Mathew growls. “You’re a little bitch.”
“And you haven’t learned to steer clear of her.” Katia strolls out of the shadows toward us, one hand drifting to her dagger.
I offer her a small, imperceptible nod. “Like I said, I know what you’re trying to do, Mathew, and it’s not going to work.”
Mathew throws his head back and laughs, but it’s a cold and hollow sound. “I shouldn’t be surprised that Mason’s whores are banding together. If there’s one thing my brother knows how todo, it’s collect women. Tell me, does he know how to handle both of you, or does he only watch?”
Katia fixes her gaze on me. “Do you have what you need?”
I nod. “Yeah, I’m done here.”
“It’s a shame Mason doesn’t know how to choose better. You both could use a real man.”
I place one foot in front of the other until I reach Katia, and some of the knots in my stomach unfurl. We share a quick look before she steps behind me.
“You should ask your precious Mason why Oliver and Olivia left in the first place. I might not be on speaking terms with my siblings, but at least I’m not a hypocritical liar.”
I ignore him.
“You’ll come to me sooner or later, London. You’ll see.” His voice follows us to the door and rings in my head as we climb up the back stairs. In the carpeted hallway, Katia glances around before unlocking the door to Mason’s room. She waits for me to step inside before pulling the door shut behind me. I perch on the edge of the bed, link my fingers together, and try to calm my racing heart.
Something about the certainty in Mathew’s voice stays with me long after I’ve changed into my pajamas. I sit on a chair by the window and wait for Mason until my eyes grow too heavy and sleep finally comes for me.
Chapter Seventeen
Mason
I swirl the liquid around the glass, only half-listening to the voice on the other end of the phone. A short while later, I toss the phone onto the desk.
“She’s a bigger liability than you realized.”
I glance up and find my father lurking in the doorway to the study, not a single hair out of place, and his outfit looking far too pristine for one in the morning. “Liability is part of the job.”
Jack scoffs and steps into the study. “Not when it’s something like this. I spent years teaching you, but I should’ve warned you about women like her.”
I push myself off the desk. “I don’t know what you’re talking about.”
“I looked into her,” Jack continues. “She dropped out of college, you know, and worked at a diner of all places.”
“You’re not the only one who knows how to check on people.”
Jack stands opposite the desk and reaches for my drink. He sniffs it, wrinkles his nose, and scoffs. Then he sets it down. “Then you know her father owes a substantial amount of money.”
Fuck.
Of all the tactics I expected, having London looked into isn’t the way I thought he’d go. Still, knowing what I know about my father, I shouldn’t be surprised.
Jack Payne leaves no stone unturned, and London is no exception.
What did you expect? It’s honestly a wonder he didn’t do this sooner.
“A wise decision on your part to stay quiet,” Jack continues. “The son I raised isn’t stupid or pathetic enough to give up that kind of property for a fucking girl.”
I ignore the lurch in my stomach and toss him a bored look. “You know about the policy I have enabling people to work off the debt at the club.”
Jack’s expression hardens. “Don’t fucking lie to me, boy. I know that you wrote off the money owed months ago. I know she’s not paying us back anymore.”
“What’s your point?”
