This was a huge problem.
With trembling hands I quickly put the file back in his briefcase and turned off the light.
I needed access to his computer. His emails. I needed more than a paper file.
I had to get into his office.
Which meant going deeper.
A lot deeper.
I left his bedroom and headed back to the living room. Mason glanced over his shoulder as I entered the room. He watched me with some hesitation as I sat down beside him.
“I am sorry, Mason. I shouldn’t have freaked out like that,” I said, sounding contrite. Ashamed.
He didn’t touch me. His hands were fists in his lap. “Was it something I did?” he asked softly.
I shook my head. “No. You’re perfect.” Mason snorted and I reached out and touched his face, my fingers brushing his cheek. “I’m not that complicated. You can probably guess what the problem is without resorting to your FBI superpowers.” I smiled shyly, shaking my head in self-deprecation.
Mason took my hand. “You’ve been hurt before,” he deduced.
It was the easiest answer. The one that would excuse my actions. The one that made sense.
“Yeah. I’m really not that hard to figure out.”
Mason lifted my hand and kissed my knuckles. I ignored the buzzing. The fireworks that threatened to go off in my belly.
He knew about the chat room.
Toxicwrath and I were going to have to shut it down. We’d have to find another way to communicate.
We had to go off the grid for a little while.
Coming to Mason’s apartment had yielded important results. I could ignore the guilt I felt at using him because of that.
The concern that my motives weren’t purely self-preservation was ignored for the moment.
I had to focus on this. On the next phase of my plan.
And that involved getting inside. Access to his computer was paramount.
But how?
“Hannah, we all have ghosts. I won’t be scared off by yours.” He sounded so sure.
The day would come when he’d regret those words. I was positive of that.
And I felt sad.
Too sad.
Oh no…
“I hope not, Mason. I really do.” I slid closer, our knees bumping. Tamping down the grief at knowing this would all end very, very badly, I pushed forward. Not recklessly. But purposefully. With a clear intent.
He was getting closer to Freedom Overdrive. I couldn’t have that. I had to steer him another way.
My brain was going a million miles a second. I was split in two. Part of me with Mason, playing the role.
