Page 32 of Obsessed

“Stay there. Don’t call the cops. I’ll be back in less than five minutes.” As he approached the next light, it changed to green and he turned, glad he wasn’t breaking the law too much.

“Okay. If someone’s in the house they won’t be able to see me and I also have pepper spray.” He let out a long breath. “But please hurry.”

Three excruciating minutes later, Mason parked at the end of the driveway. Grabbing a camera from his bag in the back, he put in a fresh SD card, slung it around his neck, and began recording video as he got a tire iron from the trunk.

Slowly, he crept toward the house, noting the broken window and the open front door. He saw no movement inside as he circled the property, heading toward the weeping willow, but his heart was in his throat, and it struck him that his fear wasn’t for Gran’s home or anything in it; it was for Rain and Mouse.

Hands sweating, he parted the hanging green branches, looking around under the tree. “Rain?”

Rain’s head popped out from behind the trunk. Eyes wide, he looked down at the tire iron.

“What are you doing with that?” The shakiness in his tone made Mason even angrier. “Are you going inside? What if they have a weapon too?”

He studied the back of the house, his gut telling him that this was his brother’s handiwork which meant he was already long gone.

“I don’t think anyone’s in there.” Because this wasn’t a robbery. It was intimidation, a threat.

“How do you know?” Rain leaned against him, and Mason could feel him trembling. Without thinking, he put his arm around those shaking shoulders, and Rain stilled, looking up at him.

Unable to answer Rain’s question, Mason shrugged.

“I’m going inside to look for Mouse.” All Mason could think about was that sweet kitten. She was still so small, even for her age, and foxes and hawks roamed the area. They needed to find her tonight.

“I’m coming with you.” Clutching a pink pepper spray canister in his fist, Rain followed Mason across the lawn. “Are you sure that you don’t wanna call the cops?”

Mason shook his head. He’d tried that route before, asking for a restraining order when his brother had sent a few nasty texts, and he’d been laughed out of the precinct. They wouldn’t help in this situation because he didn’t need the police; he needed a better lawyer.

Starting at the front door, Mason closed it behind them, noting the broken glass in the living room. A quick search of all three floors told him that they were alone but everything except the locked studio and darkroom had been left open for Mouse to freely explore, so she could be anywhere.

Splitting up, they began to hunt, Rain’s calls for her echoing throughout the house as Mason moved from room to room, but there was no sign of her, and nothing looked out of place. Where was his brother’s calling card?

“Oh no!” Rain’s broken tone had Mason darting into the dining room, where Gran’s painting of him had been removed from the wall, placed on the table, and slashed to ribbons.

Now Mason had full confirmation that his family was behind this. Normally, he would’ve beelined straight to the piece but he’d been so preoccupied with finding Mouse that he’d forgotten his brother was stupidly predictable.

“I’m so sorry, Mason.” Rain sniffed, with tears in his eyes for MouseandMason, and the emotion stunned him, strangely warming his soul.

“Don’t worry.” Even though the night had turned on its head and Mouse was still missing, Mason was able to lift the corner of his lip in a pseudo-smile because he’d won this round. “That isn’t the real one.”

“Wait, what?” Rain’s forehead wrinkled in confusion. “I don’t understand. Where’s the real one?”

“Locked in the studio.” His brother’s jokes about damaging it had started before the paint was dry and while Gran had kept a watchful eye on the piece, Mason had known that the jokes would eventually turn into promises, so he had a high-resolution photo printed up on canvas. To the layman’s eye, it looked like a painting, and Mason thanked his past self for that idea, quietly laughing at the fact that he’d tricked one of his biggest bullies.

“Mason.” Rain’s voice snapped him into the present. “What’s going on? It’s time to elaborate.”

“I will. But let’s find Mouse first.” They stared at each other for a few seconds and Mason tried to put the truth in his eyes, filling them with the promise that he’d tell Rain everything. It seemed to work because Rain gave him a nod and they went back to their search.

After going over every floor twice, they moved outside, stopping just off the porch.

“The front door was open and the internet says that if a cat gets out, they stay close to the house.” Pocketing his cell phone, Rain gestured toward the shrubs that surrounded the foundation. “We should start looking-”

“Wait.” Mason held up a finger, sure he’d heard something but a passing car had drowned it out. Stilling, they glanced around and a few seconds later a hesitant squeak rose from the juniper bushes next to Rain.

“Mousey-girl?” Rain dove right in, his hair getting caught on the green branches, and Mason fumbled for his phone, turning on the flashlight and trying to block Mouse if she ran his way. “C’mere, babygirl, it’s okay…” Calling to her with little kissy sounds, Rain shuffled forward and then lunged with a shriek. “Got her!”

Mouse managed to let out one plaintive mew but the rest were muffled by Rain’s chest as he stood, holding her close. She clung to him with all her might, claws in, and the sight of them together, shaking with relief, Rain’s cheek scratched and wet with tears, only intensified Mason’s shame. In trying not to get hurt, he’d hurt Rain and had almost lost Mouse. They both deserved more.

Moving them inside, Mason stopped the video and took some photos of the broken window before sweeping up the glass and boarding up the window. Looking at the space where the painting had been, Mason chided himself again. He knew what they were capable of and he’d stuck his head in the sand, but he had to protect this place now, and not just for himself or Gran.

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