Chapter 28

Mason

The doctor arrivesand it’s a good thing he’s discreet. We’ve brought Jackson up from the garage, with a nasty cut on his head, Leo is still bleeding from the nose, and Charlotte has gone from pale to ashen.

I’ve seen brawls with less injuries.

And all of this before we have a meeting with all four families. A meeting where I need every bit of confidence and power, and inside I’m dying as I watch Charlotte suffer.

That feeling that I might rip my brother to shreds fills my chest again. She’s slumped on the couch, her features in a perpetual wince.

I walk over to her as the doctor looks at her shoulder. Not one to cause a scene, she lets me take her hand in mine. “You all right, baby?”

“I’m…” Her features pull even tighter. “It really hurts.”

I bring her hand to my lips, kissing it as the doctor finishes the examination. “It’s dislocated. I’m going to have put it back into place.”

My teeth grind together as my lips thin. I hate the thought of her being in pain. It makes me crazy, and I don’t even realize I’m cursing until everyone turns to look at me. Even Charlotte.

“Mason.”

“I wish it was me,” I whisper, touching her cheek.

She gives me a small smile and hope fills my chest.

“You can hold her nice and still for me while I put it back into place. If we were in the hospital, I would give her an anesthetic.” The doctor frowns, looking at the other injured men. I know he’s wondering… “But it will be less painful for her to have me pop it in now then to wait.”

“Can I hold you, sweetheart?” I feel my family looking at me, I don’t care. I know they’ve never seen this side of me. Hell. I barely recognized this man. But Charlotte deserves all the tenderness I am capable of giving. And more, if I’m being honest.

Tentatively, she nods.

“I think the bedroom would be best,” the doctor clears his throat. “I’ll put it back in place while she’s lying flat on her back. How firm is your mattress?”

“Not very,” I answer, my brow crinkling.

“Maybe the island then.”

“Is it going to hurt?” Charlotte asks, her voice barely above a whisper.

“Yes,” the doctor answers and my fist balls into my thigh. “But then, you’re going to feel better. I know how painful a dislocated shoulder is.”

I help Charlotte stand, trying not to hurt her more than she already hurts. We make our way to the counter while Jake gets a pillow. I have to lift her in my arms to get her on the counter and she whimpers softly as I lay her down.

Jake slides the pillow under her head, his eyes filled with a tension he doesn’t usually display.

I place my chest on her chest, holding her head between my hands. “It’s all right, sweetheart. It’s going to be better soon. I promise.”

She looks at me, pain and worry brimming in her eyes as the doctor extends out her arm. “I’m going to give a quick pull to put the joint back in the socket.”

Her eyes squeeze shut as I hold her still.

I see the doctor tug at the exact moment she screams, the sound cutting through me as I drop my forehead to hers.

But her eyes don’t open. I jerk my face back, studying her, waiting for her eyes to meet mine. “Charlotte?” I can hear the fear in my voice, my hands tightening on the back of her head, but she’s completely limp in my hands. “Sweetheart?” Raw panic, has me giving her a small shake.

“She fainted from the pain,” the doctor says in this matter-of-fact voice that makes me want to hit things.

The doctor…maybe.

Leo. Definitely. I look up to see him still holding a wadded-up ball of bloody paper towels to his nose, his eyes wide. “Is she all right?” he asks when his gaze meets mine.

I snarl in response, ready to go another round. Maybe ten. He did this to her. And I’d go make him suffer but I can’t drag myself away from Charlotte.

I look back down at her, fear swelling in my chest. I need her to wake up. “Princess.” The nickname comes out in a broken whisper.

“Call her queen,” Roman says from the other side of the counter. “She’s earned it.”

The doctor comes back over, waving smelling salts under her nose and her eyes jerk open.

Relief makes me limp as the doctor sets some pills on the counter. “For the pain. I’ll give you a sling as well to keep the arm immobile. She should be seen by a surgeon to make sure she doesn’t need surgery.”

And then, he moves to Jackson, tending the cut on the old guy’s head.

But I barely pay attention as my gaze holds Charlotte’s. My thumbs are stroking over her cheeks, and I press several small kisses to her forehead. She’s still limp in my arms.

“I’m all right, Mason. It’s better now.”

My gaze slashes to Leo again, who has the decency to look pained. That scream was like nails on a chalkboard. And as much as I want to care for her in this moment, I’m aware that I am the source of her pain.

It’s my relationship with my brother that brought all this about.

The doctor is talking to Roman about Jackson’s care, as I look at Jake. “The doctor is going to give you instructions about Leo.”

Jake scowls. “Will his instructions involve how to break his fucking arm? Because I don’t think his nose is enough.”

Leo lets out a long breath. “I fucked that one up, I get it. I should have never tried to pull Charlotte from that cabinet.”

“That’s what you’re apologizing for?” My teeth are gritted and it’s only the doctor’s presence that keeps me from saying more. He might be discreet, but I don’t trust anyone that is not part of this family.

But Leo’s not done. “And when did my entire family join the Charlotte camp?”

Jake’s gaze catches mine, his brows lifting. “When Mason decided to marry her.”

Charlotte starts, her muscles gaining some rigidity. “We’re not getting married.”

“I know you’re angry with me,” I start, wanting some privacy with Charlotte. I’m not even sure I’m going to that meeting tonight. All I care about is holding her in my arms. None of my other plans matter.

In fact, leaving Las Vegas and this whole mess behind us is starting to sound like a good idea. Charlotte and I can go somewhere far away. I’ll start a new business. Just as long as she is by my side.

“I am.” Her eyes go hard with the words as my stomach sinks.

“I know I fucked up?—”

“You did.”

“Is this about forgiveness, then? Apologies? Explanations? Whatever you need…” I’m still holding her head in my hands as I start massaging small circles on her cheeks. I’ll grovel. I’ll beg. I just need her to listen.

“Yes… but also…” She’s relaxing back in my hands. “You haven’t actually asked yet.”

A smile curls my lips before I bend down and gently kiss her. “Is now too soon?”

“Yes.”

I shake my head. It’s time I started making some promises. “I know you want to leave Vegas. I’ll go with you. Anywhere you want…” Jake is hearing all of this, but I don’t care. He and Roman can take over. “We’ll start over.”

Charlotte shakes her head. “Running away is my thing. Remember? Not yours.”

“I suppose that’s true.”

“I’m not running this time.” She touches my cheek with her uninjured hand. “And I might be willing to forgive, but you have to meet me halfway.”

“Anything,” I whisper. Watching her suffer has made me even more certain that I am supposed to be her protector. I love this woman. I think I have for a long time.

She looks over at Leo. “You need to forgive your brother.”

“No.” That is one thing I’m not willing to give.