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If I thought things were bad before . . . they’re about to be fucking awful.
Mason stands in the doorway from the garage, flowers in his hand and murder in his eyes. Violence seeps off him in waves. Only that gaze isn’t aimed at me.
It’s aimed at Ian.
Suddenly, my heartbeat is racing for a different reason.
Mason doesn’t even say anything before Ian’s making off toward the door, his head hung low and a mumbled apology falling from his lips. He points to the cupcake, dejected on the counter. “I just thought Hannah might enjoy a cup—”
He stops talking when Mason’s gaze flashes with venom. Honestly? I would, too.
Ian disappears out the shop door without another word, scooting past Mason who doesn’t move even the slightest inch. Part of me wishes he would stay. I don’t think I’ve ever seen Mason so thoroughly pissed off. Not even when I cleaned the office. The other half is glad to watch him go. Things were just getting way too weird.
Mason doesn’t speak to me, nor does he look my way as he strides past, tossing the flowers on the counter in front of me. Daisies. My favorite.
“He just brought me a cupcake,” I snap, trailing after him. “You don’t need to be rude to him.” How dare he bring me my favorite flowers, throw them at me, and thenleave.
Mason whirls on me so fast I stumble back under that wild gaze. Like a hurricane on the horizon. “In case you forgot, they’re my employees. Fucking me doesn’t mean you get a say in how I handle them.”
Ouch.
Tears burn in my eyes for the second time today, only this time, they manage to break free, slipping down my cheeks and burning like acid.
“Yeah, and I wish I never had.”
His jaw ticks, his nostrils flaring with heat before it’s quickly masked by something else. Something dark and pissed off and bleeding.
Did I . . . did I hurt him, too?
The eye contact sears, burning me from somewhere within. Still, I can’t fight the anger and rejection pouring through me. The bitter resentment I’ve been shoving back at all day coiling like a snake, ready to strike.
It’s already ruined between us. Why not burn it to the ground?
“You can bring me flowers.”My favorites. “You can carry me to bed when I fall asleep.” Like I’m the most precious thing in the world. “You can tell me I’m beautiful.”Look at me like I’m the only woman you’ve ever seen.“None of it means anything if you don’t actually care and I’m not willing to get my hopes up and wait around until you decide you’re done with me.”
I turn to leave, angry and ready to fight. Ready to cry. Ready to apologize because I know I just took everything he did for me and threw it back in his face and I hate myself for it, but I don’t stop.
Not until his voice comes out, barely above a whisper, and I freeze in my tracks.
“I don’t care.” He chuckles sardonically and slowly, I turn back around to see him shaking his head. “You want to know where I went last night? This morning?”
I pause, a mixture of harsh words and hurried apologies on my tongue.
“I was with Prince, interrogating the asshole that tried to kill you because even if I wanted to, I can’t fucking walk away. I need Prince because I’ll be damned if your mother takes you away from me. Not because ofyou,” he bites. “But because I’m selfish enough that I can’t stand the fucking thought of losing you. I visited Parker this morning to get whatever information he has on your missing cockroach of a sister.” He shakes his head as if the thought of doing all that for the likes of me is despicable. “I’ve dealt with the fucking cartel for two years because it meant you were safe. Still . . . every other day you try to find a reason why I’m not worth sticking around for.”
My chest cracks at his words, but still, the venom burns inside me. I’m in love with him and it fucking sucks.
“I waited for you. Two years ago and younevershowed. You made me feel like I meant nothing to you.”
Cocking a brow, he chuckles darkly, stepping forward to get in my face. His eyes like midnight only amplify the icy darkness rolling off him in waves and a shiver rolls through me at his proximity.
This Mason is fucking terrifying.
Tears stream freely down my cheeks now, but I don’t stop them. I don’t have it in me. “I brought you flowers because I knew they would make you smile. I carry you to bed because I just need some fucking excuse to hold you. And beautiful? You were fucking made for me. You just can’t see it.”
He can’t mean that.
“So, yeah, you can preach at me about treating Ian kindly. He and I both know he touched something that’s mine and Ireallydon’t like people touching my things.”
