Page 52 of Unburied

Something flickered in Mason’s brain. “Did she tell you that?”

“Yes.”

Knox practically hissed the word, looking disgruntled, and Mason laughed out loud. That sounded so much like Vivi's snarky logic that he couldn't help but shake his head. This woman…

He didn’t realize he’d spoken aloud until Knox replied. “I know. Couldn't even argue with it.”

“Haven't won an argument yet,” Mason lamented.

“Don't expect to, either,” Knox quipped.

Mason snorted, thinking of Vivi and her penchant for off-the-wall trivia. The woman was something else. “I could never be that lucky.”

Knox stared at him. “You know you’re gonna have some serious making up to do.”

Mason cracked a grin despite the situation. Thank God Knox had no idea what had transpired at Vivi's house late last night. He’d made decent headway in the forgiveness department, but he didn’t dare say a word to her brother.

Knox shook his head. “I should feel sorry for you, but you did this to yourself.”

“I’d do it a hundred more times.”

“Let’s just get one thing straight.” Knox pointed Mason’s way. “Whatever happens between you two—I don’t want to hear any of it. She’s still my baby sister, and I don’t want to have to kill you.”

Mason dipped his head in a brief nod. “I’ll take care of her.”

“I know you will.” Knox punched him in the solar plexus. “Ass.”

Mason left Knox’s office and headed to the bullpen to grab his keys. He wanted to stop by and speak with Harrison Grant before he met up with Bennett and Jaxon for recon.

Leaned back in his chair, feet propped up on his desk, Miles lifted his eyes from the folder he was reviewing and nodded Mason’s way. “Hey, I’m gonna go see Dad tomorrow night. Wanna come?”

A hopeful look lit Miles’s face, and Mason fought the urge to groan. Elijah’s words from the other day came floating back to him. No matter what else he’d done, the man was right about one thing. If Mason didn’t make amends now, he might not have a chance to later.

He swallowed his pride and nodded. “Sure. I’ll meet you out there. What time?”

“Six.” Miles looked relieved, and it pricked Mason’s heart. He had no expectations that this was going to go as well as Miles hoped, but he needed to do this for both of them.

“All right.” Mason pocketed his keys and phone. “See ya then.”

He left Vantage, thoughts of Vivi, his father, Tyler, and Russ swirling intermittently through his mind. Just after three o’clock, he entered the welcome air-conditioned lobby of the law office. He threw a smile at the receptionist as he gave her his name, then took a seat to wait. He hadn’t told Vivi where he was going, and he wondered how she’d take the news. It was nothing against Vivi, but he wanted to speak to the man one-on-one without any distractions.

A slender, distinguished-looking older man opened the heavy oak door, and his piercing blue eyes met Mason’s. “Mr. Kane?”

“That's me.” Mason stood and held out his hand as he approached. “Thanks for taking the time to see me.”

“Of course.” The man shook Mason’s hand, then gestured to a conference room in the hallway. “We can speak privately in here.”

After he'd closed the door, he took a seat across from Mason and eyed him shrewdly. “What can I help with today?”

Mason gave him a brief rundown of who he was and what he was doing there. “It's come to my attention that you filed the papers for Ellen’s divorce.”

The man was silent for a moment as he studied Mason. “May I ask how you know that?”

“I've been pulling some information for a client, and the divorce papers came up—along with your signature.”

“That's true,” he admitted. “It was a difficult time for Ellen, and they were hoping to keep things quiet.”

“Was there any animosity between Ellen and Russ?”