Page 29 of Mastered By Bliss

“How do you text and do social media?”

“I get by, sort of.”Her eyes fill with tears.“It’s just long books and things—it takes so long to read a sentence, I can’t get the meaning.”

“Okay.I’ll have to do some research on teaching literacy, but in the meantime, we’ll make the most of our hour.”

Her entire face lights up.I realize, then, she’s been fearing rejection for this entire meeting.

We read through the opening ofLord of the Fliestogether, slowly.I have her sound out the more difficult words, offering correction when she gets them wrong.I have no freaking clue what I’m doing, but by the end of the hour, Mallory is beaming at me like I’m some kind of hero.

I give her homework—reading a short chapter book written for a much younger audience.She’ll listen toLord of the Flieson audio to at least get the story down, but we’re going to have a lot of work to do with reading comprehensionandwriting.

“Talk to your dad this week,” I tell her.“That’s your other homework.Tell him what’s going on.I’m not comfortable lying to him, and I’ve met him, Mallory—he wants the best for you.”

She nods.“I don’t want to disappoint him.”

“You won’t—he loves you and he’ll want to support you.”

We say our goodbyes.I sit for a long moment at the table by myself.Emotionally, I’m wrung out.And I’m going from here, to dinner with Gage and Dmitri to talk about more emotional stuff?

Finally, I gather my things.Lauren gets up as well—she sat two tables away this whole time, pretending to read.Together, we walk to Gage’s car.

“Ironwood is going to follow us home from the library in another car,” she informs me.“Just a precaution, to see if we’re followed by anyone else.”

“Smart.”Although I’m embarrassed—I hate that recent events have made me paranoid.

We get into the car.Lauren waves at the black SUV parked near us, then turns to me.“Ready?”

Ready to meet the guys and talk about the future of our relationship?Nope.Like Mallory, I’ve been fearing rejection.

9

Gage

Dmitri and I leave Low Vice.My bodyguard, Jake, follows behind.The sun has nearly set, and long shadows fall over the parking lot.

A form emerges from those shadows.

Jake immediately moves between us and our surprise guest.But as the stranger steps into a slant of weak sunlight, I realize he isn’t a stranger at all—I just wish he was.

Harvey Billings.He looks even older than the last time I saw him.His suit hangs off him like he’s lost weight recently, and his eyes appear hollow above dark gray circles of fatigue.

I step around Jake, my fists clenched.“What the hell are you doing at my club?”

“Waiting for you.”He sounds tired, defeated.“We need to talk.”

Perhaps he’s right—we do need to talk.But I don’t want Dmitri or my bodyguard to witness it.Everything he did to us, everything that was said—it’s private.Or as private as it can be.

I turn to Jake and Dmitri.“Can you give us a moment?”

Jake immediately steps back against the building.Dmitri hesitates.

“Please.”I nod at him, trying to convey that I’m serious.

Dmitri retreats to stand next to Jake.Billings and I move a few yards away.Not so far that Jake and Dmitri couldn’t rush to my defense—but I don’t think it’ll be necessary.Billings looks like he’s already lost whatever fight is happening.

Billings doesn’t say anything right away; he simply looks at me like he’s trying to see the boy I once was.

I don’t have time for this.“So, what do you want?”

---