28. MASON
MASON
I rollover onto my back with a groan. My entire body hurts plus, I’ve got a nasty headache. I slowly open my eyes and the light instantly causes them to burn. What the hell happened? I feel like I got hit by a truck.
Idon’t even know what day it is. AllI can remember is drinking… so much drinking. I think I’ve been doing that for days now, or has it been weeks? I don’t know anymore.
AllI know is that the hole in my chest keeps getting bigger and bigger and it won’t stop hurting. I still haven’t heard from my girl and it’s been weeks. It’s like she’s forgotten all about me. I fucking hate that.
Mybrother and Hunter have kept me here all this time or I would’ve already made it to London. They said to give her space. Space, space, and fucking space! How much fucking space does she need when I’m slowly dying here without her?
Isit up and can barely keep myself upright with all the booze still in my system. I’m surprised I’m not sweating booze to be honest. Last night, I really went out, I think. I remember sneaking away to the club since these two here act worse than prison guards.
Iknow I drank a lot and I might have even done some drugs. Who the hell knows? I’m not even sure how I made it home… it definitely looks like home. One look around and I see that it’s my office. Huh? When the hell did it get cleaned up and fixed?
“You look like absolute fucking shit,” I hear from behind my desk.
“So? Who the fuck cares?” I ask my brother.
“I do, you fucking asshole! Are you so intent on dying? What am I going to do if you’re gone too? Because at the rate you’re going you could be dead as soon as tomorrow if you’re not careful,” Gray barks at me. At least that’s what it sounds like to my pounding head.
“You’ll be fine. You’ll have my inheritance plus you have your own millions. You’ll survive, bro.”
“I don’t care about the money, you ass! I care about you. What the fuck is wrong with you?”
“What do you mean what’s wrong with me? She fucking left me! I haven’t heard from her in…” I stop and pause to think. “How long has it been since she left?”
“Today makes a month,” he says quietly.
“A whole fucking month and not one word. How the fuck do you think that makes me feel? I’m fucking dying here, man, and I don’t give a fuck about anything anymore. Nothing matters without her here. Don’t you get that?” I snap.
“Remind me to never fall in love, ever,” he mumbles. A moment later, he stands to his feet and walks toward me. “Come on, let’s go get you cleaned up and fed.”
“I’m fine.”
“I don’t fucking care!”
Iroll my eyes and follow him because I can’t deal with his shit, along with my own shit right now. At least the other annoying ass isn’t here to start with his shit, too.
“You look and smell foul,” I hear as we walk toward the stairs. Whoops, spoke too soon.
“Have you always been this annoying or am I just lucky?”
“You’re just lucky, baby,” Hunter says with a smirk on his face.
“You’re an ass,” I grumble.
“So, you keep saying but I’m actually awesome!”
“Whatever. Have either of you heard from her?” I ask and they both stay quiet. From the guilty looks on their faces, I know that they have spoken to her. I’m the only one she’s refusing to speak to and, man, that shit hurts my gut. Hell, my whole fucking soul if I’m being honest. “Just tell me one thing. Is she okay?”
“Yeah, she’s okay,” Hunter finally answers. “She’s been seeing her therapist if that helps. It means she’s working on herself.”
“Yeah…” I answer in a sigh. “You guys can go now. I’m just going to shower and then take a nap.”
“Are you sure you don’t want us to keep you company?”
“No. I’ll be fine.”
“No more drinking or doing any drugs or I will fucking lock you up in one of my warehouses, so you won’t be a constant menace to yourself or us,” Hunter threatens.
“Yeah, yeah, yeah whatever,” I say with a roll of my eyes.
“Are you sure you’re good on your own? You look like you’d fall in the shower and kill yourself with how weak you look,” Gray states. “You’re starting to look like a skeleton.”
“Gee, thanks, bro. I’m fine. I’m still strong enough to kick both your asses so don’t worry.”
“I doubt it but okay. We’ll leave you alone for now. But first I’m taking away all the booze,” he says as he starts to walk around my room and gather the many bottles of alcohol I have collected. Hunter helps too and between the two of them I think they picked up about fifteen bottles give or take.
“You’re seriously trying to die, aren’t you?” Hunter says, giving me the death glare. “I swear to God if I wasn’t feeling sorry for your dumbass, I’d knock some damn sense into you!”
“Come at me then, bruh!” I grumble.
“Just go shower before I really fucking shoot you for being a royal pain in the ass!”
“Takes one to know one!” I yell after him as both of them walk out of my room.
Ishut the door behind them and look around the room for my phone. It takes a while since my room is pretty much a mess, but I eventually do. I check it and of course there”s no missed calls or texts from her.
ButI don’t care because I’m going to go see her. I call my pilot and tell him to get a flight ready to London for today, leaving as soon as possible. He lets me know that he’s on it and I go to shower and get dressed.
Thenext thing I do is call one of my guards and let him know my plans. By the time I’m ready to go I sneak down the stairs and straight to the garage where my guy is waiting for me. I don’t need the two Mcnosies to be up in my business and stop me from going, so just to be safe I hide in the backseat on the floor until we make it past the gates. Thankfully, I make it out before anyone can stop me.
It’slate by the time I get to London but I don’t care. I go to Adelaide’s; the gate opens for me and she and Carter are there by the time I get to the door.
“HeyMase. What are you doing here?” Adelaide says as she gives me a hug.
“I’m here to see my girl.”
“Um… I don’t think that’s such a good idea. It’s late and—” Carter says but then I cut him off.
“I’ll shoot all of you assholes if I have to! I just want to see her and make sure she’s fine with my own two eyes. I won’t disturb her if she’s asleep, but please I just need to fucking see her,” I say as I get a hitch in the throat because I just feel like fucking crying at this point. I’m barely hanging on by a thread here and they must see it too because both of them move out of the way to let me pass.
“She is asleep but come on, I’ll show you to her room,” Adelaide says as she starts to walk away and I begin to follow. “How have you been?”
“Not good. I’m losing my mind without her there.”
“I’m sorry,” she says, sadness filling her voice. We walk all the way upstairs and a moment later she stops outside Winter’s door.
“Thanks,” I tell her before she can walk away.
“You’re welcome. Just don’t make me regret it,” she says and then leaves.
Iquietly open her door and step inside. The room is dark except for the little night light that’s on. I feel my chest squeeze and then release the pressure when my eyes land on her small body in the middle of the bed covered in her blankets.
Itfeels like I can finally breathe again, now that I’m seeing her after going for so long without even a glimpse. I slowly walk to her bed and toe my shoes off before getting in bed beside her.
Igently put my arm over her and pull her in close to snuggle. I take in a deep breath and her scent calms me down, bringing me peace after feeling like I’ve been in chaos for so long.
Mymind and body are exhausted after drinking and doing drugs so much that I almost instantly fall asleep next to her. I wish I could stay here forever but I know I’ll have to get up and leave before she wakes up to find me here with her.
Inthe early hours of the morning, I feel a tap on my shoulder and when I open my eyes, I see Adelaide standing there with a finger to her lips. I nod and slowly move my hand away and sit up.
Ikiss her forehead before getting up, putting my shoes back on and leaving the room behind Adelaide. We walk all the way down to the kitchen and I see the guys are already up and about too. She hands me a cup of coffee that is desperately needed and I take a sip.
“Thanks, and thanks for waking me up too. I was planning to do just that before she woke up.”
“No worries. I know both of you are going through a rough time right now and I’m hoping it gets better,” she says with a kind smile on her face.
“I’m going to leave now,” I tell her once I’ve finished my coffee. “But please don’t let her know that I’ve been here. I don’t want her to freak out or anything.”
“No problem. Are you staying in London or flying back home?” Carter asks.
“What do you think, dickhead? I’m not leaving until she’s leaving,” I mutter.
“By the way my brother said he’ll kick your ass when he sees you again because you don’t listen for shit,” Carter says, laughing.
“Ah fuck! That asshole stays to minding my business too damn much,” I grumble.
“Well, you’ve grown on him so consider yourself lucky,” Carter says with a chuckle.
“I’m heading out now. I’ll see you guys tonight again.”
“Do you think that’s such a good idea?”
“Maybe not but there’s no way in hell I’m staying in London and not sleeping next to my girl,” I say. “And don’t think any of you can stop me either because I will kidnap her if I have to from you idiots!”
“Ugh! What is with all the lunacy these days? Fine! We won’t say a word but if she wakes up and finds out on her own and wants you to leave, well then, you’ll have to or you’ll be the one who gets shot, understood?” Carter says.
“Yes. I got you geez.”
Andwith that I head out, at least for the day. And that first day created a whole new monster in me. I now spend my days stalking and watching over her. I make sure I’m close, but not close enough where she can see me in case, she ever needs help or anything like that.
Ilive and breathe by watching over her every day but the best part is when I slip into her room at night and sleep beside her. I’ve been in London a month already and not going to look a gift horse in the mouth but the very next day after my first visit she moved into the penthouse at the CrowneHotel, which means easy access for me at night since I got a key to her room from Hunter who also brought his ass to London.
Justmaking sure that she’s safe every day is helping me in some ways though there are days when I still struggle and, on those days, I hit the bottle hard. I hate what I’m becoming, but I can’t help myself. This is not home and I just want her to come home already…