Page 60 of Beneath the Surface

She smiles, leaning back against me, and that’s where we stay for the rest of the afternoon, until Chase is so tired he falls asleep in my arms on the walk to their apartment.

It isn’t until later, when I’m at the motel, that I check my missed calls and texts.

Most from Don. My brows furrow, irritation wringing my insides dry because Ijusttalked to that motherfucker.

There’s also a missed call from Lily’s brother, Chase.

His name tugs on the chains binding me to the job I’ve been paid for, reminding me that I’m sitting here living a fucking lie. I’ve been avoiding him, stupidly hoping that maybe he’d be patient long enough for me to come up with a plan.

I pull up my voicemail and press play, Chase’s sharp voice coming through the line.

“Mason. It’s Chase Adams. Look... it’s been a minute since I’ve heard from you, and I get that this shit takes time, butfuck, man. Can I get an update? I’m driving myself fucking crazy over here. My girl is losing her mind with me, and I’m...” He blows out a breath, and guilt works its way through my insides at the desperation that leaks from his voice. “I’m starting to lose hope. I just... It’s been almost a year, and if you’re really the best—if you’rereallythe fucking best, and even you can’t find her, then....” He clears his throat. “Maybe there’s nothing left to find.”

There’s a higher pitched voice whispering words I can’t make out before he speaks again. “Anyway, call me back.Please. Just give mesomething.”

Click.

I lean back on the bed, swallowing around the burn from the crater that’s just been ripped open in my chest. Chase deserves to know his sister, but Lily obviously doesn’t want to be found.

And I still have no idea why.

Blowing out a breath, I call back Don, ignoring the anxiety that’s already brewing in my gut like a storm.

“Mase.Jesus, finally. You know I’m really not a fan of this whole ‘you avoiding my calls’ thing. I’m still your fucking boss.”

I smirk, amusement lining my lips. “That’s only a technicality.”

“Technicalities exist for a reason,” he grunts.

Laughing, I unwrap a toothpick and roll it between my lips. “If you say so, old man.”

“What the hell are you doing down there still, Mase?”

I cringe, drumming my fingertips on the desk’s top. “You won’t like the answer.”

“Then don’t fucking tell me. Just get your shit together and handle it, okay? I’ve been giving you time, but it’s about to be out, boy.” He sighs. “You wanna talk about your dad?”

My entire body tenses. “What’s there to say? We knew this day was coming, and my dumb ass should have been watching for it.”

“What’s your plan?”

My brows lift to my hairline. “What do you mean?”

“Come on, Mason. You aren’t stupid, so stop pretending like you are. There’s no way your face won’t be plastered all over.”

“I’ve stayed hidden for this long,” I grumble.

“You can add all the muscle and tattoos you want, kid, but someone will recognize you eventually. This isn’t the senate. This is the fucking presidency. Your ghost is gonna be in the limelight again whether you like it or not. They’lluseyour story to snatch the vote. I advise you to think about that when you do whatever the hell it is you’re doing right now.” He pauses. “Think aboutwhoyou’re involving.”

My insides pull tight, the need for a cigarette raging through my system like a stampede. “Yeah...” I clench my jaw, my teeth biting into the wood of the toothpick.

“Besides that, you have a job to do, and if you can’t do it, then you need to tell me right now. I swear to God if I was there I’d bash your head against the wall until you got it through your thick head.”

“Don, be real.” I laugh. “We both know you’d never beat me in a fight.”

“Fuck you.”

I smile. “Don’t be bitter.”

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