Page 72 of Mase
Her eyes skitter around the foyer. “The treatment is awful, Mase.”
“I’m sorry,” I respond grimly, and I am, but that doesn’t mean I want her here, stepping into my life again when I’m trying so desperately to build my happiness.
“Can you hold me?” she sniffles, and I step back.
“No.”
“No?” Her tone turns harsh before she brushes at her eyes, and her jaw sharpens. “There was once a time when you’d hold me whenever I asked.”
“We’re not married anymore, Tara,” I bite out. “And I told you, after tonight, I don’t want to see you again.”
“B-But I still need you,” she sobs, and this time tears cascade down her face, and I want to tell her there was a time when I needed her too. Needed her not to cheat, lie, or become an abusive, cruel bitch.
“You can stay the one night, but then I want you gone. No bullshit.”
She steps forward, and I somehow manage not to recoil this time. I don’t want her to see my weakness, because she sees it as a game, and as a master manipulator, she’s incredible at it.
“Look, you can stay in my old room,” I breathe out, my chest heavy as she steps closer. “You can find your way there, right?”
In other words, fuck off out of my space while I find Summer and try to explain.
“I remember where it is. We used to fuck in there before you asked me to marry you.” Her hand finds my groin, and fire burns behind my eyes as she gives my limp cock a sharp squeeze. “You could join me. For old times’ sake.” She smiles, her tears all dried up.
Her mouth drops open, and a sound from my father’s office has her eyes darting there before they quickly land back on me.
Just what the fuck is Hugh doing in the office again?
My phone vibrates in my pocket, and annoyance rumbles through me.
I grip Tara’s wrist in mine, pressing down hard in warning, and her eyes widen at the brutality of my touch. I lower my head until we’re on the same level. “Listen, and listen really fucking carefully, Tara.”
She whimpers.
“You don’t get to touch me anymore. You don’t get to come into my life, flirting with me,” I seethe. “Because I’m not fucking interested. You can stay tonight because you’re clearly distressed, but then you need to find somewhere else to stay.” I release her and throw her hand to the side; she quickly pulls it up against her chest and rubs at it. I ignore the guilt rushing through me at the way I handled her; never in my life have I treated a woman so poorly.
“Follow me!” I bark out and start up the stairs. “I’m showing you to the room in case you forget your way.”And to make sure you don’t accidentally on purpose bump into Summer.
The moment I open my bedroom door, I feel like something’s wrong. There’s a coldness in the air, the hairs on my body stand upright, and when I turn my head over my shoulder to face her, the look in her deranged eyes tells me all I need to know.
I’m fucked.
A sinister smile spreads over her face, and a sharp prick in my neck has me wincing before the room tilts and my footing wavers.
What the actual fuck?
All I can think about as my head hits the floor is Summer is in danger, and our babies too.
FORTY-THREE
SUMMER
A thud soundsfrom down the hall, followed by a loud cackle that causes my stomach to plummet. I close my eyes at the prospect of what that sound might mean.
As much as Mase has reassured me he and his wife are over, I know they have a lot of history. History I cannot compete with. How can I possibly? She’s the woman he fell in love with as a teenager, childhood sweethearts. He married her and dreamed of creating a life together, a family unit. Me, on the other hand, I’m the woman from a one-night stand, one thrust upon him, forcing him to do the right thing.
The two clearly don’t compare, nor could they ever.
I glance down at my phone. My pulse pounding as I read the words.
