Page 55 of Twisted Trails
I don’t know how I’ll make this work yet. I have no idea what the new plan is, what I’m going to do when everybody figures it out, or what I’m going to do about Dane, Finn, Luc, and Mason. But the fact that I need anew plan, that I can stillmakeplans, makes my heart flip in my chest.
Mason holds the stare, the weight of it settling like gravity between us, and we sit like that for a long beat.
Then he stands, pushes the chair back into place, and straightens to his full height. I sit up straighter, too, my heart suddenly beating even harder, because I have no idea what’s about to happen.
Is he going to cuss me out again?
Or leave and tell the UCI what I just told him?
“I’m…” I start, then falter. My voice cracks around the edge, so I try again. “I’m sorry. I’m sorry I hurt you by not telling you the truth sooner, but I couldn’t.” My hand twists in the hem of my shirt, my fingers knotting tight. “I couldn’t tell anyone the truth. Not even my nobody. That could have cost me my disguise, and it’s not only me in this, it’s Dane and…fuck.”
I glance up at him, at his dark, beautiful eyes. “I know I was wrong, I should have told you because you would’ve kept it quiet, you would’ve had my back. I know that. It’s not like I didn’t trust you, Idotrustyou, and I know I shattered that trust, but if there wasanyoneI could have told…” I trail off, all the word vomit finally coming to an end when I whisper, “… it would have been you.”
Silence falls for a long moment, and I’m unable to look him in the eyes again.
But then he steps forward and reaches for my good hand, warm and calloused fingers wrapping around mine, and pulls me to my feet.
I almost stumble into him, but he keeps holding on, and then we’re standing toe-to-toe, black boots to my bare feet, and his eyes lock on mine like he’s searching for something.
Consent, maybe?
I nod, even though I don’t know what he’s asking for.
But it doesn’t matter, because a second later, he pulls me into his chest, arms tightening around my body in a way that makes everything inside me cave.
I hug him back instantly, so fiercely my fingers hurt, and like I’ve been drowning and finally found something solid. My arms go around his waist, my cheek presses into his shoulder, and I feel his heart beating rapidly. He squeezes me even tighter as one of his hands lifts to stroke over the back of my head, fingers brushing through my hair, and making me let out a breath of relief.
He doesn’t hate me.
“Okay,” he murmurs, still holding me tightly. “What is your next step?”
“Telling this to everyone else. They know a lot but not everything.”
“I’ll be there.” Mason presses a soft kiss to my temple, so light it makes me shudder andmelt.
I was so scared of losing him.
So fucking scared.
“We’ll survive this, Bambi,” Mason murmurs, his lips still against my skin.
I agree wholeheartedly.
I don’t know how yet, butI’ll survive this.
CHAPTER ELEVEN
Luc
Mason Payne is a horrible distraction.
He’s got that whole brooding thing going on, arms crossed, jaw tense, eyes fixed on the space where Dane and Alaina just finished their“so here’s why we lied to everyone”speech.
My brain should be catching up, cataloging all the shit they just dropped on us—revenge arcs, fake identities, sabotaged careers—but instead, I’m locked on the sharp line of Mason’s jaw and the way his hand flexes like he’s fighting the urge to punch something or someone.
Not to mention his scent.
I’m standing so close to him that every breath tastes like him.
