by Eden Summers
“Sid?” Mason leaned over to pick it up. “Has he been watching you?”
There was no “kitten” or “wildcat.” She was Sid now, and the lack of endearment only added to the seriousness of the situation.
“Do you want to talk about it?” Sean came into her periphery.
She shook her head, her cheeks heating. She couldn’t voice the thoughts going through her mind. No, not Justin. She couldn’t bring herself to believe what he could’ve done. The betrayal cut deep on too many levels. He’d exploited her when she was at her lowest. He’d watched her. Had he taken photos?
Bile rose in her throat. “It’s a miscommunication.” It had to be. Any other scenario would tear her apart. She waved away their concern, uncomfortable with the scrutiny. “Justin tends to be over-protective.” He was. He always had been. But to the point of stalking? Her phone rang, and all three of them glanced down at the device in Mason’s hand. She couldn’t speak to Justin again. She didn’t know how she would even face him on Monday. He’d been following her. Invading her privacy. And she didn’t think she’d be able to handle knowing how long he’d been doing it. Or to what extent.
She sucked in a ragged breath, about to lose the contents of her stomach. His erratic behavior had progressed beyond out-of-hand, morphing into something she had a responsibility to report to the police. Easier said than done. If she took her concerns to the authorities, the world would find out. She’d be publicly shamed, again. And what if she was overreacting? Justin wasn’t capable of animal cruelty. He wouldn’t deliberately scare her to get his own way. Would he?
“Kitten?”
She met Mason’s gaze and plastered on a smile. Oh, god. How would he react? “I think I need to sit down.”
MASON FOUGHT AGAINST the urge to crunch the vibrating cell in his fist. He’d only heard vague parts of Sidney’s conversation, and yet, the topic of discussion had been clear. Justin—the asshole who’d rejected his calls, trashed his gifts, and overall caused a shitload of unnecessary problems—was following her.
“I’m going to reject the call.” He should’ve expressed it as a question, but when Sidney didn’t make a move to take the phone off him, he pressed reject, leaving them in silence.
“Thank you,” she murmured. “I can’t deal with him right now.”
He kissed her forehead, because if he didn’t kiss her somewhere he was going to lose all self-control. She was pale, and he didn’t know how to comfort her without smothering at the same time. “No problem. I’ll hold onto it for a while.” He placed the phone in his jeans pocket, immediately feeling the vibration as it began ringing again.
“Ignore it.” He guided Sidney to the sofa, seating himself directly opposite her on the single recliner, Sean taking the one beside him. “Do you want a drink? Soda? Juice? Scotch?”
“No, thanks.” She was shaking, her fingers nervously bouncing in her lap.
The ringing stopped, the room falling silent for a moment, before the beeping started.
“Text message.” Sidney winced, unable to meet his gaze. “Sorry. He won’t be happy that I hung up on him.”
The cell beeped again, and again, and again. “He doesn’t take a hint, does he?”
“Maybe I should turn the sound off.” She leaned forward in her chair, reaching her hand out in his direction.
“I’ll do it.” He pulled the device from his pocket and unlocked the screen. “Six messages. I give him props for being persistent. Do you want me to check what he’s sent?” He was curious, and yeah, more than a little protective.
“No.” Her eyes widened as the beeping continued. “You don’t need to see that. He’s not your biggest fan. Whatever he’s sending won’t be nice.”
Mason glanced down at his hand, reading the preview to the newest message at the top of the screen. Stupid bitch. I can’t fucking belie—
His stomach hollowed. The conversation around him no longer penetrated. Instinct had always been a good friend of his, and his senses currently told him to freak the fuck out. “Kitten, how well do you know this guy?” He kept his tone light, hiding his apprehension.
She gave a derisive laugh and settled into the sofa, hugging a cushion to her chest. “I thought I knew him better than anyone else in my life.” Her voice broke. “He’s been my best friend, and the only support I’ve had for a really long time.”
Fuck. Those two words haunted him—stupid bitch. The threatening emails had been addressed the same way. Coincidence? Maybe. But when he was following her, tracking her movements, it seemed less coincidental, and more like evidence.
He unlocked her screen, ignoring her earlier comment not to check the messages, and clenched his jaw at the trash bubbling up before him.
“Mason, don’t.” She outstretched her hand, silently pleading for her cell.
Stupid bitch. I can’t fucking believe you. Why would you do this to me? To us?
We’re meant to be a team. You should’ve listened to me all those years ago when I told you never to work with him.
He’s ruined you.
You’re pathetic. You’re making ME look pathetic.
Sidney, this is serious. We need to focus and get back on track. Answer your fucking phone!
He scanned the new messages continuing to pop up on screen, but his focus kept drifting back to the initial text. The first two words. Stupid bitch. Without a doubt, without even knowing this guy or remembering what he looked like, Mason knew. His gut knew. Only, the most recent threats came from someone in Richmond, not New York.
“Sid, how did Justin react after you came home the other week?”
Her arm fell, and she clutched the cushion tighter to her chest. “Annoyed. Confrontational. He didn’t want to hear your version of events in relation to the scandal.”
Probably because the fucker had been the one to upload the video. “Did you call him as soon as you got off the jet?”
“I went straight to the office, but I didn’t stay long. We had a fight just after I walked in the door.”
“About me?”
Sidney shrugged. “It started over his clothes. He was dressed casual, and when I asked him about it, he said he hadn’t planned on coming in to work. He’d been too humiliated with the newest social media hype. The argument escalated, so I left.”
Motherfucker. Had Justin followed her to Richmond? If he’d been keeping track of her, he would’ve known she was at Retro Pete’s, and when she came back to Mason’s house the night the images in the pool were taken. What he wouldn’t have been privy to was her flight to New York, until it was too late.
He hadn’t been humiliated, he’d been stuck in Richmond, unable to get home in time to grab another set of clothes before Sidney arrived in the office. But did Sid already know? Was this what the fight was about? He didn’t want to ask in the fear he’d upset her more than her current fragile state.
“I need to make a call.” He pushed from the recliner and met Sean’s gaze.
The drummer raised a brow, and almost unperceptively Mason jerked his head toward the kitchen. Follow me. Now.
Sean stood. “You sure you don’t want a drink, Sid?”
“No, thanks.” She enunciated her words carefully, eyeing Mason with apprehension. When he smiled back at her, she relaxed a little. When he winked, she returned it with a fake smile. “Do you mind if I listen to your song again?”
He continued to the kitchen, glancing over his shoulder to shake his head as she pulled the iPod from her pocket. She needed a distraction, and the more she focused away from him, the better. Once she pressed play on the track, turning the volume loud, he increased his pace, going in search of his own cell hooked up to the charger on the counter.
“Want to tell me what’s going on?” Sean asked, following behind him.
Mason kept his mouth shut and handed over Sidney’s cell. Although his mind was made up, he needed to know if his friend was going to come to the same conclusion.
“Fuck,” Sean hissed. “You th
ink it’s him?”
Mason clenched his jaw. “Yeah.” He kept his voice low. “I think this asshole broke into my apartment two years ago. I think he’s the one who shared the video. And I also think he’s responsible for all the recent shit in Richmond.”
Sean closed his eyes, rubbing the bridge of his nose with his knuckles. “Are you going to tell her?”
Mason didn’t need to contemplate his answer. He knew he had to tell her, but… “How?” He raised his hands in question. “I’m not certain she hasn’t recently figured it out herself, but if she hasn’t, how the hell do I explain that the one person who stood by her could also be the one who ruined her life?”
“Man, I don’t know. Fuck. What are we going to do?”
Mason swiped a finger over his cell screen and typed in the passcode. “First, I’m calling the police. Then I’m going to start praying we’re wrong.”
Sean tapped his fingers against the counter, creating a rapid, anxious beat as Mason made calls—to the police, his security company, room service, and even his mother. He was entirely clueless with how to tell Sidney the news, and kept dialing numbers hoping he’d gain a fucking clue in the interim.
He was informed by dispatch that once an officer was available, they would come to his apartment to investigate. His security company was on standby, alerted to the threat. Room service would hopefully arrive shortly to keep Sidney distracted until Mason figured his shit out. And his mother had been completely useless with her break-it-to-her-gently speech.
He was a man, not a moron. He knew he had to break it gently. What he wanted was a play-by-play dialogue so he didn’t fuck it up.
“So what are we going to do?” Sean asked, grabbing two beers from the fridge.
“What are we going to do about what?” Sidney shuffled into the kitchen, cocking her hip against the counter beside him, her skin still pale.
Sean stiffened, clearing his throat and losing his cool. Subtle. Mason fought against his own apprehension, and grinned at her. Her gaze bounced between them, and then she intercepted the beer Sean passed his way and took a long pull. Fuck. He wanted to distract her with a kiss. To lick the moisture from her lips and lock them in his bedroom until the crazy outside world sorted itself out. But the more time passed, the worse it would become. She was going to lose the spark he’d seen in her eyes when she arrived tonight, and he wondered if she’d ever get it back.
“What are you two up to?” She pinned him with her focus.
Sean took a chug of his beer, ignoring the question. When a knock sounded at the front door, he high-tailed it from the room, almost leaving a cloud of dust in his wake. Pussy.
Her brows pulled together. “What’s going on?”
“Sid, I…” Don’t know how to explain. Don’t want to let you down. Can’t stand to see you hurt again.
“You’re calling me by name?” Her frown deepened. “It must be serious.”
Another knock had him side-stepping so he could focus on Sean as he reached the door. “Bro, check the peep ho—”
It was too late. The door was already open a crack, exposing a narrow sliver of a male on the other side. “Wait here.” He gave Sidney a reassuring kiss on the lips and turned to leave, witnessing the moment the front door rushed open, hitting Sean in the face with the force of a sucker punch.
“Sean!” Mason’s shout echoed through the room. He ran to help, watching as Sean’s head flung back against the wall, his entire body falling with the momentum of the blow until he was slumped in a heap on the floor. Out cold.
“Justin.” Sidney gasped, her fingers clinging to Mason’s bicep. She tried to push past him to enter the hall, but he flung an arm around her waist, pulling her back. “I need to check on Sean,” she wailed. “Let me go.”
“Get behind me,” he spoke low, not wanting to spook the man striding toward them, his face a mask of hatred, one fist clenched, while the other held a small gun lazily at his side. As much as it killed Mason to see his friend lifeless on the floor, he needed to keep Sidney out of view, where he could shield her.
Mason backtracked, pushing her behind him, holding tight to her wrist. “You must be Justin.” He eyed the alarm panel on the wall to the right of the hall, sliding toward it, dragging Sidney with him.
“Get your hands off her.” Justin jogged forward, lifting his gun, the extended tip of a silencer aimed for Mason’s head. “Get your fucking hands off her.”
“Whatever you say.” He stroked a lone finger of reassurance down Sidney’s wrist, and then released his grip, raising his hands in the air. His heartbeat pounded in his ears, making it hard to think, making his mind a cloud of fear and panic.
“Justin, look at me.” Sidney’s voice was frantic. “Put the gun away.”
Justin ignored her, continuing forward with fury evident in the flaring of his nostrils and the tension in his frame. “Get your things. We’re going.”
“Going?” Sidney whispered. “No. You need to calm down.”
Mason edged closer to the alarm panel, lowering his hands, and gave Sidney a pointed stare over his shoulder. Her eyes were wild, searching his face, and then following his gaze to the panel. She nodded, a jerky movement wrought with fear. Good, kitten. She understood.
“Calm down? Maybe if you’d finally listen, I could.” Justin reached the end of the hall, the gun’s barrel a mere foot away, and scanned the room. “Where are your landline and cell phones?”
Mason shrugged. “Cell’s in the kitchen. And you should already know I don’t have a landline. After all, this isn’t the first time you’ve barged into my apartment unwelcome.”
Sidney’s sharp exhale brushed past Mason’s shoulder.
“Oh, god,” she murmured. “I didn’t want to believe it.” So she had known. He wanted to turn to her, to apologize for not figuring it out sooner and take away her pain, but he didn’t know how far he could push this guy.
“How could you?” Her voice was frail, each syllable drenched with anguish.
Justin’s lip curled as he stepped forward, aiming the gun higher. If Mason was alone, he would’ve contemplated lunging, tackling the asshole to the floor. It wasn’t an option when Sidney was right behind him. He wouldn’t risk her life. So he braced for impact, not retaliating when the butt of the gun slammed into his face.
Pain exploded in his cheek, through his head, giving him a momentary glimpse of darkness as he buckled over, fighting the urge to fall to his knees. Another blow landed, this time a knee to his ribs, then another and another. The agony ricocheted through his chest, knocking the breath from his lungs and the strength from his legs. He fell to the floor, and then doubled over on hands and knees, with Sidney’s scream ringing in his ears.
“Stop! Please, stop!” Her black shiny heels came into view as Mason focused on the carpet, trying not to black out. “I’ll listen. I promise. I’ll do whatever you need.”
SIDNEY DIDN’T KNOW the man in front of her. He was a stranger. A complete contrast to the Justin she once knew. She’d never seen him this angry. There was no warmth in his eyes, no familiarity for her hope to cling to.
“Kitten,” Mason muttered at her feet, moving to his haunches. “Stay behind me.”
“No,” Justin sneered. “She’s not a puppet you can manipulate anymore.”
“Manipulate?” Mason chuckled without humor. “Are you fucking kidding me?”
Justin raised his fist again, aiming for another blow to Mason’s head.
“Wait.” Sidney blocked the path of the assault, meeting his icy blue stare. “You don’t want to hurt him. You’ll only get in more trouble with the police. Let’s go. We can talk everything through once we’re alone.”
Justin glared, seeing through her ploy. “It doesn’t matter what I do. Where we’re going nobody will find us. Not until I want them to.”
A chill swept down her spine. Justin was a capable man. Evidently, much more capable than she anticipated. Mason moved to his feet behind her, his presence hoverin
g at her back. He pressed a hand to the low of her spine, comforting her, giving her strength. She wanted to close her eyes at the warmth of his touch, to take a little more of his energy before she left.
“Go get the cell phones from the kitchen,” Justin snarled. “Hurry. Place them in the sink and cover them with water. I don’t want him calling for help before we’ve had a chance to leave. And we need to find something to tie him up with.”
Her heart hammered. She didn’t want to distance herself from Mason, not when the two men were likely to do something stupid in the name of protecting her.
“No.” She shook her head. “Let’s make a run for it. Mason won’t call anyone. Will you?” She glanced over her shoulder, meeting his bleak gaze.
“Go to the kitchen, kitten.”
She shook her head, noting the underlying message in his words. He wanted her out of the way, allowing him the opportunity to do something heroic and entirely stupid. “No.”
“Don’t panic.” His head tilted toward the security panel, his instructions seeming not so subtle in her eyes. “Sean needs medical attention. The quicker you go, the quicker he gets help.”
She couldn’t. The risks were too high. Justin was too volatile. She didn’t think he would ever hurt her, not when his reasons for being here were to continue protecting her. But she worried for Mason. If Justin went to the effort of bringing a gun, he wasn’t afraid to use it. Especially when he’d included the added security of the silencer.
“Please, kitten. Go.”
The endearment tore a sob from her lips, and another when Sean groaned from the hall. She hadn’t even told Mason how she felt about him. He didn’t know how much she adored him, how much her heart soared whenever he was around.
“I love you,” she mouthed. She didn’t wait for his reaction. She couldn’t. If he said it back, she would crumple, and she was sick to death of being weak. Now was the time to show how strong she could be.