“He came looking for Tick, but he wasn’t home. He’d gone to get me eggs. We didn’t have any and I wanted some scrambled for breakfast. He didn't believe me that Tick wasn’t here, and the screen door was locked. He punched through the screen and shoved me away.”
“Jayson’s an asshole. I’m sorry. I’m so sorry.” The tears built in my eyes.
“It’s not your fault.” Tick walked over to Massy and squatted down in front of her. “Plans have changed, baby. I’m going to take you two up north, after we get this looked at.”
“It’s already started to heal, Tick,” I spoke up, earning myself a glare from him. “If you wait much longer they won’t be able to stitch it properly. She needs to go now.”
“Take her.” Mason nodded. “We’ll wait here.”
Tick looked at his wife, the love and care showing clearly in his entire expression. His brow wrinkled with worry, while the rest of his body tensed with the immense anger he felt at his woman being hurt. And it was all my fault.
“Maybe it would be best if I just went up north alone,” I whispered.
“No.” Mason kept his anger at my comment from reaching his voice, but I could see it in his eyes. “Don’t suggest it again.”
“Jayson did this because of me.” I pointed at Massy.
“Hon, this ain't your fault. This is his doing, not yours.”
“He was here looking for me.” I wanted to sink lower in my chair, let it swallow me whole.
“Jayson was looking for Tick, not you.”
“If I hadn’t run, he wouldn’t have come here.”
“Maybe not. But if you had stayed, he wouldn’t have stopped at only this on you.” She touched the ragged cut on her cheek. “The man is out for blood. He’s crazed. He kept muttering something about Julio. He’s either coming or he’s already here. I couldn’t make it out while he was talking to himself.”
“Still—”
“I don’t want to hear another fucking word about you going on alone. Do you get me?” Mason didn’t move toward me, he just stood at the other end of the room. The anger radiated off him. Tick shook his head.
“Massy, get your purse. Let’s get to the doc and get you patched up.” He stood up and helped her from her chair. She still wore normal clothes, shorts and a tank top, but the little baby bump had started to peak through. “Then I’m going to fucking kill Jayson.”
“You’ll have to get in line,” I muttered as they made their way from the kitchen.
Mason stood glowering at me until the front door closed. Then he pounced. “What part of no more running confused you?” He nearly shouted. Two months ago, having him towering over me with such angry eyes would have made me nervous. But I was tired. Tire of running. Tired of being scared.
“It’s not running when you know where I am. I didn’t say I was going to run away. I said it might be best if I was not with you guys right now. Jayson’s lost it.”
“Yeah, and not just about you. His being here had more to do with the shit I was telling you about with the cartel than about you. If he finds you, that will be a bonus, but he’s tracking down anyone who might be able to join him and go against the cartel when they get here. Word’s out about Julio helping Lucas take over the Disciples. It’s only a matter of time before they go over to Marcus and take him out, too.”
“Wouldn’t your VP be next to take over your club?” The MC life still confused the hell out of me, so many rules and rituals—I couldn’t keep them all straight.
“If the Reapers don’t agree to band together with the Disciples, they’ll just be wiped out.”
“Why would they do that?” I sounded ignorant, even to myself.
“Because they can.” He shrugged.
“Mason, where’s your leather?”
He took Massy’s seat and pulled me into his lap. “It’s where it belongs,” he said, wiping a strand of hair from my face.
“What the hell does that mean?” I swatted his hand away. Playing with my hair distracted me, and I wouldn’t let him go there, not yet.
“It means, I left it behind. I’m getting out, and leaving it at the club at the table signifies my intentions.”
“Your president is just going to let you walk?”
“We aren’t some street gang.” He let out a little chuckle, but I could tell it still wasn’t as easy as all that. “I left the cut behind to let him know I’m getting out. Now I just wait for the next club vote to get voted out with creds or with blood.”