Miss Deveroux gives me a small smile. “I’d better get back before someone notices I’ve been gone too long. Wouldn’t want word about this getting out any more than it already has.”
My chest tightens, and my stomach dips. “You’ll be careful, right?”
“I always am. I’ll see you soon.”
She disappears into the shadows, and I stand in the doorway, not knowing what to do next. When Katia returns, having changed her clothes, she pulls me inside. We’re halfway up the stairs when there’s a buzz through the house. I draw my arm back and make a beeline for the front door. Katia is hot on my heels as I stumble out and sink onto the stairs.
Everything feels right when I find Mason in the darkness, and he races toward me.
My heart jolts as I sit up in bed, covered in sweat. I run a hand over my face before placing it over my chest. I take several deep breaths and wait for my eyes to adjust.
I’m not in the abandoned shack.
Katia isn’t going to bleed out on my watch.
Mason has no idea that Miss Deveroux rescued us, and I want to keep it that way.
I know I can trust Mason with my life, but I’m not sure of the lengths he’ll go to in order to protect his image, including silencing a valued employee.
I won’t let Miss Deveroux be punished on my account when her only crime is coming to our rescue.
Still, guilt courses through me as I turn to look at Mason.
I try to forget the dream as I fall back onto the mattress and pull the covers up to my chest. Then I stare at the ceiling and count backward from fifty. Halfway there, I feel Mason stir, and I flip onto my side to look at him. His eyes dart open. He looks at me for a minute before unfurling an arm and pulling me closer to him.
I let his familiar smell wash over me.
“Why aren’t you sleeping?”
“I was,” I whisper. “Why aren’t you?”
“I felt you tossing and turning. What can I do to help?”
I reach out a hand and trace his features, stopping at the scar over his eye. “I’m fine; don’t worry.”
Mason kisses the inside of my palm and exhales. “I will always worry about you. Sometimes, I wonder if…”
“If I’m going to run off?”
Mason searches my face. “It wouldn’t be hard. I won’t try to stop you.”
“I am not going anywhere.” I let my fingers move from his eye down the slope of his nose and pause at his lips. “It’s not what I thought it would be, but I don’t scare easily.”
“I know you don’t.”
“About earlier…”
Mason takes my hand in his and kisses each finger. “I forgive you for sneaking off.”
I raise an eyebrow. “I wasn’t going to apologize. Well, not for that part. I’m sorry I dragged Katia into it.”
“She’s survived worse.”
“She was just trying to help,” I add. “She shouldn’t be punished on my account.”
Mason’s expression turns serious as he moves back to look at me. “I’m grateful she was there to help you, but she should’ve never let you go in the first place. Katia knows that better than anyone.”
“But…”
