22. Mason

Mason

22

Reed hasn't stopped shaking since seeing Carter in the alley. The tears have slowed, but her breaths are still unsteady. She's curled against me on the couch in the office, and I've got one arm wrapped around her.

She's physically here but distant in all the ways that count.

My hand rests over where hers sits on my thigh, and I'm trying to reassure her. But it's a losing battle.

Carter got to her.

I swore that wouldn't happen, and in a span of minutes, he found a way.

I heard Reed walking through the shop—smelled her floral, soapy scent wafting through the air. My client needed a breather, so I went to find her, and Lyla told me she went to take the trash out.

Something about that gave me a bad feeling, and gut instinct never lies.

Sage and his guys have been keeping tabs, but Carter is good at misdirection. He's careful about when and where he's spotted, and it's been a few days since we've had a solid hit on his location.

I didn't hear what Carter said to her before I stepped outside—but I heard enough.

She was shaking, trying to fight him off. He had the fucking nerve to put his hands on her when I promised myself he'd never touch her again.

My fists itched for release as I stared him in the eyes. I imagined myself caving his skull in on the brick wall behind him. It took everything in me to hold back. But I did—for her.

It's all for her.

If I acted on impulse, he'd find a way to use it against me, so I couldn't. I was raised to think like men like him. I know how it works. The man recording us from the end of the alley was his insurance that he'd walk away, and I had to let him.

Reed told me last night that she was thankful my dad buried the evidence that tied me to Gabe's murder, and that reminder resonated when she held me back.

For her—I couldn't do what I wanted. I had to be stronger in ways that took all my willpower.

Reed's hand shakes as I lace my fingers through hers.

"I'm sorry," I whisper, kissing the top of her head.

I'm a piece of shit for even letting him get to her.

"It's not your fault, Mason." Reed blinks up at me, her long lashes fluttering. "I shouldn't be putting this on you in the first place."

"Reed." I cup her jaw in my hand, and even if she's shaking, her body relaxes at my touch. "I'm not taking on anything I don't want to. You aren't a burden. Not to me."

"It's just that I have a lot of baggage..." she trails off, her gaze dropping to her hand resting on my thigh. "I know I warned you before we did anything, but I understand if it's different having to actually face it."

Tipping her chin up, I meet her beautiful brown eyes. "Hand me all the baggage you need to, Sticks. I'll carry anything you want if it'll make your shoulders lighter."

"You shouldn't have to do that."

"I don't have to. I want to."

She wets her lips, thinking over my comment as the door to the office swings open.

Sage was up front on the phone with Blaze after the confrontation in the alley, but he must be done. Because now he's barreling into the office with Lyla at his side.

"I'm going to put a bullet in Carter's fucking head." He drops into the chair at the desk, pulling Lyla onto his lap. But even she can't calm him down right now, and I get it.

"He's getting bold, showing up at the shop." Sage's focus is on his sister. "Are you okay?"

She breathes a laugh, but it's unamused. "No, Sage. I'm not okay."

His jaw clenches, and Lyla places her hand over his.

It's not Sage's fault, but I know that just like me, he's placing the blame on himself. I had Carter standing right in front of me, and I couldn't do a thing about it.

I've learned once what can spiral from a quick reaction. For Reed, I need to be smarter.

"I have an idea." I close my eyes, not really prepared for what I'm about to say, but it's necessary. "I could talk to my father."

Reed shoots upright, spearing me with her gaze. "Mason, you don't have to do that."

"Just hear me out." I pull my hair back. "The easiest way to get to Carter is to hit him where it's going to hurt—his bank account. And we know he's putting everything into his investment with Zane Hotels. If my dad cuts ties, it will cut Carter off at the knees. Once that happens, you and your guys can do your thing."

Sage nods, watching me intently. "What makes you think your dad will give a shit?"

"He won't. But he raised me, so I know what to use as leverage."

As much as I don't accept my father's world, I understand it. I know what makes men like him sway in one direction or another. I just need to hit him with the right angle.

So long as he benefits, he'll drop Carter like he's nothing.

Carter is rich and powerful but nothing compared to Zane Enterprises. Offering to help my father take Carter down has my skin crawling, but Reed is more important to me than my resentment against my family.

"You don't need to do this," Reed says again, looking up at me. "I can deal with him."

"He's not getting you, Reed." I grip her chin. "He got six years too many already. So, if I have to bury the hatchet with my asshole father or go to jail ending Carter my damn self, I'm going to do what it takes. You don't deserve to keep suffering for him."

She blinks, and a tear rolls down her cheek. "Why would you do that for me?"

"Because…" I brush the tear away, even as another one falls. "You're worth it."

A sob rips out of her that tears me down the center. She collapses against my side and clings to my shirt. It wasn't my intention to upset her, but she's spent so long being told she doesn't matter that I sense she still doesn't know what to do with being told she does.

Glancing over at Sage, I spot him staring at his sister.

He's not an idiot, so I'm sure he guesses there's something going on between us. But I don't give a fuck. Even if she ends this non-relationship we're entertaining, I can't hide what she means to me anymore.

"Mason." Sage tips his chin up. "Let's talk."

He motions to the doorway, and Lyla stands up. But before she can walk away, he grabs her hand, kissing the back of it.

Lyla makes her way to the couch, and Reed releases me to let Lyla take my spot. It takes all my willpower to walk away from her and follow Sage out of the office. But it's probably better we have this conversation out of earshot.

Once we're in the hallway, he leans against one side, and I rest against the other.

"I wish you'd just snapped his fucking neck." Sage rubs the back of his own with his hand.

"He had eyes on us. I couldn't risk Reed getting caught up in all that."

"I get it." Sage pins me with his stare. "You seem to really care about my sister."

It'd be stupid to lie, so I nod and accept it.

"She's hurting right now." Sage pops his knuckles. "She's been through a lot."

"She's stronger than you give her credit for."

"Are you saying I don't know my sister?"

"No." I shake my head. "But I'm saying she's been working through it. She's not the girl she was when she showed back up here."

"And I'm guessing you're helping her with that?"

"It's not like that, Sage."

He's pissed because he's protective, but I'm not backing down.

"Then tell me how it is."

I cross my arms over my chest, shaking my head. "You know how I am with chicks."

"Unfortunately." He glares.

"And it's the same way you were when I first moved here. Before you got back with your girl."

"We aren't talking about me without Lyla."

"All I'm saying is… you know better than anyone that I was trying to drown the demons any way I could. And like you, a pretty girl was just another fucking way to do it. But it's not like that with Reed."

"Then what is she to you?"

"Everything." I don't even pause.

I don't try to temper the truth. I say the only word that makes sense when I think of her. She's the girl who brings air to my lungs and blood to my heart.

"Fuck." Sage drops his chin and shakes his head. "I should have known the second I agreed to let her crash with you."

"It didn't start like that."

He looks up at me, hitching an eyebrow.

"I swear, man. We were just friends then."

"And now?" He doesn't miss the past tense.

"Now…"

What are we now?

I know what I'm ready for. But I don't think she can handle that admission, especially after seeing Carter today.

"Only she can answer that."

It sounds like a cop-out, but Sage nods, and I think he believes me. Because he's right, he does know his sister. He understands the walls that she's built around her heart after what she's been through. And even if he doesn't like it, I honestly think he trusts that I have her best interest at heart.

"We good?" I ask.

"We're good so long as you don't hurt her." Sage lifts off the wall.

"Never will."

He nods. "Good. So how do you wanna handle this Carter shit?"

"I'm going to Vegas. My dad and I haven't spoken in a while, but as long as it interests him, he'll talk to me."

"I'm going with you." Reed's voice comes from the doorway, and I look to see her standing with Lyla at her side.

"You don't need to do that."

She makes her way over to me and takes my hand. "And you don't need to do any of this, but you are. For me. I'm not letting you go there alone."

I look to Sage for him to back me up, but he's watching Reed. And I sense something working in his gaze.

"It's not a bad idea, actually." Sage wraps his arm around Lyla when she stops beside him. "If Carter was brave enough to show up at the shop, then he wants her to know he's in town. At least if Reed's in Vegas, he might not expect it. And the farther away she is, the better."

"See?" Reed smiles up at me, and even if her cheeks are still stained in tears, her eyes are brightening. "I'm full of good ideas."

"You sure are, Sticks." Whether I like them or not.

But Sage isn't wrong. If Reed is with me in Vegas, then I don't have to take my eyes off her. I'll know she's safe. And I won't be worried about who could be getting to her while I'm out of town.

"All right," I agree, squeezing her hand. "But you're not leaving my side. And if shit goes bad with my dad, we're leaving."

She nods.

"I'll call Steel," Sage says. "His club has been having issues with Zane Enterprises, so he'll know the latest. Where your dad's at, what he's up to, what his plans are. Plus, if you want, I'm sure you could crash at the compound."

Reed doesn't look excited about that idea, and I don't blame her. I have nothing against Sage, but in general, I don't trust the Twisted Kings.

"It's fine. I've got a place we can stay."

"You do?" Reed blinks up at me, and I nod.

"If he wants to meet up, set up a time. But I'd rather crash at my place."

"You got it." Sage steps forward. "I'd go with you if I could. But I don't want Lyla traveling, and I'm not leaving her here alone."

She swats at him. "You think I can't handle myself?"

"The opposite. I know you can handle yourself, butterfly. Which is why someone has to shield the guys at the club from you."

"You think you're funny, don't you?" She glares. "We'll circle back around to this."

But something about the way he grins at her threat tells me he likes the challenge.

"Besides, Crew needs Jude's help with a couple of fights this weekend, so I'm holding down the fort at the shop."

"Will you be good without me?"

"I'll survive." He laughs, and I guess it makes sense since Sage isn't the kind of guy who generally wants people's help.

Reed wraps her hands around my arm. "So that's it then? Trip to Vegas?"

"What happens in Vegas, stays in Vegas, you know," Lyla taunts.

Sage grabs her chin. "Don't give those two any ideas."

Reed's cheeks fill with color as Sage and Lyla make their way back down the hall, teasing each other. And when she looks up at me, there's the faintest hint of hesitation.

"You sure you're up for this?" I brush her silky hair back.

"As ready as I'll ever be."