Chapter 10

Chapter Ten

Ainsley

Mason disappeared.

It's been two weeks since he said, "Let's date."

I don't know what to do—other than kiss him the first chance I get. During the past couple of weeks, I've been helping my brothers. We've been setting up new tracks for their upcoming album, creating music for some label artists, and scouting for new talent.

The latter is boring. Sitting in the office playing recordings and discussing why that person can or can't be part of Decker Records is tedious.

It's Wednesday, we're done with work when Matt asks, "Did you tell her?"

Jacob shakes his head.

"Tell me what?" I glare at Matt.

Jacob serves me with a mischievous grin. "Good, I think it's best if we take her now before she goes back to her crib and changes her clothes."

I stop fidgeting with the piano and pay more attention to my brothers.

"Why do I have to change?"

I eye my entire outfit. A pair of jeans and a yellow blouse, nothing fancy. It's comfortable and low-key. My hair is pulled up into a ponytail, and I'm wearing the teardrop diamond earrings my grandparents gave me for my sweet sixteen.

"No, we don't want you to change," my brothers say at the same time. "You're perfect. Let's go."

I check the time. It's almost ten at night. I can't think of many places where these two can take me at this hour. A strip club? Jacob did that two days ago. I had to call Matt to rescue me, but he never answered the phone. I ended up buying my brother a lap dance, and then he agreed to leave and take me to the movies.

"Payback for taking me with you to the spa," he told me.

He should've been thankful. Jacob needed to relax. I learned that a nice massage is the perfect medicine for stress. He says it's sex, but I've yet to figure that out.

Maybe he's right, but all I know is that he never appreciates me.

"Another prank?" I look from Jacob to Matt a couple of times, and both shake their heads.

They seem sincere, but sometimes their honest look has a different meaning.

"Fine, but if I don't like where you're taking me. I'll take you to the nail salon."

Jacob chuckles. "Give me Eleanor's keys. I'll drive. We'll take her home later. Matt and I can crash there."

I hate when he jumps on his alpha horse and thinks he must protect me because he swears I'm his little sister. Three minutes doesn't make him wiser than me. I pull my purse from the drawer where I usually hide it and hand him one of the sets of keys. A girl always needs a few extra copies in case of emergencies and whatnot.

Matt takes his monster Jeep, a Wrangler with big tires that he uses mostly when he goes camping.

"Don't look sour, princess," Jacob smiles at me. "You're going to enjoy this, I promise."

"Uh-huh. If your plan is to take me camping, at least let me go back home to pack a bag."

He shakes his head. "You wound me. You have too little faith in me."

"Try none," I answer, checking my phone while he's driving.

When the car stops, I look out the window. We're at a nightclub. And I'm dressed casual—too casual. Damn it, why wouldn't they let me change?

"Vogue?" I read the black and white sign.

Jacob is parked right behind Matt's Jeep, where he is handing over the keys to a guy wearing a neon-yellow vest.

Another guy approaches my door, opens it, and helps me step out of the car. I'm glad I already hid my bag under the seat and grabbed my tiny wallet. A new trick-trinket I bought after Mason had to break into my house.

"Why didn't you tell me?" I ask Jacob as we walk to the entrance. "I'd have wanted to dress—different."

"Trust me, you look fine."

I'd rather wear a dress and heels, something a bit flashier than my current clothes. But there's nothing I can do. The tall, broody, bold man with tons of tattoos on his hands lifts the velvet rope and ushers us inside after shaking my brothers' hands and nodding at me.

Matt pulls out his phone, taps it, and takes the lead.

I follow behind, and Jacob covers me. Meanwhile, I undo three buttons from the top of my blouse and tie a knot around my waist with the edges of each side. I fix the cleavage of my tank top. It shows just enough skin. I loosen the hair from the tight ponytail and scrunch it with my hands. There's no way I'm going to be at a nightclub looking like a dope.

We step inside a balcony.

There's a table, two women drink and chat animatedly while three guys appear to be in some deep discussion. Being close to my brothers means meeting new people and friends and having somewhat of a social life.

It's different and a pleasant change from my past life. The music is loud but not deafening inside the balcony. As I scan the room for a second time, I realize the tall man with constricted posture and shaggy hair is none other than Mason.

So, he's in town but just ignoring me.

When he turns around and sees me, he smirks. I can't help but smile like a goof.

"Hello, Nine," he says once he's close.

"You're here. In Seattle."

He nods a couple of times. "I arrived earlier today, took a nap at your brothers' penthouse, and came to work."

"You work here?"

"I had to update their security. When I finished, I texted them so they could bring you."

"Where were you?"

He kisses my temple and then my ear. "A job."

"Are you okay?"

"Of course I am."

"You didn't tell me you were leaving." The hurt in my voice is unmistakable. There's nothing I can do to cover it.

He stares at me and shakes his head. "Why don't we get something to drink?"

I don't like that he's ignoring what I say, but I let it go for now.

Is this how things would go if we were dating for real? He'd just take off and never tell me where he is or when he's coming back?

I better keep my heart safe before he breaks the few pieces I have left of it.