Page 84 of The Ruthless and the Strong

That nothing could touch us.

“I know you would,” he said. “I know you would do whatever it takes to protect those you love most in this world.”

I didn’t say anything to that.

Because he was right.

I would do anything.

Nothing was off limits to me when it came down to protecting my loved ones, and that thought should scare me, but it didn’t. I felt… indifferent.

“That’s why the more I think about Lorenzo’s death, the more it doesn't make sense to me,” Mason said.

I worked hard to keep my posture relaxed. Just the smallest reaction would give me away. “Oh?”

“Oh? That’s all you have to say?”

“What do you want me to say? That I'm glad that fucker’s gone? All right. I’m glad.”

“More than that. You know, I checked the dates. Lorenzo killed himself during the week that you went on that fishing trip.”

I made a noncommittal noise and took another sip of my beer.

“What a strange coincidence, isn’t it?” he said.

“Yes. Coincidence.”

“I never did believe in those.”

“And now?”

“I still don’t believe there is ever such a thing as a coincidence.”

“Well, who am I to tell you what you can and cannot believe in?”

“You know you can tell me anything, right?” He placed his beer down and turned to me. I looked sideways at him. It was too dark in here for me to make out his features clearly, but I could almost imagine the way his blue eyes glinted whenever he was thinking about something.

“I know.” I did know. I trusted Mason more than anyone and anything in this world. But I didn’t want to burden him with things I had already resolved. There was nothing more to worry about.

Those officers asking questions were just that. Officers doing a routine checkup. They had declared Lorenzo’s cause of death as suicide, and the case was officially closed. Now the only thing I needed to worry about was if they ever found something that gave them a good enough reason to reopen the case, but I didn’t see that happening.

Perhaps I was the naive one.

Thinking I was invincible.

I shook my head. “It’s my birthday, Mason.”

I could almost imagine his frown. “I know.”

“So let’s just share a beer and stop talking about the past.”

He scoffed, but he took another sip. “I’ve learned the hard way that not talking about the past always comes back and haunts you.”

I nodded. “Okay, so we don’t talk about the past in certain circumstances.”

“I suppose you mean to say this is the certain circumstance?”

I patted his back. “Smart man.”

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