MASON I've had a really shitty afternoon. After my sappy conversation with Mira earlier, I left the hotel to clear my mind, and ended up at the store. Right now, I'm sitting in a chair in a corner, watching the men I hired try to return the store to its former position. The casino props have been removed, and the shelves are being reinstalled. I have absolutely no idea why I told Mira that I haven't been with anyone since she left. I never planned on telling her, but this just proves my theory that this woman affects me in more ways than I can explain.I want to keep her, not just for one year, but for a really long time, until I scratch this unbearable itch of wanting to touch her every damned second of the day. I wouldn't say I didn't have the urge to have sex while Mira was on the run. I did actually, everytime her beautiful eyes crossed my mind, which was almost every second of the day. Once in a while, I invited women who met my standards to my room, but I just couldn't go on
MASON"Sir, the attackers have been restrained by the police…well, some of them. Most of them got away with choppers and escape cars. The Chief of Police would love to speak with you."Darth is standing just behind me, but it feels like he's millions of miles away. His voice is a small, annoying buzz in my mind, trying to distract my focused stare on Mira's pale face. Perhaps if I stare at her long enough, she'll wake up. That trick did not work for me when I was eleven and my mother was bleeding and dying. I feel my chest squeeze at the thought that it might not work for me now."Sir, the doctor advised compulsory bed rest for Miss Fernandez. If you will just…"I turn cold eyes on him and his mouth snaps shut. Who the hell does he think he is to tell me to stay away from my woman? Even a river of hot, burning lava will never keep me away."The Chief of Police is waiting." Darth says, head bowed. I run a palm over my face, trying to organize my thoughts. So much has happened within
MASON"Darth, ready the men and fast cars. I've got fools to track.""Yes, sir. Immediately."Darth leaves to carry out my order, while I sit at my table, trying not to throw things. My therapist said breathing exercises can curb the need to smash the nearest object against the wall when I'm angry, but I don't feel like carrying out any bloody breathing exercises right now.Blood roars through my veins and I get to my feet, unable to sit still. It's six pm. Manora's shift must have been over by now. Meaning she's preparing for the meeting that could get my woman and I killed. Seeing no other means to channel my anger, I slam my fists into the drywall in front of me. The plaster does not explode, evidence of quality building work, and the pain that shoots up my arm does not do anything to quell the anger slowly simmering inside me either.Cancer. Fucking cancer.I know deep down that I haven't fully processed the fact that if I hadn't found her on time, Mira's situation could've gotte
MIRAGod, it's hot.My skin feels like it is being peeled off, and hot lava is poured between it instead. I try to open my eyes, but my eyelids are gummed together. I try to speak, but it feels like my vocal cords have been unplugged. Seeing no other option, I scream and scream in my head.Wake up, Mira. Wake up! My subconscious yells. But my traitorous body refuses to obey. Exhausted, I quietly slip back into the shadows, haunted by the coldest gray eyes I have ever seen.***MASONI pace the master bedroom, chancing glances to see if Mira has woken up, and listening to Darth on the cellphone as well. Her shivering stopped a short while ago. Her blood pressure has been stabilized, and she's breathing properly again. Even I cannot deny the relief that swelled in my chest when the doctors proclaimed her stable. I guess my mental victory talks worked after all."Sir, I'm afraid I have bad news."My fingers tighten over the sleek cellphone," I'm listening."" Manora is dead.""What?"
MIRATHE PAST"Move along. Do not waste my time." I ignore the pain in my shoulder and thighs as Cody urges me towards the great doors. When he goes on to open the doors instead of turning into the hall, I give him a wide eyed look."Where are we going?" We are never allowed outside of the brothel during working hours. Ever. Cody turns in my direction, his lips twisting in an ugly sneer,"Do as I say and stop with the questions."I snap my mouth shut after that. I don't know why, but goosebumps rise on my skin, and my stomach tightens with dread. Today's test is on resilience. I hope it isn't one that breaks me. A tinted car comes to a stop before us and Cody pulls open the back door and pushes me inside. I land roughly on my knees, a curse of pain escaping my lips. I hear the bastard's mocking laugh before he closes the door, leaving me with the stone faced driver. I scramble to my knees and sit on the car seat."Um…hi. Where are we going, please?"Just then the passenger door is
MIRAI stare down at Mason, my heart beating a mile per second at the venomous anger that spits from his gray depths. "How did you know about that?" I whisper. His lips tighten." The doctors thought you had cancer. Fucking cancer, Mira." He growls.I look away. I cannot stand his judging gaze."Are you going to be a complete coward? Or are you going to tell me what the hell happened to you?"I take a deep breath, taking the easy way out. I look him dead in the eye and lift my chin,"Well, I was feeling suffocated so I decided to take a walk outside. A second later, I heard gunshots and someone threw me to the ground. That's all I remember."Mason shakes his head in disbelief, and I bite my lower lip to numb the pain I feel at the disappointment in his gaze."I never pegged you for a coward, Mira. You sure as hell know that is not what I asked."Unable to stand our close proximity anymore, I make to move. Mason clamps his arm around my waist, keeping me in place. My eyes snap to his,
MIRAI lie on the bed, simmering with anger and jealouy. Nope, I'm not jealous – definitely not jealous, while Mason has a conversation on only God knows what with that bitch, Halloway. One minute his fingers were driving me crazy, and the next, he goes on to answer the call of that crazy bat. Well, she's not a bat, but still. Gah!Unable to contain my fury anymore, I struggle off the bed, ignoring my aching limbs, and walk to him. He's faced away from me, but when I get within three soundless steps of him, he whirls in my direction, and I freeze. I can sense if Mason is in the same room with me, even without seeing him. Call me a psychic weirdo, but I just can. Can he sense me, too?He holds the phone away from his ear, his eyes narrowed over my frame,"What the hell are you doing out of bed?" He asks with a voice like thunder.I swallow the need to run back to the bed like a reprimanded kitten and lift my chin insread."I would love to talk to my sisters now, please.""No. Get back
MIRAI go through my bathroom routines quickly, and I'm out of the Master's bedroom and wandering down the hall in fifteen minutes. I feel strangely energized. Definitely not like I had just suffered a mini heart attack barely moments ago. Curse my weak heart, by the way.I wrap my arms around myself, hoping I do not run into a certain gray eyed god on my way. After Mason's rather… intense proposal in the bathroom, and my foolish acceptance out of misled pride, I intend to stay as far away from him as possible. I have no idea what plans he has up his sleeves, which means I'm in perpetual danger. Great.I push open all the doors I come across, but they only lead me to empty rooms. Mason isn't in any of them. Good, I guess. I push open the last door before the sitting room and instantly regret it. Mason looks past the blue suited man before him, pinning me in place with those intense, gray eyes. My heart begins a slow thud against my ribcage, my lips seem to be stuck to the roof of my