Page 87 of Beneath the Surface

“Now, come on, Mama, we’ve got a motel to get, and a brother’s broken heart to soothe.”

My chest squeezes as I stand up and follow him out, pushing my feelings down and focusing on the moment.

Chase is here.

Alex is missing.

And I have no idea what the fuck to do.

40

Mason

“Well, Mase, you really went and fucked things up.”

I chuckle at Don’s words, even though humor is the last thing I’m feeling. I rub a hand over my brows and light up a cigarette. “Yeah, tell me about it, old man.”

“So, what now? You gonna make a trip to see me?”

My stomach clenches because I know what he’s doing. He’s asking if I’m going to run. He’s telling me that’s what he thinks I should do, and while that may have worked for the past ten years, it won’t now.

It never really did, if I’m honest. I didn’t hide successfully because Iran,it was because my father was choosing not to find me.

But now Lily and Chase are in the mix. And I’ll do anything to protect them.

“I’m gonna stay here.” I suck in a drag, my eyes scanning the motel parking lot. My bags are packed and I’m headed out, but first, I need to go to Lily and try to explain.

“I mean... notherein Raindale,” I continue. “I finished the job, there’s nothing left for me here.” My chest tightens at the lie. “But I’m going to stay with my father.”

“What?” His voice is incredulous. “Are you out of your mind?”

I glance down at the worn copy ofThe Art of Warresting on top of my bag, reminding myself why I’ve kept it on my person all these years. So I could soak in the words like gospel in case I ever had to face my enemy.

“Let your plans be dark and impenetrable as night, and when you move, fall like a thunderbolt.”

The truth is on the tip of my tongue, but I don’t trust my phone to not be tapped, so I swallow down the words and let him think what he wants.

“Yeah.” I cringe, my stomach turning. “Just like that. It’s useless to keep running, Don. Listen...” I squeeze the phone tighter to my ear. “I’m sorry to leave you high and dry like this, I just—”

He exhales heavily down the line. “I get it, kid. I don’t like it, but I get it. I’ll figure it out.” Even through the phone, I can feel the emotion seeping through the cracks in his voice. “You always have a place with me, okay? Take care of yourself, Mase.”

There’s a click, and I take the final drag on my cigarette, melancholy swirling through my chest.

I haven’t been able to sleep since I called Chase, my mind plagued with guilt. But I have to let her go.

At least temporarily.

Keeping them safe is theonlyoption, and the only chance for me to take care of my father is to be in the belly of the beast. He has to think I’m agreeable, that I’mwillingto do whatever he says. That’s the thing about narcissists, they’re always so caught up in themselves, they don’t see anyone else for what they truly are. And out of everything that’s wrong with Thomas Wells,thatwill behis biggest downfall. Even if I lose Lily in the process.

One day, when this is all over, maybe I can come back and set things right with her.

When I talked to Chase, I told him not to make any rash decisions—to wait for word from me before showing up. I may be a piece of shit for what I’ve done, but I won’t just leave without giving her the truth. She deserves to have an idea of what’s coming.

My back straightens as I pick up my duffel bag and head to my bike, my stomach heavy and my heart fracturing more with every beat.

A car pulls into the lot and parks a few spaces down, and my eyes glance over as I load up my bag. When my eyes meet the gaze of the driver, my lungs seize, and I choke on air, because behind the steering wheel is none other than Chase Adams.

Thatmotherfucking bitch.

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