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“Happy fortieth,” I offered while clasping my boss’s hand. “It’s all downhill from here.”
“Thanks.” He snickered but did a quick study of my face, his pale eyes concerned—and too damn intuitive, especially with my usual ability to bullshit flagging. “You’re leaving already?”
I managed to hold my grin in place. “Yeah—I’m beat.”
Micah gave me a raised eyebrow that suggested he wanted to call me out, but he didn’t, thank fuck.
Cooney clasped my shoulder in his meaty paw. “Take it easy, Mason. Get some rest. Looks like you need it.”
“Well thanks,” I shot back, trying for a snarky attitude I didn’t feel.
A few minutes later, I breathed a sigh of relief while making my way toward one of the hotel’s side exits closest to the parking garage.
Humid, too-hot air hit me like a brick wall as I stepped out into the dark alleyway. Exhaust and the scent of a restaurant’s grill filled my nose. A horn honked, and engines revved from the main road to my left.
The door snicked shut behind me, and I tipped my head back, eyes closed against the night while wishing I was anywhere but downtown Boston.
I longed for the scent of salt water and suntan oil. Exotic flowers and ozone after a storm like we’d had earlier in the day. The city’s air didn’t carry the freshness rain usually brought but a damp heaviness that matched the weariness hovering over my shoulders.
A dozen or so hours of sleep would help. Then coffee. I would make myself some waffles covered in strawberries and whipped cream after a second cup—that always did the trick.
Mind set on my bed, I started across the narrow alley, trying to remember which floor of the parking garage I’d left my car.
The door I’d escaped through snicked open and shut behind me, and the scuff of quick feet on the road made me turn my head on instinct.
A blur of black flashed in my periphery.
“What—”
Something slammed into the side of my head, ripping the word from me as I stumbled to my side, landing on my knees. Ears ringing and vision swimming, I attempted to crawl forward and escape whoever had jumped me.
“Fuck! H-Help!” I hollered, gravel digging into my palms and knees as I tried to scurry forward on limbs refusing to cooperate.
A stinging swipe slashed across my shoulder, jacking my heartrate up even further.
I yelled another curse while curling in on myself. “I-I have money in my wallet! Take it! Please don’t hurt me!”
A boot to my ribs radiated pain through my core, ripping another cry from my lungs and flooding my mind with fear—the instinctive need to get away.
Rolling, I lifted my arms, trying to shield my face from my attacker as another kick got me in the gut. I groaned, and something solid once more hit my head in the same goddamned spot as the first blow.
Darkness hovered at the edge of my mind, wanting to swoop in and swallow me whole.
“Hey!” A voice rang out in the distance.
Footfalls raced away…others toward me.
Numbness crept through my limbs even as my head throbbed, and I struggled to make out the night sky.
I welcomed the threatening unconsciousness.
Chapter2
Jasper
He didn’t show.
Heart heavy, I slid off my stool, ready to escape the hotel’s loud, obnoxious atmosphere. A few events took place in the ballrooms, and partiers had migrated into the bar area where I’d been waiting for my date.
