Page 10 of Please Save Me

All I could think the whole time was howthiswas his fault. If Cameron hadn’t been stupid enough to fall for a cult leader’s manipulation, none of this would have ever happened. Cameron would have remained Calvin, and he would have stayed in Canada, where he belonged, far away frommyMason. But he didn’t. And now she was obsessed with not only him but Lucian and Sophia as well. Without them, she would have caved to my demand for her to get a GED. Butno,she had to get pissed off at me for wanting what’s best for her.

I needed to get her away from everyone in this house without admitting that Imighthave been jealous of all of them. That’s why I took it upon myself to track down and contact the Reverend, formerly known as Dale Cooper.

It wasn’t hard to get his address or phone number. Honestly, it took less than a day. What took time was deciding what to send him. My goal was to make sure Mason was as safe as possible, but I was also certain that I could protect her if push came to shove. That’s why I sent Dale a photo of Cameron resting his hand on Mason’sstomach.

I didn’t sign it or include anything else, but it seemed the hastily snapped Polaroid did its job. I just had to hope what I didremainedundiscovered. If it got out that I was actively using Mason as bait, it could not only cost me my job, but it could incinerate what remained of my relationship with Mason. No one else could understand just how safe Mason was in my care. If anyone dared to harm a hair on her perfect head, I’d slit their throat without hesitation.

The full moon hung bright in the dark sky, mostly hidden behind the farmhouse’s high gabled roof. My tires crunched on the gravel as I pulled in beside Cameron’s eye-sore of a truck. The traffic-cone orange Toyota was massive and impossible to miss, just like its owner.

“Sebastian, I’m serious. We need a plan.” Cameron warned.

I cast him a sideways glance. I wasn’t sure I had the strength to look him in the eyesandremain civil.

“Wedon’t need anything. I have a plan, and you’re not a part of it.” I had no interest in teamwork, especially with someone like Cameron.

He had everyone in the house wrapped around his finger, and they didn’t even know his real name. That was unforgivable.

“Now, hand me the bag so I can go inside and be Mason’s hero.” I ordered, extending my hand.

He let me pick what we got for Mason, and I knew I chose right. Mason wasn’t craving the flavors of Mexican food. She liked the textures. Something about the crunchy chips and how they paired with the rice and sauce. That’s why I went to a poke place that had rice chips. I didn’t grab anything for dessert, but I knew Lucian kept a pint of chocolate ice cream in the freezer.

The paper bag rustled in Cameron’s hands as he held it close.

“You ain’t a hero. Heroes are people who risk their safety to save others… you ain’t even willing to come up with a plan to keep Mason safe.” Cameron spoke with a sort of conviction that would have been admirable from anyone else.

“Those are big words for someone with a fake name, Calvin.” I snatched the bag from his hands, and the corner tore.

The flicker of pure animosity in Cameron’s eyes was almost intoxicating.

“Don’t call me that.” He growled.

“Why not? It’s the name you were born with.” I scoffed.

Part of me wanted to see how angry I could get Cameron. I’dloveto see him snap.

“Calvin Waters is dead.” The small shake in his words betrayed the anger in his voice.

“If that were true, he wouldn’t be talking to me now.”

I had absolutely nothing else to gain from this conversation, so I stepped out into the night. The October air was brisk, and for a moment, I almost regretted not wearing a jacket.

Heavy steps followed behind me as Cameron grabbed my shoulder and spun me around. Heat rushed to my face, and I assumed it was from how angry his touch made me.

It was weird that I had to actually look up at Cameron to make eye contact.

“I don’t give a fuck if you like me.” He grumbled. “Right now, Mason comes first—”

“Exactly, Mason comes first.” I shrugged his hand off my shoulder, but his disgusting warmth lingered. “She’s hungry, and if her stomach is empty too long, she gets sick.”

“If Dale gets ahold of her, throwing up will be the least of her worries.”

“And Dale won’t get near her.”

Mason was safe as long as I was around. I turned away from Cameron once more before heading up the steps and into the house.

When I reached the foyer, the house was oddly still. For the past few weeks, Mason had been almost cemented near the reading nook with a book in hand. She wanted to work through Sophia’s collection of never-touched romance novels before the baby got here. But she was nowhere to be seen.

My heart skipped a beat as I surveyed the area one last time before calling for her. The only response I got was silence, followed by the front door opening behind me.

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