Page 91 of Beneath the Surface

Mason

Stalking in silence is one of the many skills I’ve acquired over the years of being a private investigator, and right now, I’m executing with precision, parked in the shadows of the lot across the street from the motel, waiting to see where Chase ends up.

The three of them appear from the main office, Lily walking next to her brother, the long-haired blond heading into a different room than the two of them. Swallowing down the sharp stabs that pierce my chest as I watch her disappear behind closed doors, I roll out of the lot and head to Lily’s apartment complex.

There are things I need to take care of. Things she’ll hate me for, but will ensure she isn’t left here in Raindale, unprotected.

I’ll revel in her hatred as long as it’s keeping her safe. I’ll let her think the worst of me. Let her believe that everything between us was forged from my lies, even though the reality is that with her, I’m the realest I’ve ever been. And honestly, I’m not sure how I’ll recover from the loss.

But my father knows where she is. Worse, knowswhoshe is to me, and as long as she’s by herself, working every day of the week and having baby Chase stay with Susan, they’re vulnerable. And I’m not willing to take the risk.

It’s long after the hot Arizona sun has fallen beneath the horizon, the full moon rising in its place, that I head back to the motel and knock on Chase’s door.

The red wood swings open, Chase’s eyes widening before they turn into slits, his arms crossing over his chest. “What the fuck do you want?”

I raise a brow. “I think you say fuck more than any person I’ve ever met.”

His jaw clenches. “Do you honestlyfuckingthink that joking with me is something we do now?” He shoves his finger into my chest, and I have to temper the urge to rip his hand off me. “I was nice to you because Ihadto be, but that was before you fucked with my baby sister.”

His anger spirals off him like steam in the cold, and my respect heightens, because despite my size and the fact I could break all his fingers before he could throw a punch, he’s standing up for Lily. Making sure I know my place. He has the type of loyalty most people dream of having, and it makes my attitude toward him warm, just a little.

“It’s because of your sister that I’m letting you get away with talking to me like that.” I take a step forward until I tower over him. “But do it again and we’ll have problems.”

I grab a toothpick from my pocket, my body screaming for a cigarette to calm the nerves. But there’s no time for that right now. “Listen, I don’t have much time. Can I come in?”

His eyes are calculating as they size me up, his jaw muscle tensing as the seconds tick by.

“Please,”I bite out, the urgency I feel in my veins bleeding into my voice. Time is running out for me to say what I need to say; my father expects me in Phoenix within the hour.

Sighing, he runs a hand through his hair, tugging at the roots before opening the door and walking away. I blow out a breath of relief and follow him in, glancing behind me, making sure there are no wandering eyes. I wouldn’t put it past my father to have someone watching me, even though he knows he has me by the balls.

My stomach somersaults at the idea of being in the public eye. Of beingscrutinized. Nausea churns at the mere thought, and I realize that if Lily hates me now, things are going to get a lot worse when she turns on the news and realizes who my father really is. Another thing I never got around to telling her.

I follow Chase into his room, anxiety making me jumpy as I shove my hands in my pockets and bounce on the balls of my feet.

“So what is it?” he says, sitting on the edge of the bed.

“I’m in love with your sister.”

His nostrils flare, and he opens his mouth, but I keep talking, rushing out the words so I can get to the point. “I just thought we should get that out of the way. I didn’t mean for it to happen, but it did. And maybe it’s unprofessional—”

“It’s unprofessional asfuck,you sleazy prick,” he cuts in.

I smirk. “I won’t deny it. But I love her, and she loves me too.”

His eyes narrow. “How do you know?”

My hand presses against my chest, hoping that the weight of my palm will help subdue the ache. “Trust me.” My voice pinches. “I know. You can hate me for it all you want, but it doesn’t change the truth.”

His brow quirks. “And what truth is that?”

“That I stalked her for a paycheck, and then we fell in love, and now I need your help to keep her safe.”

“I havealwaystried to keep her safe,” he hisses.

I nod, my eyes softening at the defensiveness in his tone. “I know.”

He pinches the bridge of his nose. “Just how long did you know about her being here before you actually told me?”

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