Page 104 of Played
“Putting up with all that as a kid. Having your parents treat you that way. Moving away and starting a new life on your own…” He shakes his head. “I can’t imagine being alone like that. Even when I was in Chicago, I knew any of these guys would be there in hours if I picked up a phone.”
I shrug. “I guess I didn’t know any different.” I’m so fucking confused. They don’t seem pissed at me at all.
“Having all of you, and Mom and Pop, be so supportive when I came out meant everything to me,” Mason says. “It didn’t matter if some asshole called me names or whatever, because I had my family. Home was always a safe place.” He turns to me. “I hate that you didn’t have that. Dealing with everything on your own makes you stronger and braver than you will ever give yourself credit for.”
His brothers all voice their agreement.
I’m not sure I feel more uncomfortable with their pity than I would their judgment. Although it doesn’t feel like pity—more like understanding. Whatever it is, I try to brush it off. “I don’t know about that. And I’m not sure my shitty childhood is an excuse for the decisions I made as an adult.”
Maddox shakes his head. “Nobody said it’s an excuse. But bad shit like that affects your brain development. It wires you up differently. Makes you act in ways other people wouldn’t.” Maddox glares at his brothers. “That is scientific fact, assholes.”
Elijah, Nathan, and Drake nod, and Mason holds his hands up in surrender. “I never said a word, bro.”
Maddox narrows his eyes at him before returning his attention to me. “It also leaves a stain on your soul, and the only way to remove it is to let it out. Whatever way you choose to doit is up to you, but you gotta let it out. You can’t keep all that to yourself or it will destroy you.”
Mason reaches across the table and rests his hand over Maddox’s, and Nathan, who’s sitting beside him, wraps his arm around his youngest brother’s neck and gives him a hug that resembles a headlock. It’s obvious that Maddox is speaking from experience, but this isn’t the time to ask him to reopen those wounds. I simply thank him for his insight.
Elijah clears his throat again. “Your father is a piece of shit, King.”
I couldn’t agree more. “He most definitely is.”
He gives me a slight nod like he’s pleased I’m in full agreement. “I would personally like to tear off his arms and beat him to death with them for what he did to Mason.”
Again, I agree, and I tell him so.
“But I appreciate that this isn’t my problem to solve, and Mason tells me that’s not what either of you want.” He loosens his tie.
“What do you want?” Nathan cuts in. “This isn’t only about what happened to the two of you.”
“Cassidy Jones.” Her name makes us all pause for a moment. “You’re right,” I say. “My father knows I know the truth, and there’s no telling what he’ll do to try and destroy any potential evidence.”
“So are you going to the cops, or are we handling this ourselves?” Elijah asks, and I could hug him for that. I’ve never known what it was like to have a family that would go to bat for you like these brothers do for each other. Except that’s disrespectful to my Grampa. I’m sure his mind would have been on board even if his body wasn’t.
Drake shakes his head. “There’s a murder involved. Don’t you think the cops are the safest bet?”
Elijah nods. “Just pointing out that we have options.”
I’ve been thinking about what to do since Mason and I discussed it early this morning, and the only choice is to hand this over to the authorities. Cassidy and her father deserve that. Her memory deserves to be protected. “My father has a lot of influence with the NYPD, but I know a detective I can pass this on to. He’ll make sure it’s investigated.”
“We have a lot more influence though, and we have some contacts in the DA’s office,” Nathan says. “Drake and I can pull some strings. Make sure a warrant is expedited.”
I nod. “We’ll go to the 25thprecinct after breakfast.” Charlie Evans is a divorced workaholic who lives at the precinct. He’s also a moody son of a bitch before he’s had his coffee and pancakes.
Mason offers me a reassuring smile. “Then that’s what we’ll do.”
“And I’ll go speak to Curtis Jones straight after.”
Nathan makes a quick call, and when he hangs up, he fills us in on his conversation with the DA’s office, and we all have to face the distinct possibility that my parents will get away with their crime if the police can’t find solid evidence. But I am convinced Cassidy’s body is somewhere in that house, or on the grounds at least.
“Whatever happens next, Kyngston Worthington III is finished in New York,” Elijah declares. “In any part of the world where I have any influence at all, he is done. I will personally see to that. But more importantly, if your father isn’t locked up immediately, are you both safe?”
“My father is a bully and a coward. He can’t afford security these days, but even if he could, from what Mason told me, the Ryans scared the living shit out of him. There isn’t a chance in hell he’d be willing to cross the Irish mob. And while he may still technically be breathing, he and my mother are very much dead to me. They pose no danger to Mason.”
“And what about any danger to you?” Drake asks.
I’m touched by his concern for my safety, and it takes me a second to compose myself enough to answer. “They don’t pose a threat to me either.”
“You should beef up your security in here anyhow, Mason,” Nathan says coolly. “I’ve been telling you that for years.”
