Page 95 of When Kings Fall

“It has,” Bree confirmed, beaming.

“Jesus,” I breathed, sinking back against the edge of the pool.

I couldn’t… process it.

Colt jumped at me and threw his arms around me. “You’re free! Free!”

I held him to me and looked out at Brianna. “Thank you. Thank you so much. This has… it’s changed everything for me.”

“You don’t need to thank me, Mason. I want you happy alongside the rest of us.”

“I was trapped and now I’m not. Because of you.”

Colt released me and I waded to Brianna, between her legs.

Stroking her thighs, I gazed up at her in utter reverence. “Coming into our lives, it’s changed everything in so many unexpected and unbelievable ways. You’re amazing and we love you. I love you.”

“Aww, shit, Mason. That was awesome.”

Bree’s whole face lit up. “I love you, too. You. Colt. Levi. All of you.”

Colt and I wrapped ourselves around her.

Unfortunately, the moment was cut far too short when her phone rang.

She grumbled and retrieved it from beside her. “It’s Levi,” she told us. She put it on speakerphone and answered, “Hey, lovely. We’re all here listening. How is your day going at Knightsridge?”

“Wildflower. Boys,” Lev’s voice sounded between us. “The day’s been great. But I’m not calling about that. We’ve got a problem. It’s your shit of a father, Mason. Lena couldn’t hold him off any longer and he now knows you’re here. She just told my dad that he’s on his way to sort you out. Brianna, any update on the Vixen mission yet?”

“A fucking ace update,” Colt answered, unable to contain his excitement. “They got the tape. It’s destroyed.”

“Yeah?”

“It’s gone,” Bree confirmed.

“Perfect fucking timing. Yeah, Mason?”

I was having trouble absorbing everything, all these monumental things in quick succession. “Yeah,” was all I could manage.

My father was coming here? Now?

I was free? Out from under his thumb?

It didn’t fully compute.

It hit me then.

Because it wasn’t true.

At least, not all the way.

Roman’s words from the other night played on my mind, coming right to the forefront.

“This is your chance.”

“Chance?”

“To stand your ground. To show him you’re a grown man. No longer a boy he can push around.”

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