Mason Book 2

MASON

My phone buzzed.

I hopped off the treadmill, my skin slick with sweat. I grabbed a towel, wiped my face, and draped it over my shoulders. Barefoot, I walked over to my phone. I was tempted to ignore the call.

Nicholas.

He was the only one who didn’t mind my shit. He didn’t respect my privacy or my rule about not calling me.

Ever again. But Nicholas wasn’t one for rules. Kind of like me.

He was calling now, but I didn’t want to hear what he had to say. Talking to him would only pull me back to what I had left behind.

Letting him in would put Lauren in danger, and I had to keep her safe.

Nicholas could wait.

I put the phone down and tilted my head back, closing my eyes as I let out a breath.

The phone buzzed again, and again, until I finally picked it up, annoyed.

“Nicholas.”

“Mason,” he grunted from the other end.

I held the phone to my ear and headed for the liquor cabinet. I poured myself some bourbon and let it burn down my throat.

“I’d say it’s nice to hear your voice, but we both know it isn’t. I promised to call only if danger was near.”

“You’re a bit late for that, don’t you think?”

There was a pause. “He’s made contact?”

“Attempted to, more like.”

“Are you going to him? We both know it’s a great way to draw you out.”

I felt a surge of annoyance. “I don’t get drawn out, Nicholas. If I go to him, it’ll be my choice. Not one made for me.” I was a man of certainties.

I was known for rising from my father’s shadow to build my own empire.

People called me lucky, but luck was only part of it.

I was a bully. A man who took what he wanted. A man who would bend anything to his will.

I was, and always would be, a man who would destroy anything in his path, no exceptions.

That was the cold, ruthless man I was.

Nicholas sighed. “Fuck, Mason. Shit’s hitting the fan, and he wants your blood. Maybe take this seriously?”

“You’re not alone—you have a family now. You have weaknesses. Think about them.”

“Don’t tell me what’s important to me,” I said, trying to keep my patience.

“I’m not here to tell you how to protect your family. But peace doesn’t last forever, and he gave you years of it. Don’t start a war you can’t finish. Let him have what he wants.”

I glared at the wall. “You mean I should hand over my wife?” If he had been in front of me, I would have hit him.

“Careful. You saved my life once, but that doesn’t mean I’ll save yours if you keep suggesting I give up my wife.”

“I’m just trying to keep the peace,” he said calmly. “He’s her father. What’s the worst he could do? Surely you don’t think he’d hurt her. If that were the case, you wouldn’t be here.”

Titles. Relationships. They meant nothing to me unless I acknowledged them. And as far as anyone was concerned, the only family Lauren had was me. I was her safety net.

Anthony Brown sniffing around my territory was something I wouldn’t allow.

The storm inside me was threatening to break free.

If I let it, if I let myself become the monster I promised never to be again, it would hurt both Lauren and me.

“I don’t care what he wants. I don’t care if he means no harm to Lauren. There’s no way in hell I’ll let them meet.”

But even as I said those words, I gripped my cup so tightly it almost cracked. “Anyone who tries to change that will have a problem I won’t hesitate to solve.”

I had been robbed my whole life. Robbed of a parent’s love. Robbed of a relationship with a brother who forgot I existed.

I was almost robbed of my happiness when I almost lost Lauren. I had become bitter and didn’t need an excuse to unleash my wrath. But this was the last straw.

“Thanks for calling, Nicholas, but I’m going to keep doing what I’ve been doing for years: protecting my family. And God help anyone who tries to destroy that.”

“I don’t doubt you, Mason. I’ll keep an eye out for you.”

I walked into the bathroom. “Are you sure you want to risk that?”

I turned on the shower and walked back into the room, putting the phone on speaker before I stripped down to nothing.

“I’ve lived a good life. If I kick the bucket today, I’ll go out knowing that. You, on the other hand, need to stay out of trouble. Do it for the woman you love.” He fell silent.

“I wish I could have met her. Her mom was a hell of a woman, and her memories should be passed on to her daughter. But, you know, some things just aren’t meant to be.

“I know she’s tough, just like her mom.”

I couldn’t help but smile. “She sure is.”

“But she’s not like you, not like us. She wouldn’t know a predator from a friend.”

His words hit me like a punch to the gut. I felt my face freeze. “What are you trying to say?” My voice came out as a harsh rasp, echoing in the room.

“Keep Lauren close, Mason. When Anthony strikes, he’s going to aim for her, not you. No offense, but she’s an easy target.”

I stepped into the shower, my mind a whirlwind. Nicholas’s words echoed in my head. The water cascaded down, soaking my hair, and trickling down my back.

My eyes closed, and my forehead rested against the glass as my mind slipped into a fog. The hot water did nothing to soothe me; instead, a thousand screams echoed in my mind.

My fists clenched. My teeth gritted. I tilted my head back, letting the water wash over my face, feeling the steam and heat.

Five minutes later, I stepped out, a towel wrapped around my waist. I walked through another door, leading directly into the master bedroom.

I quickly got dressed and walked out through another door.

I entered the living room, my expression softening when I saw Lauren sitting on the couch, legs crossed, an open book in her hands.

I paused in the doorway, just watching her.

My perfect wife. Beautiful. Delicate. A woman made just for me. She had never looked more stunning. Her simplicity often left me breathless.

Lauren still shied away from all the luxury around her. Even when I showered her with clothes, jewelry, and everything a woman could want, my wife preferred the simple things in life.

She never forgot where she came from.

I loved that about her.

When she saw me, a warm smile spread across her lips. Her eyes held a look I recognized from my own reflection.

The urge to go to her, to touch her, was overwhelming.

“Daddy!” Arden’s happy shout filled the room as he saw me. He dropped his toy and ran towards me, latching onto my leg.

I laughed and scooped him up into my arms. There were few things in life that made me as happy as my son did. My heart swelled with love for this little person Lauren and I had created.

I had a rough childhood, filled with pain and neglect. I had promised myself that Arden would never know that kind of life. Being a good father came naturally to me. I was there for him.

Lauren was there to remind me that I wasn’t my parents. There wouldn’t be a repeat of my childhood. I accepted that easily.

“What’s up, buddy?”

He grinned at me. “Uncle Aaron got me a new toy, and it’s not even my birthday.” He turned and pointed at the dragon toy on the floor. It was bigger than Arden, and it was ugly.

“That’s pretty cool.”

“Daddy, make me fly like the dragon!”

I looked at him, amused, before tossing him high in the air and catching him. He laughed and shrieked with joy.

“Be careful, you two,” Lauren called from the couch.

I set Arden down and held his hand, grinning at her. “Yes, ma’am.”

“Yes, ma’am,” Arden echoed, copying my grin.

Lauren laughed and stood up, walking over to us. She scooped Arden up and gave him a quick hug.

He snuggled into her neck while my arm slid around her waist, pulling her close. I planted a quick, hard kiss on her soft lips. Our son’s giggle pulled us apart.

She blushed, and I watched in amusement, letting her go to sit on the couch she had just left. I picked up the book she was reading, glancing up when she left with Arden.

She returned to the living room a minute later, but she wasn’t alone.

“What are you doing in my house?” I asked coolly, watching her friend and my employee squirm under my gaze.

“Mason, be nice,” she scolded, glaring at me.

I watched him clear his throat, trying to appear bold and confident, but we both knew he was neither.

He walked over and dropped a file on the coffee table, quickly stepping back. “Just dropping off some paperwork for you, sir. But don’t worry, I’m leaving right away.”

“That would be great. And don’t think I don’t know what you told my son about me being the monster under his bed.”

Lauren gasped, trying to hold back her laughter. “Aaron!”

“That’s not true.”

I fixed him with a stare. “So, you’re saying I’m lying?” I sounded menacing, still feeling a bit peeved about him helping Lauren dig into her past.

His eyes widened. “I never said that.”

“Are you calling Arden a liar?”

Aaron turned to Lauren, who was shaking her head. “This is why I don’t like coming here, Lauren. Your husband—” He cut himself off, probably remembering who he was talking about.

“You might want to remember who signs your paycheck.”

With a sly grin, he responded, “You can’t fire your manager, and besides, we both know Her Majesty won’t allow it.” He looked at Lauren. “Gotta go! Bye, love!”

He quickly left, and I glared at the doorway.

I turned to her. “How often does he call you love?” I asked, annoyed.

She smirked. “Why do you think it stopped at love only?”

She squealed when I pulled her onto my lap and kissed her thoroughly, leaving her breathless.

“Mason, quit it,” she giggled, catching her breath. “We’re not alone here! What if Arden catches us?” Her eyes darted to the door.

I couldn’t help but smirk. “I bet he wouldn’t mind,” I said, my eyes sparkling with mischief as I watched her squirm.

“You used to enjoy this, darling. It’s been a tough morning. Give me something to smile about.”

I looked down at her, her face glowing as she looked up at me. Seeing her raised eyebrow, I chuckled.

“Tough morning?”

Seeing her worried look, I mentally kicked myself for causing her concern. I tried to distract her with a quick, innocent kiss.

“Yeah, I didn’t get to see you this morning or last night. I’m feeling a bit left out. Do I have to fight Arden for your attention, Lauren?”

Lauren couldn’t hold back her laughter. “If I recall correctly, you wanted a kid, and I gave you one. Quit your whining.”

“Oh, really?” I grinned, ignoring her attempts to wriggle free, and held her tight on my lap. “And what makes you think I’m going to stop whining?”

She looked up at me, her eyes peeking through her lashes. “Deal with it, love. Now, let me go before someone walks in,” she said, slipping away from me with a graceful twist.

“And I just remembered, I have a meeting with the new director at two.” Without another look at me, she dashed for the door.

I quickly got up and followed her.

“We’ve discussed this, Lauren. You can’t go out today.”

She walked into our bedroom, ignoring my comment. I came up behind her, wrapping my arms around her and pulling her close to my chest.

“Can you listen?”

“But it’s an important meeting. I wouldn’t go if it wasn’t serious, Mason. I just don’t understand why you want me to stay home today and keep Arden out of school. What aren’t you telling me?”

She turned to face me, her eyes filled with suspicion.

I was good at hiding my feelings. “I just want a day with my family. That’s not a crime, is it?”

She didn’t respond, just kept staring.

I sighed. “Why don’t you invite her over here, hm? Would you like that?”

“You’re acting strange, and it’s making me nervous.”

I should have laughed or made a light-hearted comment, but I couldn’t. All I could see was her with Anthony. I saw her being taken away from me.

“What? Wanting to spend time with my family or inviting someone over?”

She shrugged in response.

“Alright, then. If you insist on going, know that I’ll be right there with you.”

She wasn’t impressed by my answer, and her lips formed a pout. “You’re being overly clingy, and you know what they say about clingy people?”

I grinned lazily, feeling the familiar stirrings of desire. She affected me in ways I couldn’t even count. “No, I don’t know.”

“They’re a turnoff,” she teased, her fingers playing with my hair.

“Turnoff, huh? You think I can turn you off, love?”

Her hands rested on my broad shoulders. “I can think of a few times you turned me off,” she retorted.

Her blue eyes were filled with desire, and she was speechless as I leaned in closer.

“The lie is bitter, isn’t it?” I whispered, capturing her lips with mine.

I showered her face with light, teasing kisses that I knew would drive her wild. I kissed her cheeks, her jawline, her closed eyes, hitting all the right spots.

Her breath quickened, and she trembled under the light touch of my fingers. I easily slipped her dress off her shoulders, letting it fall to the floor.

She gasped in surprise, and I seized her lips again.

As her fingers clung to my biceps, I stroked her hair, her body, her breasts that were begging for my attention.

When I arched her over my arm, she reached up and wrapped her hands around my neck to keep her balance. Eyes closed, head tilted back, she moaned.

I hated myself. I was using this to keep her from leaving today, but until I was sure about something, I couldn’t let her out of my sight.