“Fucking Mathew.” I pause to drum my fingers against my thigh. My free hand clenches into a fist as I force myself to inhale. “He must’ve told him what happened.”
As I exhale, I glance at London through the glass. She’s gathered her hair into a bun on top of her head, and although she keeps stopping to sneak glances at me, I know she won’t say anything else.
What else can she say?
I’m surprised she hasn’t already run for the hills.
Half of me is tempted to join her.
Especially when I’ve just made things worse.
It’s one thing to have my enemies gunning for her.
My father, on the other hand, likes to toy with people, relishing in dragging out their pain, and I have no doubt he wants to do the same with me.
Being his son and heir won’t spare me from his wrath; if anything it’ll make it worse.
I want to blame London for not being able to walk away when she had the chance, but I know it’s more my fault than hers.
I should’ve known better.
I know how dangerous and volatile my world is, but I still let her get sucked in.
Fucking hell.
You better know what the hell you’re doing because after what you just pulled with your father, he is going to do more than punish you.
I can imagine him pacing and fuming in the office downstairs, already picturing the many ways he’ll make an example of me.
I can’t blame him.
Even on his best day, Jack Payne isn’t known as the forgiving kind, and having to haul ass down here to clean up a mess he told me to take care of must’ve put him in an even worse mood. I consider blaming my brother for not keeping his mouth shut, but I know it won’t solve anything.
Not entirely, anyway.
The question isn’t who told him, but who will fall in line out of loyalty to me?
I scowl. “I know you’re worried about your father and Noah. I’ll see if I can send someone to check on them.”
Even though I hate the thought of having anything to do with her ex. As far as I’m concerned, the little shit is better off in her rearview mirror, but I know London won’t turn her back on him.
Not when she feels responsible for getting him and her father tied up to lure her away.
London was the one who was kidnapped and starved, but she still feels responsible.
How long do you think it will take her to blame you for the mess they’re all in? You didn’t make her fall in love with you, but you didn’t stop her, even when you knew what it would cost her.
London hides her trembling fingers behind her back and stands straighter. “I thought you didn’t have anyone to spare? Because of what happened, I mean.”
I stand up, and my fingers move to the buttons on my shirt. “I don’t. Not full-time, at least. They’re going to have to look out for themselves, but I can have someone check in.”
London swallows. “Your dad. He…”
“Is a real piece of fucking work,” I finish. “Mathew is nothing compared to him. Try to avoid him while he’s here.”
London’s hands clench into fists. “I can’t hide from everyone, Mason. And how am I supposed to stay out of his way if we’re staying under the same roof?”
Damn it.
