Olivia steps forward again, and her expression turns resolved. “I know you’re moving people to some of the more important warehouses, and calling in favors.”
“Olivia, you need to find something else to do while you’re here.”
“I am going to find a way to help,” she says flatly. “You can either let me figure out what that is and back me up, or you can keep having that little man-child follow me around.”
I blink. “What gave him away?”
Olivia snorts. “I might have been away the past few years, but I still know how you think, Mason. You’re still the kind of personwho does whatever needs to be done to protect the people he loves.”
I glance away and gather the pictures on my desk into a pile.
“Things have changed in the past few years.”
Olivia nods. “I know, and you’re a lot more like Dad than you want to admit, but you also have something he doesn’t have.”
I don’t say anything.
“You have Oliver and me,” she continues. “Dad knows how to push people away. He instills loyalty through fear, and you know how easy it is to flip someone with the right incentive.”
I huff and turn away.
I know Olivia is trying to help, but she’s been away too long.
The key to making sure my father doesn’t get rid of us isn’t to inspire loyalty.
It’s to stay one step ahead and keep a cool head like I’ve always done.
It’s served me well the past few years, and other than having to keep an eye on London, nothing has changed for me.
If anything, I’m more motivated to make sure the Paynes come out of this swinging for the fences.
I won’t let Noah or anyone else threaten what we’ve built.
One way or another, I’ll make sure the Paynes come out on top. I’ll worry about London’s reaction after we do.
She’ll forgive you. What choice does she have?
Chapter Sixteen
London
I hold my hands up to the fire and exhale.
The sound reverberates inside my head before being drowned out by the pounding in my chest. Slowly, I shift closer to the fireplace and study the red and orange flames, leaping and dancing, the crackling sound filling the silence around me. I stand there for a long while, replaying the scene in the office in my head.
I don’t know if going after Mason was a good idea, but I don’t regret it.
Even as shame and humiliation burn through me.
You know this is how he makes himself feel better. It’s how he exerts control, and you are no exception.
A small voice in the back of my mind tells me that it still isn’t fair.
I’m not like other people. I wish I knew how to distance myself from Mason’s anger and his frustration.
How can I show him there are other, healthier ways to cope?
How can I get him to let me all the way in?
