Based on everything you know about him, does it seem like he has a choice? He probably doesn’t know any better.
It makes me miss my father with a fierceness that surprises me.
In spite of everything he’s put me through, I want to put it all behind me.
I want to believe we can still be in each other’s lives even if he’s turned his back on me.
He hasn’t abandoned you for good. He wouldn’t.
A hard knot settles in the center of my stomach as I turn the thought over and over in my head, growing sadder and sadder with each passing moment.
I miss my father’s Sunday morning pancake-and-egg breakfast while we sat in the backyard, talking about everything. I miss camping under the stars and him showing me how to trace the constellations. I miss family movie night when thethree of us built a fort in the living room and hid inside and watched movies until the sun came up.
Tears spring to my eyes as it dawns on me how much I’ve left behind, and how much has been taken from me.
Thelonger I stay with Mason, the more I realize how little I know of his world.
Mason takes my hand in his. “It’s not as bad as it looks. I’m fine.”
I sniff and continue cleaning the wound. “I know.”
Mason’s fingers close around my wrist, and he tugs me onto his lap. Then he cups my face in his hands and waits for me to look at him. “What’s wrong?”
I avoid his gaze. “Nothing.”
“I thought we agreed we wouldn’t lie to each other,” Mason murmurs. “You can tell me.”
I meet his eyes. “Can I?”
“You’ve got the heart of a lion. The way you stand up for yourself, and the fact that you’re still here… you can tell me anything.”
I blow out a breath. “There’s nowhere else I’d rather be.”
Mason found his way into my heart against all odds and repeated warnings, and I have no one to blame but myself for not heeding the signs when I could have.
Mason’s hands drop to my waist, and he presses his forehead to mine. “It won’t always be this hard. This life, I mean, and missing how everything could’ve been.”
My chest tightens at the ache in his voice. “I hope you’re right.”
Mason moves back to look at me, and the soft glimmer in his eyes makes me melt. “I know this isn’t the life you imagined for yourself, but I will do my damnedest to make sure you know how lucky I am to have you.”
Someone knocks on the door, and Mason scowls. Slowly, and with a great deal of reluctance, he sets me on my feet and moves to the door. He blocks the view, so I can’t see who’s there, but I recognize Carlisle’s voice. There’s a whispered conversation, and then Mason turns around, holding a gun in his hand.
He crosses over to me. “Do you know how to use a gun?”
I shake my head.
“Katia will teach you.” Mason shows me how to turn the safety on before handing it to me, the cold steel feeling strange against my flesh. “This is just in case you need to use it. You shouldn’t ever have to.”
I hold it awkwardly away from my body. “Right.”
Mason runs a hand over his face. “I’m going to take a shower and go. There’s a lot of damage control that has to be done after what happened.”
Gingerly, I set the gun on the nightstand and turn to face him. “You said you’ve all had a partnership for years. I’m sure one bad night won’t change that.”
At least I hope it won’t.
If what Mason said is true, the people who kidnapped me are the least of our problems.
