Finally, slowly, I nod. “I can try.”
Because it’s better than the alternative.
I will not be a damsel in distress sitting around waiting for Mason to save us.
I will not be a weak link.
Mason won’t be happy that I teamed up with his sister, but he’ll understand what drove me here.
He has to.
Olivia turns away and begins to pace. “Okay, good. Now, we need someone else to help. Mason will expect me to try something, so we need to make sure he doesn’t stop us.”
My throat feels tight as I stare at her. “Who did you have in mind?”
“I’m thinking we bring Oliver into the loop. I can go and find him now, and—”
“No,” I interrupt a little louder than I intend. I shake my head and exhale. “I mean, the fewer Paynes that know the better, right? We’re less likely to draw unnecessary attention to ourselves this way. Besides, Oliver barely knows anything about this world.”
Olivia stares at me, and I hold myself still.
She begins to pace again, and when she stops next to the window and peeks through the slit, I feel like kicking myself.
I don’t know, exactly, what Oliver has done to land himself in Mason’s bad graces, but I know enough to recognize the signs.
Something is happening, something Mason doesn’t want to bring to light.
I can’t make him confide in me, but I can at least try and mitigate the damage.
After what feels like forever, Olivia faces me again with a gleam of steely-eyed determination. “Alright, then we bring Carlisle into the loop. No one else.”
“I still don’t think it’s necessary to bring in someone else.”
“We have to.”
“But—"
Before I can say anything else, Olivia crosses to the door and throws it open. She says something quietly while I remain rooted to the spot, my thoughts tumbling over each other. When Mason’s right-hand man comes in, he’s favoring his right leg, and my eyes go to the bandage. He drifts closer, and I stare at the gash over his left eye, a bright and angry red that reminds me of what he narrowly escaped.
What theyalldid.
Carlisle slides his gaze from mine and turns to face Olivia, who closes the door. “Whatever you’re planning, it’s not too late to pull the plug.”
Olivia covers the distance between them and stops an inch away, her expression softening. “You know me better than that, Car.”
Carlisle purses his lips.
I tell myself to look away, but I can’t.
“If you help me, there’s less of a chance it’ll go badly,” Olivia says quietly. “You know Mason is too stubborn to listen, and my idea could help us all.”
Carlisle stiffens, regarding her intently with dark eyes. “You always say that, and it usually goes badly.”
“Carlisle…”
Carlisle turns back to Olivia, and his frown deepens. “You know it won’t just be my ass on the line this time.”
Olivia draws her bottom lip between her teeth and begins to chew on it. “Yes, you’re probably right.”
