Page 138 of They Break Beauty

He stroked my cheek lovingly with his thumb and I couldn’t help the groan that escaped me at the calming effect it was having on me. It was similar to what he and Colt used to do for me back when my episodes had been much more brutal and frequent.

And then he pulled away and walked to the board, slapping his finger to a photo of Royce Humphrey with a list of details below his image. “We use this piece of shit.”

“I’ve considered it, but he’s one of those types who can’t be broken—like fanatics who are so entrenched in their skewed beliefs that there’s no way to sway them to any other way of being.”

“No, not like that. Although, it’s deliciously stimulating that your mind went there.”

I stared at him. “You’re still going through a dry spell, huh?”

“It’s not that.”

“Then you exhibiting some actual sexuality, which you rarely ever do with locking that down so tightly, doesn’t make sense.” I pulled up short as the realization hit me. “You want Brianna?”

“She’s… really something.”

“No denying that.”

“And?”

“And what?”

“How do you feel about that? You’re possessive over her. Clingy, even.”

“Clingy? No. Having no qualms about showing how much I want and care about her? Yes.”

He chuckled. “Semantics.”

I leaned against the wall beside the board. “I’ve wanted to bring her into my world for a long time. It’s happening now. You’re a part of that world. Colt’s also been with her—with us. She’s exhibited interest in you too. Asking about you, all that shit. I’m good with it, so long as you make damn sure it’s on her terms. After what happened to her, it can’t be any other way for her. It scares her otherwise and it could easily trigger her too.”

“I’d do nothing less than ensure it’s on her terms, Lev.”

“Then, good.”

We stared at one another for a few moments, Mason looking as taken aback by his interest in her as I was with absorbing it. He was so closed off, the fact that he was admitting it outright was really something. She’d definitely gotten into his head—and other areas.

I smiled inwardly. That was her. My Wildflower had a power that she didn’t even realize.

“All right then,” he said, then focused back on the board. “So, Royce… there needs to be some degree of separation between your investigation and its target in Malcolm Lynch. Royce is it. according to your intel here, he’s aware of Lynch’s movements. So we use him to obtain the additional intel needed in order to bridge the gap and zero in on Lynch.”

Hmm. “You want me to infiltrate his system?”

“Precisely. Without a trace.” He raised an eyebrow. “Can you pull it off?”

I scoffed. “Please.”

“I meant the without a trace part? Being careful, brother?”

“Whatever it takes to do this.”

“Perfect, then we can work together on it.”

“You’re really up for doing that? Working with me? On this, of all things too?”

He laid his hand on my shoulder. “Like I told you last night while you were suffering from that attack, I’m here, Lev. I’m here now.”

I smiled and grasped his hand on me. “Thank you”

As he smiled back at me and the moment rolled over us, I added what had been missing between us for too long, “Brother.”

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