Oliver stiffens and shoots me another look. “We’ll see.”
“Where are Mathew and Dad?”
He shrugs. “Keeping tabs on people is your area of expertise, not mine.”
“We need to have a family meeting,” I say.
I’m glad Mathew isn’t around to gloat, but it’s worrisome that neither of them is here to rub my face in my latest screwup.
Neither of them misses a chance to criticize me, especially when it comes to London.
They’ll have a field day when they learn about Noah’s involvement.
Can you blame them? You’ve allowed London to cloud your judgment and blind you to the truth. Hell, you even made an exception for her by not killing Noah on the spot.
As painful as dealing with the mayor would’ve been, I’ve dealt with my fair share of irate politicians.
Noah’s father would’ve been no exception.
You can still fix this. You know where Katia is taking Noah. You can get back in the car right now.
Olivia returns a short while later, heads to the fridge, and pours herself a shot of tequila. She downs it all in one gulp and grimaces.
“How are we going to fix this?”
“We’re not going to fix anything,” I respond quickly. “Neither of you should be anywhere near this. All you need to focus on is making sure you’re ready to go at a moment’s notice.”
“Go where?”
“Back to your lives,” I say. “I know you don’t believe me when I say this, but things were never supposed to turn out this way.”
For the first time in a long time, I have no ace up my sleeve or backup plan in the works.
I’m not sure what I’m supposed to do next.
Between Noah, the Fitzpatricks, and the Everetts, I’m spread thin, and my head is spinning in a hundred directions, trying to figure out all the ways it could get worse.
Pretty soon, you won’t be able to stop any of this. Come on, Mason. Think
I leave my siblings without a backward glance and storm off in search of Carlisle.
I find him lurking near my office. He follows me into the room and waits until I pour myself a drink. Then, I look at Carlisle, who is standing with his back erect and his hands fisted at his sides.
“Have arrangements been made for our guest?”
Carlisle nods.
I take a sip of my drink and eye him over the rim. “Good. My instructions are clear. He’s not to come to any serious bodily harm.”
A flicker of surprise moves across his face.
I know what he’s thinking.
Why in the hell am I not ripping Noah limb from limb?
I’ve done far worse for a lot less.
I’m tempted to stride over to the closed-off section of the manor and take care of the problem, but I have to get under control first. The beast I keep under lock and key is too close to the surface, and he’s itching to come out.
