CHAPTER FORTY-FIVE
SAINT
Aclean lungful of air hits me when I appear in the hallway. Mason’s already halfway down the passage. He’s heading to the bathroom. I trail behind him, stepping into the space seconds after he enters.
Marble walls gleam under low, recessed lighting.
The air smells faintly of sandalwood and sterile citrus.
A wide mirror stretches across the wall, reflecting the toilet stalls behind.
Black stone sinks sit heavily, and Mason stands in front of a sink, trying to wash off the stain on his shirt.
When he looks in the mirror, he frowns and continues scrubbing his shirt.
He’s not happy with me. Of course, he’s not.
“Mason.”
“What?” He snaps without looking at me.
“Mason…” I murmur and put my hands in my pockets.
He spins on his heels and faces me with a lethal look. “How could you react like that?! Now everyone knows about us!”
“I don’t care about their opinions.” I try to do damage control. To make it seem as if it means nothing. As if I’m not terrified the same way he is.
“I care! Because we both know the kind of man you have for a father. He’ll fucking rip you from me, and I won’t do anything about it.”
“So, I should have just stood there and watched him disrespect you?”
“Yes!” he hammers back. “That was not the perfect time to play God.” He yells breathlessly.
“Play God?” I shake my head and place my hand on my waist. Silence settles between us. Too raw. Too hurtful. Mason leans on the vanity while I stand barely inches away from him. And God, I want to close the gap between us. I hate that we are fighting.
I’m a thirty-nine-year-old man, and I have never really stood up for what I want.
“And what were you even doing with that woman who wanted to get into your pants?”
“She’s no one.” I murmur.
“Well, you let her kiss you on the cheek.” He turns away from me and continues scrubbing his shirt.
“Maybe you love her kisses more than mine. I have a good idea. Maybe you should get married to her right now.” He grumbles, voice shaking with panic and a tinge of jealousy.
“You let her get close enough to touch you.” He continues, visibly petrified.
I love jealous Mason. I love Mason. Every part of him, Elio included. It’s stupid that I fell first and fell hard, but I don’t have any regrets. And it makes me feel alive that he’s possessive of me.
I walk toward him and place my hand on his shoulder. He shrugs me off even though I make him face me. “Maybe you should both get a fucking room too.” He pouts and scowls at me.
“Mason, she means nothing to me.”
“Then why did you let her kiss you?”
“It was unexpected. I didn’t kiss her back.”
“I’m the only man allowed to touch you.” He declares.
“I only have eyes for you.” I promise him.
“And I don’t want to get married to anyone that’s not you or make love to anyone that’s not you.
You’re my everything.” His face cracks with softness, and he tilts his lips into a smile, although it never reaches his eyes.
“And I don’t give a fuck what anyone else thinks.
I care about you. Your feelings. Your thoughts.
Your opinions.” That scowl still sits on his beautiful features.
“You shouldn’t let anyone who’s not me get close enough to touch you.”
“Do you want me on my knees, little devil? I’m ready to do whatever you want to earn your forgiveness.” I press, desperation chipping away at my composure. I’m literally pleading at this point. “You drive me crazy.” I shake my head, voice rough and uneven, out of breath.
His eyes find mine instantly, softening with want. “I drive you crazy?”
“All day. Every day, baby.”
He pulls his bottom lip with his teeth. His jaw tightens as an uncertain look flash across his face. “But we can’t ignore your father.”
“Fuck him. He doesn’t tell me what to do with my life anymore.
” I affirm. Choosing this moment, choosing him.
Even though every other part of me burns with terror.
My hand rests on his back, staking my claim as I take his lips in a ferocious kiss.
“If another man disrespects you, I will capture him and make him pay.” My fingers tread up to his ribs, voice low.
His brows arch together as he studies me.
“You are mine, Mason.” My voice shakes with terror as I smile. “Am I yours?”
He grins, so bright that the smile meets his eyes, then his lips collide with mine in a soft, unrushed, velvet kiss. “Yes.” He whispers. “You’re mine.” He kisses me again.
“We could go home now.” I say in between the kiss.
“Really?” He holds my cheek.
“Yeah. I want to do some bad things to you.” I kiss him again.
A knock comes against the bathroom door, pulling me out of his orbit. “Hey, it’s me, Virgil. Father needs us to convene at the mansion.”
Mason tenses up in my arms. “You think…”
“You don’t have to worry about me. I’ll be fine.” I reassure him. “Go downstairs and meet Bernard. He’ll drive you to the house, and I’ll meet you there after I finish up with my father.”
“You’ll still do bad things to me?”
“Yes, definitely.” I smirk and kiss him again.
“Alright. But can I have your jacket at least?”
“Sure, anything for you, baby.” He shrugs off his jacket and puts it around my shoulder.
“Come on, hurry, your brother’s waiting for you.”
“Give me a kiss first.” I lean closer, and he kisses me before I leave.
It hurts me that I don’t get to have him by my side at all times, but Father needs me, and I’m not in the mood to explain why I’m late tonight, so I leave with Cross and Virgil in the car. Virgil drives with Cross in the front while I sit in the back.
We sit in an awkward, suffocating silence. I’m sure they haven’t forgotten what happened barely an hour ago. Cross keeps glancing at me in the mirror. It’s the third time I’m catching his gaze now. “If there’s anything you need to say, spit it out!”
“You’re in love with him, aren’t you?” Cross mutters.
“I know it’s complicated…” I state before Virgil cuts me off.
“It’s complicated, alright. That man almost fucking destroyed our family.” Virgil slams his hand against the steering wheel.
“I mean, if Saint thinks he can trust him again, then maybe we should give him a chance.” Cross declares quietly. Virgil regards him with an unpleasant stare. He shakes his head and tuts.
“I do not need your approval to love who I want to love.” I lean backward just as Virgil drives through the gates of the family house.
Knowing the horrors my father has subjected me to in the past, admitting this felt like willingly stepping into a paralyzing nightmare, dread tightening around my ribs with every breath.
My hands tremble at my side, and I ball up my fists.
“It’s not about your sexuality. It’s about choosing to go back to a Judas.”
“You know what, asshole? Talk shit about him again, and I’ll break your jaw.” I lean forward, rage burning hot beneath my skin.
I’m tired of his fucking tantrums.
He’s not the King.
I am.
I have called the shots my entire life while he was off gardening with my grandfather.
I’m not letting a man whom I taught how to shoot a gun and hold a knife speak to me that way.
“Stick to what you know how to do best, Virgil. Being a soldier.” My hands curl into fists as I lean backward.
If we weren’t driving, I would fuck up his face, show him who’s in charge.
Virgil doesn’t utter a single word until we are at the house.
We exit the car and storm in, side by side, entering Father’s office after he calls us in.
I sit in the middle with Cross on my left and Virgil on my right.
Father sits on his throne, an unimpressed smile on his lips.
I had the man we’ve been chasing for months now delivered to him on a platter.
I got the job done. “Cross, leave us.” He waves dismissively without looking up at my youngest brother.
He’d always disregarded him as if he hadn’t moved every mountain in this world to impress him.
“I’ll visit the Red Vault in a few weeks to meet that traitorous fools. How was the sinner’s wedding?”
I swallow and lock my hands together. “Went well.”
He doesn’t respond to that. “Since we have our enemies out of the way, what do we do about our shipment? Our associates have been patient with us.”
“We still have the deal with Prince Kane. It’s not safe to move through our ports because we never know who could be watching. The shipment leaves Kingston for Genesis tonight and will leave Prince Kane’s harbor tomorrow night.”
“Hmm. You play a ruthless game, son. I’m proud.” He smiles. I never thought I’d hear those words from his mouth. Will he still be proud of me if he knows who I am? Or will I be a sinner just like my cousin, Sinclair?