Page 54 of Damsel in Defense
Tears are streaming down her face as she shakes her head.“Don’t do this, Mason.Don’t you dare.We’re better—”
I can’t let her finish.If I do, I just might make a selfish decision and stay.
“You deserve better than this.Better than the wreckage I bring.You’re safe now.Falcon and his team will stay with you here for however long you need.I made arrangements to stay with Max.I think—I think it’s best if we take a break from…our arrangement.At least until the dust settles.”
“Mason,” she pleads, her voice cracking.I don’t look back as I start for the door.
If I do, I’ll never leave.I’ll take one look at her and fold, kiss her bruised lips, and promise we’ll be okay—and that would be a lie.Not right now.
Not when the world’s still clawing at her.
“I’ll check in.If you ever need anything, just say the word.”
“I need you, Mason,” she hiccups.Those words almost break me.I swallow hard and reach for the door with a shaking hand.
Then I’m gone.
CHAPTER TWENTY
VICTORIA
I spend the night in a daze, crying on and off as I sip an ungodly amount of Diet Coke.
My emotions spiral back and forth from utter devastation to seething anger.One second, I’m bawling my eyes out, and the next, I’m planning a gruesome murder.I’ve seen enough documentaries that I think I could do it without being caught.
My extreme reactions aren’t just focused toward Mason.Oh no, I’m also plotting all these things for Jess.
Jess the Destroyer of Happy Relationships.
Jess the Complete Psycho.
Jess the Motherfucking Mess.
I’d been around and worked with women who had a chip on their shoulder and believed that to win, they had to play dirty.I like to think women supporting women is the way to go, so I never paid them much mind.
This woman, though, is going to live on my shit list for the rest of my life.Once I’m of sound mind—watch out.Jess had walked her last catwalk and posed for her last brand deal.
She had backdoor connections to ruin my reputation.Well, honey, I have legit connections that will get her blackballed from the modelling industry.I go to bed with puffy, red eyes but conviction in my soul.
In the light of morning, however, my anger turns from Jess back to Mason.
How dare he pull this white-knight bullshit and leave me to save my reputation.Shouldn’t I have a say in the matter?
The idiot had told me that he loved me and then walked out the door, without giving me a second to process that life-changing announcement or tell him how I felt.
I love him too.
I’d also love to strangle him.
He was trying to protect me, I know this.That doesn’t mean I’m going to let him.
If Mason thinks I’m fragile, that I can’t stand on my own two feet beside him as shit hits the fan, he is dead wrong.
Am I a damsel?Sure.
Was I in distress?Absolutely.
But I’m a damsel in distress.I can handle my shit.
