment that the final pieces rip and tear away, shriveling as they fall to the ground. I’ll never get to hold his hand or see his chubby cheeks break into a smile. I’ll never hear him squeal with excitement when we play Spider-Man on the walls. I’ll never get to tell him that for all the ways I love his mother, I love him just as much.
It’s that last thought that breaks me, my chest splitting from the pain, organs spilling to the floor.
“She’s a good mom, Chase.”
His chin lifts, and he jerks his head, his Adam’s apple bobbing with his swallow.
I nod, sniffing back the burn of tears.
And then I turn around and say goodbye to Raindale, Arizona, leaving my heart behind with it.