Mase
Charlie sits on my sofa with his head cradled in his hands while Elliot stands, staring at me in utter disbelief. I lean back against the window with my hands shoved deep in my pockets, giving them the time they need to process what I’ve just told them.
“When?” Charlie snaps, not lifting his head.
“That redhead I picked up in Melders the start of last year.”
“You pick up all the fucking time. You’re telling me it’s been over twelve months?”
I nod once, and he visibly tenses. “Who the fuck have I been tracking?” he roars, his face hardening.
“I called them off.”
“You called them off,” he repeats my words, laughing sarcastically. His lip curls in disgust, but it’s nothing I didn’t expect. “More like you paid them off. Every week, I get that text, and you’re telling me it’s utter bollocks!”
“Mate, I?—”
“Fuck off, Lowell.”
“That’s fucked,” Elliot mutters, running his hand across his mouth.
“I know.”
“Why are you telling me this now?”
Charlie’s always been smart. He’s intuitive and doesn’t miss a trick.
“I didn’t know how you’d react if it came out. I didn’t want you blindsided.”
He sniggers under his breath and stands. “So someone has threatened you?”
“Not directly, but the night Lance showed up here, Cara, the redhead from Melders.” I run my tongue across my teeth as I spit her name. “She overheard us talking in the office.”
“She knows?” His brow furrows and he twists to face me.
I nod.
“And what did you tell her?”
“I panicked; let her make demands.” I drop my head, my mind reeling as the memories of that night seep in. “I fixed it, though, took control, found shit from her past and she hasn’t been a threat since.”
Until now.
“You could go to prison, you stupid fuck!” he sneers, rubbing a hand over his face. “And I wouldn’t be able to represent you. The fuck were you thinking?”
“My concern wasn’t for me.”
“Don’t act like you were protecting me,” he scoffs. “This is one big power trip to you.”
“Bullshit! And fuck you! You know full well what would have happened if I came to you. You’re a fucking lawyer, Aldridge. The fewer people who knew, the better!”
“Calm down, Mason,” Elliot warns.
“I get it! I get why, but you should have told me. I’m so fucking pissed with you.”
We stand in silence, nobody saying a word for the longest time.
“This redhead.” Charlie pulls out his phone. “What does she know?”
