He sounded genuinely murderous.
“It doesn’t matter,” I babbled. A strangled sob burst out of me.
“Like hell it doesn’t. What the fuck. Please, say something.” He squeezed my wrists.
The door to the patio sprung open loudly. I would have jumped out of my skin again if it weren’t for Mason’s grounding touch. “It’s just Kaz.”
I turned to look at the singer. He’d halted in his tracks, his weary gaze settling on us. It took him a second to realize something was off. His brows furrowed. “What’s—”
“Get everyone out,” Mason barked, his gaze never leaving me. “Something’s happened.”
I didn’t get a chance to protest. Without a single question, Kaz disappeared back inside the house. In my head—I was starting to acknowledge I was probably in shock—weird ideas had begun to float in and out. Mason was so pale. It was like he’d seen a ghost. Or maybe he was just cold. Tonight was the coldest night in recent memory. What if it never got warm again?
I blinked. “Am I dreaming?”
It must have been the wrong question to ask, because the remaining color drained from Mason’s face. He ran a jerky hand through his hair.
“You’re awake.” He was trying to keep his voice calm but failing. “Molly, please. Talk to me. Do I need to take you to the hospital?”
I shook my head as a few tears slid down my cheeks. “No. I’m fine.”
“You’re not fine.” He took my hand and lifted it. “Look. You’re trembling.”
The music got shut off, no longer masking the sounds of conversation inside the house. A loud voice—Kaz’s—cut through the clamor and yelled at everyone to leave.
I began to cry. Mason’s expression softened. He didn’t say anything else. He held me in the clear blue depths of his eyes and waited.
When Kaz rushed back out, his expression a mask of worry, and his hands fisted by his sides, I knew neither of them would ever drop it. They’d wait here all night until I told them the truth. I wiped my face off with my sleeve and tried to find the right words. “I…I have this neighbor on my floor.”
Mason stood up, clasping his hands over his head before squatting back down in front of me. “What did he do?”
God, it was hard to get the words out. Kaz lowered himself onto the bench beside me and placed his palm on the small of my back.
I sucked in a steadying breath. “He’s…awful. A real creep. He’d been harassing me for months, and tonight, when I got home, he ambushed me.” A wet sob worked its way out of my chest. “He grabbed me and tried to force me to open my apartment. When I fought back, he choked me. I managed to get away, just barely.”
“Those marks on your neck are from him?” Kaz asked in a strangely flat tone.
“Yes. There have been red flags for months,” I said, sobbing uncontrollably now, “and I kept living there…I let it happen. I’m an idiot.”
“You’re not an idiot.” Mason’s palms wrapped around my knees. “Look at me.”
I lifted my eyes to his, trying to contain the sobs.
“This wasn’t your fault,” he said firmly, his expression as hard as granite.
“I’m going to fucking kill him,” Kaz said. When I turned to him, his murderous expression cracked. He let out a ragged breath. “Baby girl, I’m so sorry.”
I launched myself into his arms, allowing him to press my snotty face against his chest and finding refuge in his familiar warmth. He held me tightly, smoothing my hair with his palm and muttering comforting words into my ear.
For the first time since I’d entered my apartment building earlier today, I felt safe.
When my sobs finally quieted, I pulled away from Kaz and wiped my face with a tissue Mason managed to procure from somewhere.
Kaz palmed my cheek with his hand. “We need to take you to the hospital.”
“No,” I shook my head adamantly. “I don’t want to go anywhere. Please, I just want to sleep.”
“Molly—”
