Page 38 of My Secret Santa Mason

Bullshit.

They didn’t look like they were just out for a holiday stroll. In fact, it looked like they were discussing something, and it wasn’t pretty.

A thick tension hung in the air.

I hid myself behind a tree, becoming one with my surroundings. I’d worn white to blend in with the snow for my hunt, and I was relieved about that now. I pressed against the bark as I listened.

They weren’t talking loud enough for me to catch every word, but I caught enough.

“This should go off without a hitch,” one of them said, his voice low and gravelly. “She’s just some woman—no threat.”

“Viktor wants to make sure,” another one chimed in. “We use the Whitman girl to get what we need.”

My breath caught in my throat. Viktor. And they were talking about Cami.

My blood went cold as I listened more closely, my hands clenched into fists. They were talking about her.

Wallace and Viktor had been tied together back then. I didn’t think they were still working together, but hearing Viktor’s name meant I hadn’t been wrong about seeing Wallace.

I’m never fucking wrong.

It was a blessing and a curse.

More of a curse these days.

I waited until they started moving toward their car again, staying out of sight until the engine roared to life and they disappeared down the hidden path. Then, I took off through the trees, and disappeared to blend into town again, to be “holiday-goers.”

I hurried through the forest, heading toward town. I took a different route so I wouldn’t run into them again.

The one I took was quicker, anyway. I could move through the trees where a car couldn’t.

I had to see her. I had to make sure she was okay.

We use the Whitman girl to get what we need.

By the time I reached her place, adrenaline was coursing through me, and I was ready for a fight.

I almost imagined them showing up here, ready to do this here and now, and I was so ready to take them out.

I knocked on the door, my heart pounding in my chest. I wasn’t too late—I knew that. But a small voice still screamed at me.

What if I was?

The fear of losing her kicked in, and damn it, that was exactly what I didn’t need. But now it was a part of me, I guess we just had to fucking deal with it.

Cami opened the door, and her eyes widened.

“Mason,” she said. “What are you doing here?”

Not the welcome I’d expected.

I’d more hoped for a kiss and ahi honey, but hell, this wasn’t an eighties sitcom and happy endings didn’t look like that inanylife.

“Are you okay?” I studied her.

Her face was pale, her eyes large and distant.

She nodded quickly, but I could see the lie in her eyes. “Yes. I’m fine. Everything’s fine.” She let out a shuddering breath.

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