Page 88 of Beneath the Surface

I should have known better than to think that he would listen to me. My eyes move across the car, noting the blond guy in the passenger seat and the pixie of a girl in the back.Lily.My heart plummets to my feet, the fissures tearing until they’re gaping holes.

This isn’t how I wanted this to go down.

But sometimes life doesn’t give you what you want, so I suck in a breath and prepare for the explosion, hoping there’s enough of me left to sort through the debris and find my bloodied pieces.

Chase’s eyes find me immediately as he opens the driver’s side door. I tip my chin in greeting.

My eyes flash to Lily as she steps out of the car.Does she already know?

Her eyes lock with mine and her posture softens, like seeing me is a relief. But like watching a train wreck, it happens in slow motion, and I can do nothing but brace for the impact.

My gaze stays on her, unable to break away. But I’m speaking to her brother. “I thought I told you to wait for my call.”

Confusion flickers through her gaze and my stomach twists, nausea simmering deep in my gut.

“What are—” she starts.

“Remind me when the fuck I asked for your permission to do anything, Mason?”

My eyes glance to Chase, my teeth grinding at what a gigantic pain in my ass he is.

“Mason?” Lily’s voice grabs my attention. “No, this is... I—what?”

Chase spins around, his head tilting. “Lily, this is Mason. The PI I was telling you about.”

Her brows furrow, her head moving back and forth like her brain’s been rattled and she’s trying to shift it back into place. “No. No, it isn’t.”

With every shake, our foundation crumbles, our trust having been built on top of sinkholes. And even giants fall when the ground collapses beneath their feet.

“This isAlex.” She waves her hand toward me. “Tell them, Alex. Tell them who you are.”

I bite my lip, nostrils flaring to stem the burn behind my eyes. “Little bird,” I whisper.

“No,” she snaps, her voice cracking. “No.” She walks closer to me, her fists clenched so tight her knuckles are white. “Youtellthem.”

I glance down, because I can’t physically stand watching as our love shatters. My tongue swipes across my bottom lip.

“Lily,” Chase interrupts. “I don’t know what the fuck he told you, but his name isMason.” My eyes swing to him, and then to his friend who has been silently watching, like he paid for tickets for the show.

Lily walks even closer, her rising ire branding me with its heat, singeing through my clothes. I welcome the burn, knowing it’s only a small part of what I deserve. The toes of her shoes hit mine and she gazes up at me, her eyes brimming with unshed tears.

My chest caves, my fists clenching to keep from gripping her face.

“Tell them,” she hisses through her teeth.

I shake my head slowly, my stomach churning. “I can’t.”

Her hands come up and shove at my shoulders, my body jostling from the unexpected pressure. I close my eyes, knowing if I watch her break apart then I’ll break along with her, and I need to keep it together so I can bring my father to his knees.

“You fuckingasshole!”she screams, shoving me again. “You look me in the eyes and youtellme you lied.” Tears stream down her face. “You don’t get to do this. You don’t get todothis to me.”

The energy between us flares, my throat clogging with things I want to say, but knowing there’s nothing for me to defend. There are no words that will make this better. I alreadydiddo this to her.

Arms wrap around her waist and Chase drags her back, leaning down and whispering in her ear. She lets out a sob that slices straight through my sternum, and she turns, collapsing in his embrace. Chase’s eyes are dark and murderous as they glare at me from above her head, his hand smoothing down her back.Comfortingher. The way I always promised I would do.

“What thefuckis she talking about, Mason?” he spits.

I ignore him, my vision laser-focused on Lily, and I take a step forward, overcome with the need to explain. To make her understand.

---