“Yeah, well, sweetheart, if he knows what happened to you, and worse, he knows who did it, there will definitely be bodies in his wake.” Marc ran his hands through his hair. “Damn it.”
He stood and walked out of the room, leaving me with a stunned Marie. I looked at her.
“I never wanted Mason to do this.”
She smiled softly with remorse in her eyes.
“You wouldn’t need to. He’d do it anyway, regardless.”
“I know how Marc feels, and so does Mason. He was feeling the same way when Alex, his friend from the Navy, went on a mission.”
Marie nodded.
“Yeah, I remember. The problem, I guess, is that this isn’t the first time Mason went on a mission.
My eyebrows rose.
“How many has he been on?”
“Um, maybe about ten since he’s been home. Marcus is insane when he goes. I mean he worries up until Mason has called him to tell him he’s back in the states. At first, it seemed that Mason had a death wish or something. He was always gone, and neither Marcus nor AB could reach him. Hell, their grandfather, who Mason worships, couldn’t reach him. Mason would just say he had to do this, that he had to go on these missions to heal himself somehow.”
“I remember one of the missions Marcus didn’t have a good feeling about. I mean he never had a good feeling, but for some reason this one time it was really bad. I mean, they argued for days before he left. Marc said some things to Mason that, when he left, he wished he could take back. Marc didn’t sleep and barely ate while he waited. It was one night when he jumped out of a dead sleep, telling me something was wrong. He rubbed his chest and was having a hell of a time breathing. I honestly thought he was having a heart attack. His phone rang that very moment. He snatched it up quick and learned that Mason was shot twice in the chest. He was having surgery. They weren’t sure if they stopped the bleeding in time, or if the bullet nicked anything.”
I brought my hand to my mouth and closed my eyes.
Marie added, “That was the last mission Mason went on with the insistence of Marcus.”
“And now he’s gone again… Breaking a promise, no doubt?” I asked, and she nodded.
I felt sick to my stomach as I left their house still thinking of Mason. Fate can be a bitch, I know. I just hope this one time she has mercy on us all.
Chapter 24
Mason
I laid my head against the leather airplane chair, trying my best to get some sleep. It’s been a stressful and rather tiring trip, but we accomplished what we set out to do. It took longer than I expected, but the results are what I desired. That cartel is gone, and the people responsible for hurting Maxine have been dealt with to my satisfaction.
Now, I’m extremely apprehensive about going home. I haven’t spoken to Max since I left, and I was hoping I would be able to make her see that we were meant to be together. I know it’s going to be hard, but I know in the end she’ll see things my way.
I texted my brother as much as I could, just letting him know I was alive. I know he went through a lot the last time I went with Roland on a mission, and I almost died. And I did promise him that I wouldn’t go on another one again. But I hoped he understood why I did it. I couldn’t tell him what happened to Max the day I left. I figured I would just explain everything when I got back. But when he told me to stay away from him and his family, I fucking lost it.
The disappointment and hurt in his eyes made me almost call off the trip. I just couldn’t live with myself and the idea that someone could hurt Max again. I’m not sure if her father will take heed to what I told him, but I hope he makes it easy for himself. I’d hate to have to fucking kill him, but I would without thinking twice.
When I got off the plane, I went straight to the office. I needed to make it right with my brother before I do anything else. He’s my brother, so me not being in his life, or vice versa, is not an option for one thing. For two, he’s my fucking better half f.
I was still in fatigues, a black t-shirt, and boots as I walked through the office. When I walked into my brother’s office, he was on the phone. He gave me a hesitant stare.
“Well, Mr. Bradford, my brother and I have made you an enormous amount of money. If you think my father and his company can do better, then, by all means please go ahead with your plans. But please do not take what I’m going to say next in the wrong way. If you lose what you worked hard for to make, don’t think we’ll be around to help.”
He hung up.
“Seems I’m rubbing off on you,” I said to him.
He looked at me warily.
“Did you get it done?”
I kept his gaze and said simply, “I did.”