Page 13 of Beneath the Surface

“You need to leave.” His voice deepens, a serious note taking over the timbre. “What the hell are you doing?”

I run my fingers through my hair, tugging on the strands. “Yeah, I don’t know.”

“Is there something you’re not telling me?”

I sit up straighter. “No, why would you think that?”

“Because this isn’t like you, Mason. Youalwaysknow. Youalwayshave a plan of action. You never let emotions get in the way. Hell, I’m surprised you have any at all, to be honest. Your lack of them is what makes you so damn good at what you do.”

My teeth grind. There’s a difference between not having emotions and not showing them, but I don’t need to tell him that.

“You’ve always been thorough,” he continues. “But how much more can you even find out about her? And now she knows who you are? That’s a recipe for disaster and you know it.” He hesitates. “How long has it been since you’ve been this close to the West Coast?”

My body stiffens, squeezing the breath from my lungs. “Since I met you.”

He hums. “You watched the news lately?”

My eyes flick to the TV. “Not if I can help it.”

“Hmm.”

A tingle of warning skates down my skin. “Why, should I?”

He’s quiet, and I can picture his fingers rubbing across his bushy brows, trying to figure out how to talk some sense into me. “I think you should get out of that town and go back home.”

“You’re right,” I sigh.

“Always am. You need to be smart here, Mason. Don’t fuck around. Nothing good will come from talking to this girl, okay? What are you gonna do, tell her you’ve been hired to spy on her?” He huffs out a laugh, and my stomach sinks.What the fuck am I even doing?

“Listen, I gotta go. But be smart. And safe.”

I grumble a response.

“Talk to you later, Mase.”

He hangs up and I blow out a breath, my eyes still locked on the grainy photos of Lily. Don’s right. I don’t have any reason to stay here, other than the flimsy excuses I’ve made. And for what—to justify my curiosity?

But sheknowsme now. And that’s not a good thing, no matter how I try to spin it. That’s just me being shitty at my job.

I’ll call Chase in the morning and then I’ll leave.

Reaching in my pocket, I pull out my receipt from the diner, my thumb brushing over the phone number written hastily in ink.Annabelle.

If I’m leaving anyway, I might as well have some fun.

7

Lily

Idon’t know how Annabelle talked me into coming out. All I know is that it’s Friday night, and instead of being home cuddled up with my baby boy, I’m in downtown Phoenix, cuddled up to strangers.

I’m uncomfortable.

There’s a reason why I don’t go out anymore. I’ve found that it’s much easier to avoid temptation if I don’t place myself in front of it. But it’s been almost four years, and I convince myself that one night out won’t hurt. Even though I told Alex I didn’t need them, the truth is that I’m desperate for some friends, no matter how much I try to fool myself into believing I’m not. And Annabelle is as good as it gets in this new life of mine.

“Have I told you howfantasticyou look?” she asks from across the high-top table, her eyes trailing my body. A grin creeps on my face, not because she’s looking, but because it’s been so long since I’ve had anywhere to dress up for, and I had forgotten how much I enjoyed it.

I remember being at the last foster home—before my parents, Sam and Anna, adopted us—stealing Fashion Weeklys off the coffee table and hiding them under my bed. Whenever I needed an escape, I’d drag those magazines out, staring at the fabrics and dreaming of a different life. One where I could be the name gracing the labels, so important and powerful that nobody could ever take advantage of me again.

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