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“I am afraid I cannot comply. My new orders are to enforce a curfew of 7:00 p.m. It is for your own protection.”

Little Dragon warred within me, wanting out. I beat my fists into the door as Mason stepped up behind me.

He cocked his head as if regarding the AI. “Computer, are these commands for everyone? Or just Sam?”

“All humans, with two exceptions.”

“Which are?” I asked, rubbing my knuckles.

“Mrs. Bennet and Dr. Forbes.”

“Computer,” Mason said. “Bennet override C12BQ11395.”

I raised my eyebrows, but Mason stared hard at the door. “Now open this door.”

“I am sorry, Mr. Bennet, your override is no longer active. I cannot comply. Please make yourselves comfortable. If you are hungry, I can ask a staff member to—”

“We don’t want food!” I screamed. “We want out!”

“Perhaps you are in need of a sedative, Miss Meadows,” the computer said.

“Are you threaten—”

Mason cut me off with a hand over my mouth and one around my waist. I squealed and kicked as he dragged me back toward the couch. I flailed so hard I knocked him over backwards with me sprawled across his lap. My hand hit the hydropod still on the side table and it’s soft shell burst, spilling water over both of us.

“Calm down,” he hissed. “It can release a toxin through the air ducts.”

I froze, breathing hard, and he let go of me. “How do you know?” I asked, examining my wet clothing. Mason got the worst of it; his shirt was drenched down the front.

“I spoke to my mother. That’s the booby trap in the Lakewood’s room. If anyone opens the door, it’s released into their room. It works in under three minutes. It’s got to be the same thing the AI is threatening you with now. We have to be smart about this, Sam.” Mason peeled off his soaked shirt as he spoke.

Holy shit, he was hot. His six-pack had so much definition, I wanted to trace each groove with my tongue. No wonder Travis’s sister ended up pregnant. If we were in a different situation, I would be locked up for a month fucking him.

“Damn it!” I hissed, shaking myself out of it. “I have to talk to Dad and Jackson. I have to tell them what’s happening. And Travis.”

Mason winced and said, “Sam, I’m not sure it’s going to matter. They must know something is wrong by now. They’re locked in their rooms as well.”

“I’ll be in my bedroom. You can have the couch.” I stormed toward the relative safety of the other room before I could lose complete control and jump him.

“Wait! Sam. What did I do?”

I made the mistake of turning around. His big ocean eyes pled with me.

“I know you don’t want to see me…that way,” he said. “But I thought we were at least becoming friends.”

I needed to be honest. “I know about what happened with Lupe, Mason. Travis told me.” I pulled my hair back like I was going to slip it into a ponytail, then let it slide free again.

Mason sat back on the couch like I’d physically knocked him over. “I never meant to hurt her. I’d do anything to take it back.”

“Oh, very touching,” I said, trying hard not to actually be touched or to look at his sculpted chest. “I’m sure that was comforting when you ditched her and had Mommy bribe her into having an abortion.”

Mason blanched. It appeared all the breath was stolen from his body. He didn’t even blink.

“Mason?” I asked after a minute, moving forward to wave my hand in front of his face.

“She was pregnant?” He whispered it, like the words were fragile.

“Please. She told you and you disappeared. Don’t pull that bullshit with me, Mason Bennet.” I poked him in the shoulder, and he looked up at me like he wasn’t quite sure who I was. He was starting to worry me.