Page 89 of The Ruthless and the Strong

Max

I went outon a run the morning after, after giving a grumpy-face Lizzie a good-morning kiss.

It was still early. The sun hadn’t even risen, and I was hoping to be done with my run quickly enough to come back and enjoy a nice breakfast with her before I had to let her go back to Hunter.

It was the first night she’d spent in my arms, and it had done nothing to satisfy my craving. I wanted her in my arms every night.

We hadn’t exactly talked about what she planned on doing after she moved out of Mason’s house, and now I wondered if it would be too soon to ask her to move in with me.

I would have asked her at this very moment had I believed she was ready for it.

I took my regular route, moving behind the house and into the small wooden areas nearby.

I pushed myself until I didn’t think about anything save for the slight burn that was forming in my lung, and the way my breath came in and out. I didn’t want to think so much anymore.

My legs pumped faster and faster on the rough trail as I took in the small chill of the morning air.

It wasn’t long before I was drenched from the workout, and I found myself back in front of the house, with the sun gently peeking through the dawn light.

I didn’t even know what I was waiting for, or why I was just standing here staring at my house, but then the house next door opened, and Mason walked out in sweats and a trash bag in hand.

He caught my eye, but didn’t say anything.

We stared at each other for a beat before I made my way over to him.

“Hey,” I said.

“Hey. What are you doing?”

“Just got back from a morning run,” I said. I shoved my hands in the pockets of my sweats and looked out at the neighborhood.

Mason followed my eyes, before he said, “Wanna go grab some coffee for the girls?”

I paused. Then said, “Sure.”

“Cool.” He pulled out the keys from his pocket, jingling it in front of me. “Let’s go.”

We didn’t talk as he pulled the car out of the neighborhood. It wasn’t long before he pulled into a nearby coffee shop and got in the drive-through lane.

I tapped my fingers on my thighs. Earlier this morning, I’d felt good about the run. Now the sun was shining brightly through the glass of the car windows and I felt unbearably hot. I pulled on the collar of my shirt and looked out to the side.

Chicago was already bursting with life, and the line was taking too long to move forward. Unlike me, Mason seemed at ease with the wait.

Finally, we got our drinks. Mason handed them to me and I held them in my lap, looking down at the caramel Frappuccino drink that Olivia loved so much.

Olivia had a known sweet tooth, and that hadn’t changed over the years. I remember always stocking up on sweets at my house for her, no matter where I lived.

“I killed Lorenzo,” I said to the silent car. Mason didn’t reply to that. I looked over at him, but I couldn’t tell what he was thinking, especially not with the sunglasses covering his eyes.

Then he pulled into a parking spot and put the car in park, though he didn’t turn off the ignition.

“I had been keeping track of him since his release. Not directly, but I hired a security firm to do it. The owner is a friend of mine and they knew to be discreet about it. You probably know this, but after Lorenzo’s family disowned him, he moved to Wyoming. Two months ago, I found out he had booked a flight to Chicago, though he didn’t meet up with any of his family or friends here.”

Mason’s fist clenched around the steering wheel. He’d already guessed. I could see him connecting the dots in his mind. “Why did he come here?” he asked quietly. I wasn’t fooled. I could hear the anger in his voice.

“He watched Olivia for two weeks before he went back home.”

“Fuck, Max. Why didn’t you tell me?”

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