Page 61 of Obsessed

Mason shook himself, looking away. He’d come in here to find the lawyer file, not to brood over Rain. Moving into the bedroom, he resumed his search, and as he got to the few shelves Rain had used for his belongings, he found the envelope sitting there withFor Lawyerwritten on its front.

Gingerly picking it up, he ran his gaze over Rain’s handwriting, the swoopy letters somehow matching Rain’s demeanor, rubbing salt in Mason’s wounded heart. Sure, he’d been the one at fault but it didn’t cancel out his feelings, feelings he hadn’t had a chance to express.

A glint caught his attention, and he crouched down in front of the shelving unit, staring at the backside of an SD card, its gold pins catching the light. This couldn’t be his because he always stored his cards correctly, never leaving them out, but there was always a first time.

Within seconds he was back in the studio, sitting at his computer and feeding the mystery card into an adapter.

A folder opened on his desktop, showing him that the files were all video. Confused, Mason double-clicked on a clip in the middle of the list and it opened, showing him a wrecked bedroom. The sheets had been pulled from the bed and bunched up in a ball on the mattress, the dresser drawers had been opened and emptied, and it looked like everything had been strewn all over the floor and stomped on. Even though Mason could only see a sliver of the doorway, he could tell the room had no door and the entire thing felt eerie, as if someone loomed off camera. When that someone finally walked on screen, Mason jumped out of his skin, slapping the space bar and pushing away from the desk.

Sitting there in full color on Mason’s monitor, looking drunk and out of sorts, was Gage.

What the hell was this?

All I have is an SD card with video of her latest jerk trashing my room…maybe. But it’s his place, so it’s not like he did anything illegal.

Rolling back to the desk, Mason squinted at the footage. This was Rain’s room? It made sense; he’d been forced to live with Gage, so of course he’d have a security camera.

Hitting the space bar again with almost too much force, Mason continued playing the clips, rage boiling in his blood as he realized that he was right, everything on the floor was Rain’s and Gage had destroyed it; he’d even taken Rain’s door. No wonder Rain had been sleeping in a storage room.

Despite the subject matter and his fury, Mason sat there for hours, watching as Gage hung out in Rain’s room, picking through his things, drinking and tossing the beer cans into the rubble, and occasionally doing lines of coke on the desk.

Strangely, Mason found it healing. Seeing how pathetic Gage had become and what he was like alone made him feel like less of a threat and more of a joke. It wouldn’t eradicate the years of torture but it was a start.

He slapped the keyboard again during the next to last clip when Gage quickly undid his pants and began to jerk off over Rain’s pillow. That’s when Mason’s rage transformed, becoming steel clarity, and for the first time since Rain left, Mason’s brain began to churn.

Taking out the SD card, Mason stared at it. While he’d been too stricken to protect Rain at The Pointe, there was still something he could do. For both of them.

“I’m astounded that this person managed to get a law degree.” Ms. Chauhan looked up from the paperwork Mason had brought with him. “Whoisthis imbecile?”

He didn’t answer, grateful that it seemed to be a rhetorical question.

“And your family’s lawyer is only a step above an ambulance chaser. He’s not anything to be afraid of.” Her statement necklace jangled as she straightened her jacket. “Your grandmother’s will is airtight, signed before an attorney and a witness when she was of sound mind. This shouldn’t have been an issue.”

Mason didn’t know whether to punch himself for choosing such a shitty lawyer to begin with or to cry that he’d finally found an amazing one, either way, he sat rapt with attention, stunned and a wee bit scared. Formidable, with an energy that stated she wasn’t to be trifled with, Ms. Maya Chauhan seemed like she ate bullies for breakfast. Mason wondered if she knew Marci because they seemed to be cut from the same cloth.

“There’s a few things I can do here.” Folding her hands, she placed them on top of the file, fixing her steely gaze on Mason. “I can start the process of officially putting the house in your hands. I can also submit all of the communication your family has so stupidly sent you, as well as the video you took of the burglary, and get you a restraining order.” Her eyebrow rose. “I’ll also have a sergeant personally visit them with a warning.”

Even though this was exactly what Mason wanted to hear, his heart still panged. Rain had put in so much effort to get them to this point but he wasn’t here to see it through, to know that he’d helped Mason beyond measure, even though Mason didn’t deserve it.

“Good.” He nodded stiffly and she studied him, making him nervous, but he had to ask. This had been going a little too well, so it was time for a reality check. “How-” he coughed, putting more strength into his voice. “How much would all that cost?”

“Since you’re a friend of Liam’s I’ll do thisalmostpro bono.” She gave him a dangerous smile.

“Almost,” he echoed warily, his nails digging into his palms as he waited for the catch.

“I looked at your website, Mr. Hart. You have remarkable talent. I’d like you to take my portrait.”

Mason blinked. Wait. This impressive woman liked Mason’s work? Gran must’ve pulled some strings on the other side because somehow he was getting the best help for free.

He felt his brow crinkle and he knew that his mouth fell open a little, but he quickly recovered.

“I’d love to.” Truthfully, capturing the cold fire of Ms. Chauhan’s soul would be an honor, and for the first time in weeks, Mason’s creativity stirred in its cocoon, giving signs of life.

“Then we have a deal.” She held out her hand, and the good manners Gran had instilled in him had Mason returning the shake. “I’ll have my office draw everything up for you to sign and I will keep you updated at every step. Is there anything else I can help you with?”

Mason reached into his pocket, flipping the SD card in his hand and thinking of how secure and happy Rain had been before everything had fallen apart. As Emma had said, Rain shone, and the way he used to smile when he held Mouse, the creases in his brow gone, his eyes calm and gentle, had been the pinnacle of his beauty.

As Mason’s brain made the connection, it felt like a physical click. Now he knew the theme of his show.

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