Chapter 30
CHAPTER THIRTY
Mason sat down for dinner and asked, “So where’d you guys go today?”
“To our old house,” Vivi replied. At Mason’s lifted eyebrow, Vivi elaborated, “It’s in a tiny little town called Cypress Point.”
“Do you guys still own the house?” Mason remembered Vivi telling him about her parents, but he didn’t recall much else.
“It was put up for sale after my parents passed, but Knox actually just bought it. You know Bennett Kingsley?”
“Yeah.” An ex-police lieutenant, he’d taken over his father’s business and now owned a significant amount of real estate in the area. He’d actually assisted on a recent case Mason and Jaxon were working, and he seemed like a decent guy.
“Apparently, he snatched up the land a couple of years back when the market tanked. When he found out Knox was looking to buy it back, he sold it to him. Knox wants to build a place out there.”
“Good for him.”
“I guess.” Vivi hesitated as she swirled her fork through her noodles. “I’m worried about him.”
To hear her say she worried about Knox was surprising, to say the least. Mason expected Knox to be protective of her, but he never imagined that she would waste time worrying over him.
He was one of the most self-assured men Mason knew, and there were few people, if any, he’d rather have at his back. “Why?”
“There’s a lot of history there.” She explained the way they’d grown up and Knox’s attachment to the daughter of one of the richest men in the city.
It shocked Mason to hear he’d been so crazy about the girl.
Knox may as well have been a statue for all the emotion Mason had ever seen him exhibit outside of Vivi.
Though he’d known and worked with him for over a decade, he still didn’t know much about him.
Some guys kept their love life quiet. Others bragged.
Knox was locked down tighter than Fort Knox. On the other hand…
A memory from several years ago flickered to life in the back of Mason’s brain. They’d been stationed in Iraq at the time, and it was a day like any other—hot, dry, exhausting physically and mentally. They had some downtime that night, and Knox had gotten piss drunk.
It was the only time Mason ever remembered seeing him like that. Knox was always so reserved, so in control of himself and everything around him. But that night, he’d been beside himself.
After countless drinks, Mason had taken Knox’s service pistol and helped Knox to his bed. He’d been physically ravaged, at the end of his rope, and the way he’d cried out for Everleigh had nearly gutted Mason.
God, he couldn’t imagine. If he ever lost Vivi… Christ, he couldn’t bear it.
“What’s wrong?”
Mason focused on Vivi and shook his head a little, forcing down the feeling that had risen in him like a tidal wave. “Nothing.”
Her head tipped slightly to one side, the expression in her eyes telling him she didn’t believe a single word. “Something’s bothering you, I can tell. You can talk to me if—”
Mason pushed from his chair, suddenly overwhelmed by the need to feel her against him, to hold her close.
“Everything is just perfect.” She came willingly into his arms and peered up at him, worry and something else lingering in the dark depths of her eyes.
He wanted nothing more than to soothe her fears.
Protect her, cherish her every single day.
He tightened his hold on her. “I have you, babe. That’s all I need. ”
They spent the remainder of the evening together, just hanging out and talking.
With Vivi, there was never a shortage of things to talk about.
And Mason loved it. She was knowledgeable on a variety of subjects, so smart and absolutely gorgeous.
It still stunned him that she’d chosen to be with him instead of someone else.
After work the next day, Mason climbed into his truck and headed toward the hotel where Tyler was staying.
Although it looked a little better in the daylight, it wasn't much of an improvement.
The brick was cracked, and the windows showed a layer of dust, indicating they hadn't been cleaned in quite a while.
The parking space in front of Tyler's room was open, so Mason pulled the truck to a stop and climbed out. He threw a quick look around, then strode to the door and gave a hard triple knock. He heard no sound or movement within, and after about thirty seconds, he repeated the knock. Still nothing. Pulling his phone from his back pocket, he sent Tyler a quick text asking to meet up at some point so he could fill them in on what he’d found up north.
Resigning himself to not getting any answers for the moment, he hopped back in the truck and headed to a fast-food joint.
He seriously considered blowing off going to his father’s house and spending the time with Vivi instead.
It was almost surprising how much he enjoyed being with her.
After so many years alone, having the steady presence of a woman in his life was as welcoming as it was daunting.
Before he met Vivi, he thought he was happy.
But he didn't really know the meaning of the word until she swept into his life. He could be himself with her; she didn't push him to act a certain way, and she forgave him when he screwed up. He was still worried he’d mess up somehow or that she’d wake up one morning and realize how much better she was, that she deserved a better man.
He only hoped she could see how much he cared about her.
So much so, it scared the life out of him sometimes.
Vivi joked about his rules, but they'd existed for a reason. He’d dated Samantha for years in high school, and she was the one steady presence in his life. After she'd cheated on him, he’d shunned the idea of marriage. Now, though...
The thought of having Vivi by his side sent a little thrill through him.
It was too early to talk that way. Maybe.
But every day he spent with her, he became more and more certain she was what he wanted.
They hadn't spent a single day apart for the past few weeks, and he realized exactly why he’d resisted a real relationship for so long. He'd been waiting for her.
He let out a sigh. Miles had asked it of him, and he found he couldn’t deny him.
Miles was closer to their father than he ever would be, but Miles couldn’t see the bad side of him, or maybe he chose not to.
Either way, Miles thought their father was dying and deserved a second chance, so Mason would grant him a few hours of his time.
Maybe he’d changed over the past few years.
It was possible. Doubtful, but possible.
Their father lived in the same house where they’d grown up, located almost an hour northwest in a dusty little blue-collar town.
A majority of the population, their father included, had worked for the local mill for decades.
Mineral Forge was quiet and laid back, but it was also the stereotypical small town where gossip reigned supreme.
A few weeks after graduation, Mason had taken off for boot camp and never looked back. His entire body was coiled tight with tension as the sign for Mineral Forge came into view, and it only increased as he turned off the main road and pulled into his father’s drive.
He’d driven the truck today to avoid getting caught in the rain on his bike, and he parked it next to Miles’s. He shook his head at the sight of the dark gray Raptor. Mason was a Chevy guy through and through, but Miles had insisted on the Ford as soon as he laid eyes on it.
Drawing in a deep breath, Mason climbed from the truck and headed for the back porch. They’d always used this entrance, coming in through the kitchen instead of the foyer, and he gave a cursory knock on the screen door before swinging it open and stepping inside.
“Hey, man.” Relief creased Miles’s face as he greeted Mason from his spot at the kitchen table.
Their father sat at the head of the small oval table, and Mason gave him a quick nod. “Hey, Pop.”
He grunted a little. “Nice of you to finally show up.”
Mason immediately bristled at the sarcasm dripping from his tone, but he didn’t have a chance to speak as Miles cut in. “Work’s been crazy busy. Mason’s been swamped, so I’m just glad he could make it.”
Mason knew Miles was trying to help, and he shot a tight smile his way. Unfortunately, his gratitude slipped away when their father snorted with disdain. “Always trying to fix someone else’s life, huh, son? Maybe you should focus on doing something productive for yourself.”
“Like work at the same mill for thirty years, then come home and get piss drunk each night?” Mason shot back.
“I did what I had to,” their father snapped. “I put food on the table and a roof over your head. You should be grateful.”
“Yeah, I’m ecstatic, believe me.”
Mason shook his head and drew in a deep breath.
Their father always brought out the worst in him, and he refused to let him have that kind of control anymore.
He’d been away for twelve years, and he wasn’t a kid anymore.
He’d tried for years to please his old man, but it was never enough.
He’d made a life for himself—a life that he truly enjoyed—and that was all that mattered.
Their father’s opinion meant less than nothing to Mason, and if he wanted to be miserable, then that was his prerogative. Mason had come here for one reason, and one reason alone. “Miles says you’re sick.”
“Bah.” Their father took a swig of his beer. “That loony doctor doesn’t know what he’s talking about.”
“Right.” Mason rolled his eyes. “He only spent eight years studying medicine. But I’m sure you know better than he does.”
“Don’t know why you’re so concerned with my health. You can’t even be bothered to stop by more than once every ten years.”
“Maybe I would if I had a reason to,” Mason countered.
“Bull,” their father thundered. “After everything I’ve done for you—”
“Everything you’ve done for me?” Mason couldn’t hold back his astonished laugh. “And what have you done for me? Tell me, please, ‘cause I can’t come up with a single thing.”
“I’m your father, damn it.” His father’s face flushed bright red. “Family is supposed to—”
“We're not a family,” Mason snapped. “Never have been.”
“Maybe not you,” their father countered.
Hot fury raced through Mason’s veins. “You got something to say, then say it to my face.”
“He didn't mean it that way,” Miles said, placing himself in the middle.
“Meant exactly what I said,” their father replied stiffly. “You've never cared about anything but yourself.”
The thought made Mason see red. He’d served his country.
He'd had the backs of all his brothers and sisters who served overseas.
He would lay down his life for them still.
For their father to throw out a line about him being careless and selfish was more than he could bear.
The old man would never change. He was a prick growing up, and he was a prick now.
“And y'all wonder why I never come home. Yeah, Pop, I know. I'm a drain on society. At least you got one good son. I should probably go before my bad genes rub off on him more than they already have.”
A grimace passed over Miles’s face. “Can’t you two stop sniping at each other and just get along for two minutes?”
Mason’s hands curled into fists by his sides. “Well, this has been enlightening. Glad to see some things never change.”
“Come on, man,” Miles coaxed. “Just stay.”
“Let him go,” their father grumbled. “I’m sure there’s an empty bar stool calling his name.”
For a brief second, the temptation to get blackout drunk out of spite crossed Mason’s mind.
Almost as quickly as it came, it disappeared again as he slammed out the door and climbed into the cab of his truck.
For the first time in forever, he had something he truly cared about.
He was gonna grab onto it with both hands and never let go.