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“Ready?” he asks.
I can only roll my eyes before we head up to Mason’s apartment together. I have to pretend it doesn’t irk the hell out of me that he has to use his code since mine doesn’t work.
“I’ve got you,” Griffin murmurs before the doors slide open. He puts another few inches between us, waiting for me to exit before he does. Can’t be too close to me. Wouldn’t want anybody to know he spent the night in my bed. It’s fucking absurd.
I can’t worry about that right now, anyway. Why is Mason calling this meeting out of nowhere? Does he know about the texts I got yesterday? Would he wait this long to tell me if he had? Of course not. He can be a bitchy drama queen when he feels like it, but he wouldn’t be able to hold off this long.
“Hi,” I offer to Teagan when we reach the conference room. Trent is already sitting at the table, as is Mason. I feel like we just interrupted a conversation.
“Hi,” she murmurs before quickly looking away. Somehow, that hurts worse of all. After all I did to try to help her feel welcome here, I thought we were better than this. Obviously, my brother has influenced her.
“Where is Dallas?” I ask, if only because it’s obviously driving Mason up the wall, hearing my voice. He keeps flinching like he’s in pain, and his jaw ticks like there’s a lot he wants to say, but he’s holding it back. I would call him a coward if I didn’t suspect it had to do with Teagan, wanting to keep her out of it. I get the feeling it’s a little late for that.
Mason’s eyes meet mine before narrowing into slits. “It’s nothing you need to worry about.”
“Keeping him away from me?” I ask in a sweet voice before taking a seat. I shouldn’t antagonize him, but dammit, when he gets that know-it-all tone in his voice, there’s only so much I can do to control myself.
Maybe it’s easier to screw around with his head than it is to reflect on my next steps. He’s never going to believe I was never against him unless I find a way to make him believe me. I need to prove somehow that I was doing the right thing.
I could report that Mom reached out to me. That might buy me a little trust.
No, on second thought. That would be the easy way out, and it might only end up blowing up in my face, anyway. It might end up getting somebody hurt badly, or worse.
It’s up to me to fix things with Mom. I have to find a way. I have to convince her Mason isn’t the reason Jonathan died. That she’s been twisted up by people with ulterior motives. Tricked into believing what they wanted her to believe.
Otherwise, this will never end.
As Mason drones on about something or other I can’t be bothered to pay attention to, I make up my mind. The first chance I get, I’m out of here thanks to that overwrite code. And once I make things right with Mom, I’ll come back.
18
NATALIE
Ireally do try not to pout, but it’s pretty much impossible with the situation we’re in. We’re no closer to finding my mom. Mason treats me like a child. Teagan looks at me as if she doesn’t trust me anymore. Griffin is babysitting me, and Dallas was sent to the suite he usually stays in when at the hotel and ordered to keep away from me.
“You are kind of cute when you’re pouting,” Griffin tells me with a smile.
We are cuddled up on my couch. I’m already in my pajamas, but I don’t feel cozy. All I can think about is that Dallas is not here. It feels off. I’ve barely finished my thought when the elevator chime announces someone is coming. I’m almost certain it’s my brother checking in on me again. I try to move away from Griffin, keeping a distance between us, but his arms tighten around me, not letting me move.
“What’s wrong with you? It could be my brother.”
“It’s not Mason. It’s your surprise.”
I twist my head so I can look over my shoulder at the elevator. The door slides open, and Dallas casually walks into my place. Immediately, a smile spreads across my face and warmth fills my chest.
“Dallas! What are you doing here?”
“I don’t care what Mason thinks or says. He can’t keep me away. What’s he going to do, yell at me? We’re grown ass adults. He can suck it.” His little outburst makes me giggle. It’s not like Dallas to take shit from anyone, but I also know he respects Mason tremendously. So, him going against Mason in my favor makes me feel wanted and cherished.
Dallas walks into the living room, peeling off his suit jacket. He hangs it over one of the kitchen chairs before flopping down on the couch across from us. “What have you been up to?”
