Page 76 of Mase
I don’t give a shit about a lawsuit or the fact that Summer wasn’t twenty-one, as she should have been. “Okay,” I groan, dragging a hand over my head, and attempt to stand. “Thank you,” I rasp.
“You should pull up your jeans and underwear,” Oscar asserts. “It appears your girl found you in quite the position.” His attention travels up and down my body with a sneer, and the moment his words register, they send a pool of dread into my stomach, infiltrating my bloodstream, and my legs feel heavier than ever.
“Need Summer.” My voice is hoarse as panic floods me.
“She’s currently with your friend, Reed.” Oscar nods. But how can he truly understand? She probably thinks I cheated. Hell, I feel like I have. It’s like there’re insects crawling over my skin. Tara’s perfume lingers on me, and my skin feels scorched from her touch.
“I’ll take the bitch to Luca’s. He has a basement to play with pieces of shit like this.” Bren’s hand tightens on Tara, and all I can do is nod, no longer giving a shit about Tara or her screams of injustice. The only thing I can think about is holding Summer and never letting her go.
FORTY-SEVEN
MASE
I abandonmy truck in the hedge and throw open the door. I really shouldn’t have driven over here. It takes a lot of concentration to remain standing, so I stumble over my feet in a rush and head toward the front door. Reed is waiting for me with his arms crossed over his chest and a twist of his lips as he wrinkles his nose.
“Have you been drinking?” he clips out.
“S-She drugged me.” I swipe at the sweat running down my face, and he grimaces as his eyes follow the action.
“S-Summer,” I pant out.
Reed shakes his head. “I don’t think that’s a good idea, Mase.” His pointed stare lances through my chest, pulling on the one organ that’s keeping me upright. My best friend is keeping her from me. “She’s pregnant and upset. You don’t want to cause her anymore hurt.” Oh, Jesus, what the hell do they think I’ve done? What did she see? Does she think I…?
I blanch, and Reed takes a step back, giving me the perfect opportunity to use what little strength I have to push inside the rental home.
“Mase!” Reed bites out, following behind me. “I told you; now’s not a good time!” His sharpness sets my teeth on edge, and the lines on his forehead deepen.
I swipe at my face. The sweat is literally pouring off me as I come down from whatever shit she injected me with. “You don’t understand.” Sharking my head, I glance around the foyer frantically. Where the hell is she?
“She drugged me.” I turn back to Reed, hoping he can see the truth in my eyes. Then I press my palm against the pain in my chest. “Tara drugged me and tried to rape me. Have you any idea how that feels? Every fucking inch of me is crawling with her filth.” I push my hands over my skin, the need to claw at it consuming me. “I just want Summer. I need her.” Wetness swims in my eyes, and I need my friend to understand, to see the turmoil in my eyes as my lip wobbles uncontrollably. My entire body no longer feels like my own. She touched me when she had no fucking right to. When I belong to Summer, the one woman who loves me, darkness and all. Tara tried to destroy that. Hell, she probably has. “She fucking tried to… I don’t know if she…” I can’t say it. “I need my girl, right now.” I swipe at the snot dripping from my nose.
Reed steps forward, his face ashen. “Mase. I think she thinks…” His words hang in the air, and my legs buckle because I know what she thinks. I’ve thought it a million times myself in the past. I’ve felt that crippling feeling of betrayal, the worthlessness and shame. I’ve felt it in my soul as my heart laid tattered by the one person I trusted to keep it safe, and I’d never do that to her. Never. My knees hit the floor as pure devastation pulverizes me.
“I love her,” I choke out. “She gave me her heart, Reed, and I swore to protect it.” I thump my fist to my chest. “I didn’t do this.” I can barely see my best friend through my tears. “I swear I didn’t.” I shake my head. “Please help me.”
SUMMER
Frozen, I watch in horror through the spindles of the staircase as Mase recounts his experience. Vomit threatens to make an appearance as he tries to explain what that bitch did to him.
Did to us.
When his sobs echo through the foyer, a shudder takes over my body, and a low whimper startles me, then I realize it came from me.
He needs me.
I need him.
I need to make this right.
Fury coupled with a fierce need to comfort and protect the man I love has my feet hitting the marble staircase and racing toward him. When he lifts his face to meet mine, I fall to the floor at his knees, at the power of the absolute devastation on his face greeting me.
He looks distraught, sick, his face etched in torment yet drained of blood, and with every fiber of my being, I vow vengeance for him. For me and our babies.
I softly cradle his face in the palms of my hands, much like he has done with me time and time again.
“You’ve always kept my heart safe, Mase. I believe you,” Iwhisper against his soft lips. His shoulders relax, but he retreats, making me jerk back, and regret rifles through me. Have I lost him? I search his eyes for an answer.
“Don-don’t kiss me, Summer. Not… not yet.” He shakes his head furiously. “She tried…” She tried to kiss him. I nod and get to my feet, then hold my hands out for him. The uncertainty in his eyes makes me want to crumble to the floor, but I want to be his strength like he is mine.
