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ChapterTwenty-Three
Mason was standing behind his large desk when Parker and Laz finally strolled in. They closed the door and moved closer; he wanted to strangle them for different reasons. One was good at putting his life in danger without thinking. The other didn’t know yet, but his life very well might be in danger.
“What’s up, boss?” Parker asked, leaning on the back of the chair in front of the desk.
“I told you two to stand down and let the cops handle the shooting.” He looked pointedly at Laz, knowing he was the one to pull Parker in. “But then I find out that, not only did you not listen, but you put three guys in the hospital. What part ofstand downdidn’t you understand?”
The guy might be a heartbeat away from crazy, but he was one of the best security specialists Mason had ever worked with. Still, he was a pain in the ass most days, even if his instincts were always on point.
Laz cleared his throat and moved forward. “Come on, Mase. Parker is innocent. This is all on me, and I take full responsibility.”
“Good, because you’re suspended for thirty days.”
“Wait! What?” Laz’s hazel-green eyes sparked.
“Did I stutter?” Mason couldn’t be mad about Laz’s actions, because had it been him and someone gunned him down, he would’ve responded the same way. When he ordered Laz to let the cops handle the situation, he had known that Laz wouldn’t. It wasn’t in his nature to sit back and let someone else take over.
But Mason prided himself on taking care of his people—protecting them at all cost. It was his duty to watch over Laz since the jerk didn’t have the good sense to look out for himself. The man thought he was invincible. A thirty-day suspension was the only way Mason could get him to sit his ass down somewhere and let that shoulder heal.
When Laz started to speak, Mason lifted his hand. “It’s a paid suspension, and you already know that we will find whoever has targeted your family. In the meantime, I don’t want to see you here foranyreason. Not to use the gym, not to meet any of the guys here for lunch, and I sure as hell don’t want to hear that you’re using one of the crash rooms. Get your ass out of my office, and go home!”
“Seriously, Mase?” Laz ground out. “I have to—”
“The only thing you have to do is go home and take care of yourself, Laz. I need you to heal so that you can get back on the job. No one needs you running around beating up on thugs and helping the cops dotheirjob. We got you.”
“You know I can’t sit this out,” Laz said and dropped into one of the chairs.
“The guys and I will work with Journey. We’re going to find the asshole who is behind all of this.”
Laz sighed loudly. “Well, don’t punish Parker. I blackmailed him into going with me that night.”
Parker snorted, and Mason glared at the younger man. He was pretty sure there had been no blackmailing going on, but he’d play along.
“It doesn’t matter. I’m benching both of you,” Mason said. “When I give an order, I expect it to be followed. Besides, what were you two thinking going after those guys? I pay you to protect folks, not go around beating the crap out of people.”
There was no doubt in his mind that they both could handle themselves, and he was glad they got the shooters. Still, the situation could’ve easily gotten out of hand with both of them getting hurt—or worse.
Besides, there were other reasons he was benching Parker.
“Laz, you can leave. Parker, you stay.”
“I’m sorry, man,” Laz said, standing and giving Parker a fist bump. “I owe you one.”
“Yes, you do,” Parker smirked. “And I plan to collect.”
When Laz left, closing the door behind him, Parker turned to Mason. “So, what’s really going on?”
“You’re going to have to lay low for a while,” Mason said, and woke up his laptop.
“Okaaaaay,” Parker said slowly. “What happened?”
Mason turned his laptop around so Parker could see the photo that showed up on national news and the internet.
“Aw, hell,” Parker growled. He turned and punched the air before linking his fingers behind his head. “I wasn’t thinking. Damn, I should’ve been more careful.”
One of the cameramen outside the courthouse had managed to get a photo of Journey, and Parker was partially in the frame. His head was slightly turned, but despite the cosmetic surgery he’d undergone years ago, anyone who knew him before then might still be able to tell it was him.
“I’m sorry, man,” Mason said. “Had I known Journey would be bombarded by the press, there’s no way I would’ve let you be on her detail. We should’ve known that this could happen one day.”
“No apology necessary. If it weren’t for you giving me a chance at a normal life, I don’t know what I would’ve done. Hell, I don’t even know if I’d still be alive. I’ll lay low, but if my father or his people happen to see that photo, it won’t take long for them to find out who I work for or where.”
“Yeah, we’ll cross that bridge when we get to it, but your dad doesn’t want to go to war with us. Because that’s exactly what will happen if he or his goons come knocking. You’re family, and we take care of family.”
They shook hands and pulled each other in for a one-armed hug. “I appreciate that. What do you want me to do? Leave town? Leave the country?”
Mason had been thinking about that for the last few minutes. “No, I want you to stay close so we can have your back. You can work the front desk for a few weeks…or months. Who knows, maybe we’ll get lucky, and your father and his people will still believe that you’re dead.”
