Page 60 of Shameless

Lula is right. I was fearing that too. “What else can we do? I’m not going to be a drug smuggler for the mafia, Jumps. And whatabout you? Was Mason lying when he told you that you’re off the hook?”

Her answer surprises me. “I don’t think he was. In Mason’s eyes I proved my loyalty to him. He told me before that it’s the only way his father would ever let someone walk away. If they were loyal to the bitter end. I took the fall for him last year and even when he asked me to do something dangerous, I went through with it.”

I’m relieved and annoyed at the same time. “Does the fact that Mason is in love with you have something to do with him letting you quit?”

This is one of the many things I love about Lula; she’s honest to a fault.

“Maybe. I’m not sure and it doesn’t matter. I loved Mason as a friend, like I would love an older brother.”

That doesn’t match what I heard before Lula came back at the beginning of the summer. “So was Tiffany lying about that too? Tom told us you were dating a drug dealer.”

“Mason and I were never dating,” she offers. “For a second there, I might have considered it. We made out once when we were really high and he protected me from Evan. But that was never anything more than that. Besides, when Mason came to find me here… I saw a side to him that made me realize what a huge mistake I would have made if things had turned romantic between us.”

Something in Lula’s eyes tells me that Mason tried to hurt her. “I swear to God, Jumps, if he hurt one hair on your head, I?—”

She covers my clenched fist with her hand. “He almost did,” she whispers. “But he stopped before things went too far.”

I’m conflicted about whether I should ask Lula what she means with“he almost hurt her.”

Because if the answer is what I think it might be, I don’t know that I’d be able to keep from going to find Morelli. If I do, the sheriff will have another gruesome murder to deal with. I’m already at snapping point when it comes to Evan. The only reason why I haven’t ended his despicable life, is that I’m biding my time. When I deal with Lula’s tormentor, I need to do it in a way that won’t cause me to get locked up and lose Lula for good. I haven’t found the solution to my problem yet, but I’m weighing my options.

“Stef,” Lula pleads, guessing the dark place my mind is in right now. “Please, promise me you won’t do something stupid. Mason is no longer a threat. At least to me.”

I exhale, taking Lula’s hand into mine. “I promise, Jumps.”

“Look,” she continues. “I’ve been thinking about it while you guys were talking to the sheriff. I think I have a way that you guys can walk away from the Morelli business, but that would mean not giving the police any evidence that could cause trouble to Mason or his uncle.”

“What’s your solution?” I ask, skeptical that there’s a way out of our deal with the sheriff anyway.

“Make all the blame for the illicit activities within Star Thunders fall on Trevor’s shoulders. Just give the sheriff evidence of his involvement but nothing to tie him to the Morelli family. As long as the sheriff can’t prove a connection, you’ll be safe.”

I don’t understand. “Right. But how would that make a difference? You just said that you don’t walk away from the mafia.”

Lula’s lips curl into a smile that promises nothing but trouble. “Mason said he owes me a favor. I’m going to ask him to help you find evidence to place the blame only on Trevor and Eddie and to let you walk away.”

Lula

“No.” Stefan bites out. “Absolutely not.”

I don’t understand. “Why not? You heard Mason this morning. He said he owes me one. He already said he doesn’t expect me to sell for him again. It’s a win-win. You get to keep Star Thunders with a clean slate and no repercussions.”

I’ve known Stefan my entire life and when he crosses his arms over his ripped chest, I know he won’t budge. “No, Jumps. I forbid it.”

His blond brow is set into a scowl, a muscle in his jaw keeps popping and his green eyes are darkened with determination.

Stefan is handsome and stubborn and yet… I burst into a fit of laughter.

His fierce expression crumbles like a sandcastle hit by a wave. “What? Why the fuck are you laughing?” he says, miffed but fighting the urge to start laughing with me.

Stefan has never been able to keep a straight face if I was laughing or during a staring contest and I see the years haven’t changed that.

“You forbid it?” I manage to utter, wiping tears from the corners of my eyes. “Who are you, my dad? I mean, even Dad wouldn’t say heforbidssomething.”

Stefan rolls his eyes, as his gaze meets mine. “Say it any way you want, the facts don’t change. There’s no way you’re gonna call a favor from Mason Morelli.”

I don’t get it. “Why not? It’s the solution to your problems and it’s about time I do something other than cause trouble in your lives.”

Stefan’s scowl deepens. “What the fuck are you talking about, Jumps? You’re no trouble to me.”

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