The drive to Dane’s house the following day only took ten minutes. Mason didn’t have time to think about the problems surrounding Shonda and him. As it was, he was working on two hours sleep. Going to bed last night had been an exercise in futility. All he could do was stress about Billy returning to murder Shonda in her sleep. When she sent him a text asking for the flight info to pick up the Suttons, he breathed a sigh of relief.
He arrived as Zack rejoined the living. Mason informed him Shonda had left to pick up Erica’s parents at the airport, pulled him in for a tight hug, and went to help their mother set up the meal for the family.
A slamming car door drew everyone’s attention.
“Shonda shouldn’t be here yet,” Mason stated.
A frown marred Zack’s handsome face as he moved to peer out the window.
At ringing of the doorbell they all funneled down the hall to see who their visitor was.
Dane opened the door to admit Bucky and Officer Tidwell.
“Bucky, Marty, what’s up?” Zack asked.
“Zack, we’re sorry to disturb you at a time like this, but can we talk to you?”
He sent a sharp look Mason’s way.
“Sure. Right through here,” he said as he lead the way to the living room. “What’s going on?”
“The coroner pulled DNA samples from the bodies found on the scene. We’d like to test yours against the boy they found.”
“Is that all? A phone call wouldn’t have sufficed?” Dane asked.
“What aren’t you telling me?” Zack wanted to know.
The two officers exchanged a speaking glance.
“Buck,” Zack growled.
“The DNA came back to a woman who’d been reported missing four months ago. We’re still waiting on that of the boy.”
Silence reigned as the implication sunk in. Erica was still alive. It could mean Jacob was as well.
“I can go to the hospital or to the station right now,” Zack told them.
“Actually, that’s why Marty’s here. He’s part of our forensic science team. He brought the swab kit.”
“Let me get this straight. You’re saying the woman found in the ruins after the explosion was not Erica?” Connie asked.
“That is correct, Mrs. Sharp,” Bucky confirmed.
“So, it’s probable she’s still alive. If that’s the case, maybe my grandson is, too?”
“Yes.”
Connie started to cry. Zack jumped up to hold her close. “It’s a good thing, Mom.”
“I know. I just…” She shook her head, and no words were needed as hope flooded into the hearts and minds of the family. “I have to tell Charlie.”
“No!” Marty said, standing. “We want to keep this under wraps for the moment.”
“But Charlie is Jacob’s grandfather. He has the right to know,” she protested.
“Mrs. Sharp, no one but those in this room can know that we suspect the bodies belong to anyone other than Ms. Sutton and your grandson. It could hamper our investigation and alert Christie we’re on to her deception. Do you understand?” He asked, not unkindly.
“Yes, but we can swear Charlie to secrecy,” she said, patting Zack’s chest and gazing at him for support.
“Marty’s right, Mom. We need to keep this under wraps until we find them. If Christie finds out, she might hurt them for real.”
“What about Erica’s parents and Shonda? They’ll be here any second.”
Mason observed the other men’s faces. Saw what they didn’t want to say and did the honors. “I don’t think we should tell them, Mom.”
“Mason! You can’t keep something like this from Erica’s parents or your girlfriend,” his mother said, shocked.
“Shonda’s not my girlfriend! For Christ’s sake, Ma,” he shouted, unsure why he was so enraged, except for the conversation about their relationship, or lack thereof, was getting tired.
Those were the words Shonda and the Suttons walked in on. They all saw the immediate hurt on her face before she composed her features into a blank mask.
Mason rubbed the spot between his brows in agitation, and Shonda made an excuse to be on her way.
“Shonda, hold up,” Mason barked, trailing her outside.
“I’m fine. We discussed it all yesterday. It’s not like I haven’t known the score from the start. Nothing’s changed. Go take care of your family, Mason,” she said sharply before heading to her vehicle in an attempt to flee.
“Goddammit!” he swore. “I said wait!”
“Good grief, Mason. Please, don’t let’s rehash this.” He could hear the weariness in her voice, see it in her dull, green eyes. “I really am fine with the decisions we’ve both reached regarding the last weeks. I just hate that every time I’m walking in a room, I have to hear how loud you’re protesting. It’s a little humiliating, if you want the truth. You make it sound as if I’m throwing myself at you at every opportunity.” She paused to inhale deeply. “I’m not doing that. You need to know that. The situation is shitty, and I… well, there’s nothing more to really say is there? Please tell Erica’s parents I’ll give them a call to find out what they and Zack have planned for services.” She smiled, a sad smile of goodbye.
Panic settled in his chest. She really intended to walk away. The finality in her expression cut him in ways he didn’t care to think about.
“Erica’s not dead,” he burst out. “They still haven’t found her, but the DNA of the body in the morgue wasn’t hers.”
Shonda froze in her tracks. With her back to him, he couldn’t tell what her reaction was. But to leave her in the dark, regardless of logic, regardless of his decision to do so two minutes before, was wrong.
Chin up, she spun to face him. “What about Jacob?”
“They’ve come to get a DNA sample to compare to Zack’s for the boy’s body they have. We’re hopeful it’s not him either.”
One brief nod in his direction and a tight smile accompanied her next words. “Thanks for telling me. Have Zack or Dane text me when they hear anything more.”
“Shonda,” he called to her retreating back. “You’re welcome to stay.”
Again, she paused. She half turned. “No, Mason, I don’t think I am.”
“You’re exhausted and upset. Let me drive you home.” What the hell? Why was he practically begging her to not end this? Good Christ, could he be any more wishy-washy in his dealings with her? No wonder she was confused as to his feelings half the time. He didn’t know what he truly wanted either.
She ignored him and drove away. Never sparing him another glance. And didn’t that sting?
As he stalked back toward the house, he noticed Dane standing on the front stoop. His censure and disappointment were plain to see.
“Not a fucking word,” Mason snarled as he shoved by him.
“Asshole.”
He heard Dane, but pretended he didn’t. He was an asshole. Worse even. Shonda had told him plenty of times. Yet, coming from her, it almost always sounded like an endearment. And wasn’t that the crux of the matter? Whenever she called him on his bullshit, he adored her all the more for it.
Inside the house, Connie had created a spread to feed an army. On any given day, Mason would be the first to do it justice. Today was not that day. Today, he couldn’t force a single bite past his lips. The idea of food made his stomach churn. All because Shonda had called it quits, giving in and accepting what they’d had was casual. But it wasn’t casual. Not by any stretch of the imagination. As much as he tried to tell himself he could walk away, he always found himself back at her door. She was right. It was always under the guise of making sure she was okay. But because of him, she was a hot mess.
She loved him. He found it hard to wrap his brain around that one. He was probably the last man on earth any woman in her right mind would fall in love with. Under no delusions, he realized he was opinionated, domineering, and demanding. A few nicer qualities could be sprinkled in here and there, but overall, he was no prize. But she loved him, and he couldn’t let her. For her own sake, he had to squash those feelings like bugs.
Coming to a decision, he tossed his plate on the counter, grabbed his keys, and drove to Shonda’s apartment. The lights were out, and he had a moment of worry. Had she never made it home? Had Billy come back and finished what he started?
He charged up the stairs to bang on the door, alternating fists and yelling her name when she didn’t answer right away. The only thing he disturbed was her closest neighbor, Jannaya.
“Can I help you?”
“I’m looking for Shonda.”
“I think the whole complex got that,” she snarked.
“Have you seen her?”
“Afraid not.” She gave a careless shrug and closed her door.
“Thanks for nothing!” he hollered.
“I think you need to read the book How to Win Friends and Influence People,” Shonda commented from behind him.
Having never heard her open her door, she surprised a yell out of him. Christ, he was on edge.
“We need to talk.”
“Why this time? Have you not met your insult quota for today?” she quipped.
Her new jaded attitude pissed him off.
“Knock it off, Shonda. I’ve never insulted you. Not intentionally at any rate.”
“Shall I count the ways?”
Heaving a heavy sigh, he strode to stand within two inches of her person. “No. I don’t care to be reminded how much of a jerk you think I am. I’d like to tell you my reasoning.”
“Even if I didn’t already know, I wouldn’t care what your excuse is,” she said. She ran a hand through her hair, a sure sign of her frustration. “You’re an adult. You know how to reason. You know relationships, if you choose to have them, take work.”
“I don’t want the work. I want easy.”
“I’ve made it too easy for far too long. You come here, screw my brains out, remind me it’s nothing more than a casual fuck, and then go on your merry way.” She leaned forward, careful to make sure he was meeting her furious gaze. “That no longer works for me. I’m not your cum-dumpster. Find another idiot woman to casually fuck.”
Her raised voice had been drawing a crowd. While she apparently didn’t care, he on the other hand did. “Stop saying it like that. Can we take this inside? I don’t like that your neighbors are privy to my business.”
“No. If you don’t like it, leave.”
“Woman, you are getting on my last nerve. I—”
What he would have said was cut off by a text on his phone.
“Must be one of your other scores of women calling,” Shonda sneered.
Mason guessed her intention. As she tried to slam the door, he stuck his foot between it and the jam. “Look, I have to go, but I intend to finish this.”
Something in his voice must have given him away, because she opened the door wider and snatched his phone without a by-your-leave.
“Jesus! He’s going after her! Come inside while I get some shoes on.”
“Oh, no! You are not going,” his tone was flat and final.
“I am. You and I can go together and back each other up, or I can go by myself.”
“You forgot there is a third option,” he told her.
As he expected, she challenged him, “Oh, and what’s that?”
The threatening grin, when it came, made her gulp and uncross her arms. “I can tie you up.”
“Y-you wouldn’t dare,” she said. False bravado inched her chin higher and brought her to her feet.
“Oh, love, I would dare a great many things,” he whispered against her lips. “You might enjoy being tied up.”
Before their lips could meet, she shoved him back. “No. Next time you come to me, it better be because you want more than a casu—”
His fingers covered her lips. “Don’t say it. You’ve made your point.”
God, he’d come to hate that damned term.
“I’ve got to go. As it is, I’m going to be late.”
“I told you, I’m going too.”
Past experience told him she would follow him on her own. This was more than her being contrary. With the lost job, the near death, and her friend being kidnapped, Shonda had reached a critical point where she needed to take her life back. He understood that on many levels. He just couldn’t live with himself if she got hurt or, god forbid, killed.
“Fine. But you do exactly as I say.”
Her expressionless eyes studied him. “Fine.”
“You’re lying,” he said. “Have I ever told you how much I hate liars?”
“Have I ever told you how much I hate players?” she retorted.
“Go. Dress in all black and make sure they’re clothes you can move freely in.”
Suspicious, she asked, “You won’t leave me?”
“No. Now get dressed. We’re out of time. Zack is determined to end this tonight.”