Page 102 of Fallen Hero

Jack and Catarina walked into the kitchen hand in hand. Jack took in the room and asked, “What’s going on?”

Mason ignored Jack and launched right in. “Who’s Jason Anderson?”

“No one.”

“No one?” he echoed. “The same no one from last night or a different no one?”

Why did the damn man have to be so smart? I was backed into a corner with no move. My best play was to stay silent. He didn’t need my help puzzling out conclusions.

Unfortunately, Fallon had something to say. “Jason Anderson was at the Sky View bar last night.”

“How do you know that?” My question was yanked painfully from my chest.

“I had the security footage pulled,” Mason told me.

Indignation had me in its firm grasp. Fury was familiar, it felt good, like a warm blanket wrapped around me on a cold night. Rage, I could work with. I knew what to do with these feelings. I knew how to control them and use them to keep myself safe.

What I didn’t know how to deal with was the feeling of my heart shriveling with the knowledge that Mason had gone behind my back.

“Why would you do that?”

“Because I knew you were lying to me.” His cold tone should’ve been a warning. Yet it fueled my outrage.

“I didn’t lie to you, Mason. Not everything is your fucking business.” I shoved back, the legs of my chair sliding over the marble floor. When I was on my feet, I slammed my palms on the table, giving myself that small outburst. Not that it made me feel any better. “You know what your problem is? You mistake transparency with lying. You’re not entitled to everyone’s thoughts. You don’t have the right to demand truths someone doesn’t want to give. But I bet it makes it easier for you to sit there in your judgment of me, like I did you wrong when it was you who crossed the line and invaded my privacy.

“And let’s hark back—it was you who inserted yourself into this situation. Even if you came here thinking I contacted you, I told you the truth, and it was your choice to stay here. Then you forced that decision on me. I didn’t invite you into my life and offer you my secrets.”

Okay, so that last part was a big fat lie. I’d done more than invite him into my life, I’d invited him into my heart. And just like Atlanta, he’d betrayed me and gone behind my back.

My phone vibrated on the table. Atlanta’s name appeared on the screen, like I’d conjured her up by merely thinking about her.

Fuck my life.

I snatched up the phone, debated walking it to the sink, dropping it in, and turning on the garbage disposal. Until I could secure a new phone, I didn’t have that option available to me. I also couldn’t decline the call, in case Tom had already put a kill packet out on me and that was why Atlanta was calling.

Reluctantly, I answered and put the phone to my ear. “Hey.”

“What the hell is going on?”

Shit. Tom was wasting no time. I had to get out of the UAE, especially since Tom would have a team close for cleanup after his target was taken out at the auction.

A chill washed over me. He wouldn’t send Atlanta to take me out, would he?

Uncaring I had an audience, I asked, “Is he sending you in?”

“Is who sending me where?”

Her tone hinted at confusion, but Atlanta was a skilled mercenary.

“Calista,” Mason growled.

I didn’t have time to deal with Mason and his anger or with pussyfooting around with the truth. The more I could get Atlanta to talk, the better chance I had at detecting a lie.

“Tom. It would make sense, him sending you to take me out. You’d know my plays before I made them.”

There was five seconds of silence. Five seconds was a long time for someone with Atlanta’s cleverness. She’d have a ready lie for every question. She’d taught me the art of anticipating your target’s moves. She’d also know I wouldn’t lead with feigning stupidity. I’d go with a direct approach.

“Why would Tom send anyone to take you out? You’re his prized possession.”