3. Mason

Mason

3

I'm staring at the closed bedroom door at the end of the hallway long after Reed disappears behind it. Sage is on the phone with Lyla, and he's pacing in circles as he fills her in on what's happening.

I barely hear anything over the white noise rattling, my hearing useless.

Carter Connors is a dead man.

There are very few things that truly set me off—a man putting his hands on a woman is one of them. Especially when that woman is Reed Jackson.

And for him to be the person she should have been able to trust above anyone else has my nightmares coming to life.

The bruises and cuts were one thing, but that wasn't where she was hurting the worst. It was her fucking soul. Deep cuts the antiseptic can't reach. Pain in places that will continue to haunt her.

Sage hangs up the phone with Lyla and stops at the opposite end of the kitchen island. "Lyla just got home, and she's not feeling great. Plus, I need to head out to take care of some business."

Club business—something I try to keep my nose out of.

It doesn't bother me that Sage is a biker, but I don't trust them in general, given my history with some guys back in Vegas. At least Sage seems to want more for his club than trafficking guns and drugs. Because if that wasn't the case, I don't know if we'd get along.

"That's fine, I'll be here," I say, taking a sip of my beer and trying not to shatter it with my grip. "What do you know about this ex of hers? Assuming he is her ex now."

"He fucking better be."

My heart hammers just thinking about what the asshole did to Reed. How she tried to justify his actions when he deserves to have his dick chopped off and to be bled out for laying a hand on her.

Reed is a beam of sunshine, and he tried to dull that.

I'm not generally violent. Only when pushed to extremes. But I wish this Carter asshole had nine lives just so I could take every single one of them away in the most painful ways possible.

The fact that he'd hurt a woman—his woman—has me seeing red. This asshole deserves whatever hell is coming to him.

"How long do you think this shit's been happening?" I ask.

"Probably longer than I want to think about." Sage shakes his head. "I should have fucking noticed."

"She hid it well." Or maybe I'm not that observant, since I never suspected anything when I first met her. "Don't blame yourself. You couldn't have known. Especially if she wasn't ready for you to."

But the look in his eyes when his stare meets mine says that's not going to happen, and I get it. I know what it's like to fail someone you care about—especially a sister.

"Carter is a piece of shit." Sage grinds his teeth. "The second I can get my hands on him, he's going to make up for every mark he left on my sister."

"Happy to help." I shake my head.

"Thanks." Sage nods. "I can't believe she kept this to herself. Or that I didn't see it. Even Lyla sensed something was off the last time Reed was in town. But I was just too fucking busy to notice."

"And you think if you'd have asked, she would have just told you?" I take a sip of my beer. "She's your sister, so I might not know her like you do, but you want my opinion?"

Sage doesn't answer, but he at least meets my gaze with my question, so I take that as a yes.

"Reed's tough as fucking nails. She kept her shit on lockdown for a reason. She didn't want you to see it because then she'd have to face it herself. I don't think she was ready to do that yet."

"Well, she better be ready now. Because I'm going to skin that piece of shit when I get the chance."

"Got your guys prepping the horse stalls?" I hitch an eyebrow.

Even though I've kept my distance from Sage's club, I've heard enough to guess what they use the horse stalls for, given they don't actually have horses.

Sage plants his hands on the counter. "Wish it was that simple."

"Why isn't it?"

It's not like Sage hasn't made guys suffer for less than hurting his sister.

"Carter Connors is why not. He's a piece of work—and he's loaded. He has money, connections, bodyguards. He's not the kind of guy who could disappear without it going unnoticed. And the second he realizes she came here, he'll be surrounded by security just to make sure the club can't get close."

"Classy fucker." I'd know, since I come from a bloodline of men too powerful to touch, and they know it.

"The worst of them." Sage nods. "But none of that means he's getting away with this."

Sage has two sides to him. For the most part, he's laid-back. He likes to party and have fun. He's carefree and people get along with him. But there's another side I've only seen glimpses of. A side that comes out when he's protecting those he cares about. And as his eyes darken, I sense that coming out now.

Just like I feel my own demons raging to the surface.

There's a reason I don't form attachments, and it's the same reason I should walk away now. But when I blink, I see Reed's brown eyes and her bruised sockets. I see her lip trembling, blood beading down it.

No one's going to do that to her again.

I'll help Sage even if it makes me the man I tried to leave behind when I came to Los Angeles.

Sage and I don't have much in common outside of tattooing, but for the first time since I met him, I see a little of myself in him.

I've been there.

I can still hear her screaming from the back of my mind.

"Well, count me in if you need anything."

"I'll figure it out." Sage shakes his head like he's trying to break free of whatever image just popped up in his mind. "Until then, I need to get a room ready at the house."

"Reed's fine staying here." The thought of her going anywhere else hurts, like taking nails to my ribs, because I'm losing control, and at least if she's here, I know she's safe. "It's just me and two empty rooms. I've got the space."

"Mason—"

"It's a place to stay," I cut him off. "And it's familiar for her. She needs a little of that right now."

And I need her here, where I can look out for her.

Sage sighs, wiping his palm down his face. "I know. Fuck, sorry. I'm just on edge with all this shit. I always had this bad feeling about Carter, but I didn't think he was beating her."

The last words come out cracked, showing me a glimpse of the side of Sage that Lyla told me existed, even if I've never seen it.

"Fuck." Sage starts pacing the room. "Fine, I need to get back to Lyla tonight. But seriously, Mason, if she's staying here, you need to be glued to your fucking phone. I'm trusting you with my sister."

"I'm aware."

"Partying. Hookups."

"Sage, I've got it. I'm not a heartless asshole." I plant my hands on the counter and square off with him. "No going out. No bringing people over. I'll be here for her. Okay?"

Sage wasn't blind to my crush on his sister last time she was in town, but what he doesn't realize is that this has become bigger than that.

The moment she showed up, it wasn't about me wanting her. It's about me wanting her safe. I'll pay whatever price.

Getting laid isn't worth more than Reed's life. And the fact that Sage thinks I'd even consider it shows just how little he knows me.

"She's safe. I'll protect her," I say.

Sage walks over to the opposite side of the counter, glancing down the hallway before looking at me.

"I know you will." He works his jaw. "I had the guys look into you, Mason. I know exactly what you're capable of."

I'm not surprised. It was bound to happen at some point. With Sage's connections and me working at the shop, he was bound to dig up a little dirt.

"Don't worry." His tone softens. "I don't judge, and I don't need the whole story. What I do need is someone who isn't afraid to stand up to her douchebag ex if he tries to get to her, and I want to believe you'll do it. Am I right?"

"You're the one who looked me up." I click my tongue. "So, I'm guessing you already know the answer to that question."

Sage nods, and I wonder how long he's had that information. Maybe long enough to explain why he gave me so much shit the first time his sister came to town.

I don't blame him.

I've done some unforgivable things.

But regardless of what I've done, I wouldn't take advantage of Reed. She's hurting, angry. Not to mention, she's way too fucking good for me. She's the kind of girl you give more than just one night to, and that's not something I offer anyone.

Sage's phone pings with a text that breaks his focus. He digs into his pocket and pulls it out.

"Lyla." He types out a response to her. "I have to come into the city tomorrow to help Blaze with something, so I'll bring her by in the morning as long as she's feeling up to it."

"She sick?"

His gaze flicks up, hesitation flaring with my question. Tucking his phone in his pocket, he dips his thumbs in and shrugs. "Lyla's pregnant. She told me a few minutes before you called."

"Fuck, congratulations, man."

A broken smile tilts in the corner of his mouth, and I'm sure it's from the roller coaster of emotions from the evening.

"It's all a lot to process tonight. But at least this is good news."

"It's great news, man." Even if I can't imagine being anywhere near ready to take on that kind of responsibility myself.

Sage is only a couple of years older than me. But I guess they've known each other since they were kids, so they had decades to prepare and get ready for this.

"Well don't leave your girl at home, feeling sick all alone. I've got this here."

"Thanks." Sage pauses for a moment, looking around me to the dark hallway, and back to me again. "I owe you one."

"No, you don't."

"She's my sister, so I do. Thanks for letting her stay here. It means a lot."

I nod, the protective urge inside me cresting against my fear that I shouldn't be trusted when I've failed before.

But I hold that in. I don't let my fear gain traction.

I'm not letting anyone get to Reed when I promised her safety the second she burst through my door. She's handed me her trust. I told her I'd take care of her, and I'm going to keep that promise.

"See you in the morning." Sage heads to the door, locking it behind him.

And I make my way down the hall, pausing outside Reed's room.

She left the door cracked, and the curtains are open, so the streetlamp shines through, lighting up where she's sleeping on the bed. She almost looks peaceful with her chestnut hair fanned out while she lays on her back. Her eyes twitch behind her eyelids with whatever she's dreaming, and I hope it's nothing bad.

I'd go to war with the ugliest nightmares for this girl.

In the dim room, her cuts and bruises are harder to see but still there. Painting her face with all the reasons I'll keep her safe.

My room's next door to hers, and when I stop inside the door, I pause with my hand on the handle. I never sleep with my door open, but I don't like the idea of being closed off if anything happens to Reed.

What if she wakes up and needs something?

I pull the door wide and slip into the bathroom to get changed and brush my teeth before climbing into bed.

On the other side of the wall, she's sleeping. I can't hear her, but I can feel her in the air. Hurting, needing my protection.

My demons have been looking for something to feed on for a while, and with everything that's happened tonight, I'm going to give them just that.

I'm going to give Reed what I couldn't give my sister.

I'm not losing someone else—especially her.