“This is the address Harper gave me.”
I’ve never seen Chase’s place before, only knew he purchased it soon after I caught him and Amelia together.
As soon as Mike and I make it to the front porch, the dark blue door opens and Chase steps out.
“She doesn’t want to see you.”
That was the wrong thing to say to me.
“Douglass!” I shout.
“For fuck’s sake, Jordan, keep it down. It’s past one in the morning and I have neighbors.”
My evening has been shit. I’m worried about Danni. I’m worried about Douglass. I need to find out what happened to Nat’s house. I’m teetering on a thin emotional string that finally snaps.
Five years of pent-up anger and hate get funneled into the punch that connects with Chase’s face, slamming him back against the doorframe and tumbling his ass inside the house.Shit, that hurt.I forgot what a hard head he has. It’s like trying to punch through a solid concrete block.
“Douglass!” I yell for a second time, barreling over Chase’s prone body on the floor.
Chase gets to his feet and touches the area on his cheek that’s red and starting to swell.
“You arrogant son of a bitch. This is my home, and you’re not welcome. Get out.”
“Fuck you,” I spit. “Douglass!”
Mike rushes between us, creating a barrier to stop us from going at each other. His hand slams against my chest when I lunge forward.
“Where is she?”
Mason descends the staircase that leads to a second-floor balcony overlooking the foyer.
“Like he said, she doesn’t want to see you. Respect her wishes. She’s been through enough tonight,” he says when he gets to the bottom of the stairs.
I’ve heard some of the stories about Mason from Bennett and Harper. About his darker side he tries hard to keep under wraps. It’s one of the reasons why I walked away and didn’t engage when he kissed Douglass. I’m not stupid. I know not to get into a fight that I’m sure to lose. Doesn’t mean I won’t.
Feeling desperate, I beg, “I just need to lay eyes on her. See for myself that she’s okay. I don’t know what’s going on or what happened. She won’t answer her phone. Please, Mason. Just five minutes. I swear I’ll leave if that’s what she wants.”
Of course, I’m lying through my teeth. No way in hell am I leaving without her.
“Mason, don’t,” Chase says from behind me, and I want to spin around and punch him again, but movement at the top of the stairs stops me.
Relief floods my veins when I see her.
“Mase, it’s okay,” Douglass quietly says, eyes wary and red from crying as she looks at me.
Harper is right beside her, gripping her arm and sending me a look I’ve never seen from her before.
“Jesus Christ, baby. I’m so sorry. I just heard.”
I want to go to her, hold her, kiss her. Promise her that everything will be okay. That I’m here now. When I try to ascend the stairs to get to her, Mason blocks me.
“Move.”
“Make me.”
“What do you want?” Douglass asks.
My eyes unglue from the man keeping me from getting to my woman.
