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“Whoa.” I couldn’t get over it. “Channing’s like a dad…”
“More like a big brother extraordinaire, but he tries. She’s got her own crew, though. She’ll be fine.” She held up a hand. “And don’t get ahead of yourself. Channing is not just being the model big brother extraordinaire. He’s got some stupid shit going on the sidelines, too.”
“Heather!”
She raised her hand, her middle finger extended, but her brother couldn’t see from where he yelled her name.
“Get in here!”
She collected her cigarettes and stood. “I’m five feet from where he’s standing. You think he really needs to scream at the top of his lungs?”
“I heard that,” Brandon shot back. “You do the same to me, Heatherkins.”
“Do not call me that!” she snapped, reaching for the door. She paused before heading inside. “Hey, I’m going to this thing for Channing later. He’s fighting in a big event tonight. If you’re super bored, come with me. It’d be nice to have another female friend there.”
There was no thinking required. If I stayed home, I’d go nuts wondering when Analise would strike.
“I’m in.”
“You’re where?”
I was leaning against Heather’s car in the middle of a field, surrounded by a couple hundred other cars, and all around me was bass-heavy music, yelling, and a scream every now and then. I had my finger plugging my other ear, but I still strained to hear Mason over the phone.
“Channing’s fighting tonight,” I told him. “I’m going with Heather and her brother.”
“Wait. What?”
I paused at hearing the snap in his voice. “What’s wrong?”
“You’re at a fighting event?”
“Yes.” My mouth turned down.
“In Roussou?”
“Yes.” My frown deepened. I could feel the wrinkles starting in my forehead and the wheels were churning. I hadn’t even thought about it, but once it hit me, I wanted to smack myself there.
“Oh no.”
“Yeah,” he bit out over the phone. “Are you kidding me, Sam? You’re there alone? It’s dangerous there. I still have enemies in Roussou and you’re alone.”
“I’m not.” I glanced over at Heather and Brandon, but I knew he wouldn’t care about them or even about Channing and all of his friends. When he said alone, he meant he or Logan weren’t with me.
I cringed, gritting my teeth. “I’m sorry. I didn’t think about it. I just didn’t want to go crazy at home.”
He sighed, or I thought he sighed. I was guessing what the sounds were on his end about eighty percent of the time. “Can you wait until I’m done here? I can leave early. I don’t give a shit what my dad says.”
Oh. Well, fuck. Again. “I’m already here.” I rushed forward, “I’m sorry. I am. I didn’t think and to be honest, I only thought there’d be like thirty people here.” I looked around. “There’s gotta be around a hundred or so.”
“A hundred?”
“Yeah.” Holding the phone more tightly to my ear, I turned around. I could see a large stage alongside a couple of tents. There was one really large tent to the far right. I wondered if that was where the main event would happen. There was a smaller stage set off in the corner, and people walked around with drinks, food, and even balloons. If I didn’t know better, I’d think this was some sort of music festival. I knew better, though. So did Mason.
He was groaning now. “You’re there without me, Logan, or Nate.”
“I know,” I said quietly. “But hey—Heather’s kind of a bodyguard. I’m sure she’ll protect me.” I rested my shoulder against the car, half-turned so I could watch people walking by. “Channing is here, and so are all his friends. Besides, I really doubt anyone will recognize me or even remember who I am.” I sounded ridiculous. Who the hell was I? A nobody. People knew Mason and Logan. They didn’t know me.
He cursed again. “I know people in Roussou aren’t all happy with us. We did a lot of damage there and got away with it. That’s how they see it.”
“Yeah. Well.” My stomach twisted. “Do you want me to ask Heather to bring me back?”
There was no hesitation. “No. I’m coming there. James mentioned something about an after-work meeting he wanted me to attend, but I’m ditching it.”
“Okay.” A lump formed in my throat. “Wait. Should I be worried now about you? It’ll just be you coming.”
“I’ll see if I can find some friends, but be ready when I come. We’re not sticking around long.”
“I know. I’ll be ready.” I dropped my voice, “Be safe, okay?”
“Same to you.”
“Love you.”
“Love you.”
We always said our goodbyes that way. Disconnecting the call, I put my phone in my back pocket and headed to where Heather and Brandon were waiting a few cars down, on the outskirts of a large crowd.
Heather read my face and lifted an eyebrow. “He was pissed?”
I nodded. “I didn’t think.”
She grunted. “I didn’t tell you. Blame me. I didn’t think either.” Her eyes narrowed on me. “Do you want to go back?”
I shook my head, sliding my hands into my pockets. “He’s coming here.”
I didn’t tell her we were leaving right away.
A part of me was glad I came. I was hoping to change his mind. This was something I did on my own, and in a very weird way, I was enjoying being here only as Samantha Strattan and not as Mason’s girlfriend or Logan’s sort-of-sister. I hadn’t done something on my own in a long while.
It felt nice.
Once we’d gotten here, an excited buzz had begun low in my gut. It had gotten steadily stronger since. I was here with friends, and what I’d said was true. Nothing would happen. I was sure of it. Channing and his friends didn’t mess around.
Heather threw her arm around my shoulder. “Got to admit that I’m being selfish right now because it’s nice to have you here.”
I put a reciprocating arm around her shoulder and laughed at how ridiculous we must have looked. Then two shirtless guys wearing white shorts with green dots on them walked past us, each carrying a stuffed flamingo. They had blue paint on their faces.
Maybe we didn’t look that ridiculous.
MASON
Sam was going to give me a damned migraine by the end of the day.
I cursed and texted Channing. Sam’s there. Can you have someone watch over her? I’m sorry to ask, but I’m worried some fuckheads will do something to her to hurt me.
He responded right away: Already on it. Heather gave me the heads-up she was coming. Sorry, man. If she’s still here after my fight, we’ll get everyone out asap.
Hoping to be there long before then, I replied.
You watch out too then. Jared Caldron was Budd’s #2, and with Brett gone, he’s stepped up. We’ve gone head to head more than I want to admit. He’s a fucking snake.
I remembered Caldron. Thanks. I’ll be ready for him.
“Mason.”
I put my phone away as I saw James crossing the lounge with another man. This fucking guy…he looked vaguely familiar, but I couldn’t quite place him. He was dressed like my dad: custom-tailored suit and brightly colored tie.
I shook my head. Why the ties? All the businessmen I’d met today had solid looking ties, but the colors bugged me. Pink. Hot pink. Soft pink. Purple. Green. Blue. It was like all of them thought they were making a fashion statement. Or were they just rich? No… As James approached with this guy next to him, it struck me—it was their arrogance. They were broadcasting their special place in life: at the top with a secretary sucking their dicks and a miserable, alcoholic wife at home, where she’d never leave.
That was how it used to be for my dad. Not anymore, but I saw it again now.
I hated that arrogant, elitist attitude. I’d just forgotten how much after being away at Cain for three years.
“More like a big brother extraordinaire, but he tries. She’s got her own crew, though. She’ll be fine.” She held up a hand. “And don’t get ahead of yourself. Channing is not just being the model big brother extraordinaire. He’s got some stupid shit going on the sidelines, too.”
“Heather!”
She raised her hand, her middle finger extended, but her brother couldn’t see from where he yelled her name.
“Get in here!”
She collected her cigarettes and stood. “I’m five feet from where he’s standing. You think he really needs to scream at the top of his lungs?”
“I heard that,” Brandon shot back. “You do the same to me, Heatherkins.”
“Do not call me that!” she snapped, reaching for the door. She paused before heading inside. “Hey, I’m going to this thing for Channing later. He’s fighting in a big event tonight. If you’re super bored, come with me. It’d be nice to have another female friend there.”
There was no thinking required. If I stayed home, I’d go nuts wondering when Analise would strike.
“I’m in.”
“You’re where?”
I was leaning against Heather’s car in the middle of a field, surrounded by a couple hundred other cars, and all around me was bass-heavy music, yelling, and a scream every now and then. I had my finger plugging my other ear, but I still strained to hear Mason over the phone.
“Channing’s fighting tonight,” I told him. “I’m going with Heather and her brother.”
“Wait. What?”
I paused at hearing the snap in his voice. “What’s wrong?”
“You’re at a fighting event?”
“Yes.” My mouth turned down.
“In Roussou?”
“Yes.” My frown deepened. I could feel the wrinkles starting in my forehead and the wheels were churning. I hadn’t even thought about it, but once it hit me, I wanted to smack myself there.
“Oh no.”
“Yeah,” he bit out over the phone. “Are you kidding me, Sam? You’re there alone? It’s dangerous there. I still have enemies in Roussou and you’re alone.”
“I’m not.” I glanced over at Heather and Brandon, but I knew he wouldn’t care about them or even about Channing and all of his friends. When he said alone, he meant he or Logan weren’t with me.
I cringed, gritting my teeth. “I’m sorry. I didn’t think about it. I just didn’t want to go crazy at home.”
He sighed, or I thought he sighed. I was guessing what the sounds were on his end about eighty percent of the time. “Can you wait until I’m done here? I can leave early. I don’t give a shit what my dad says.”
Oh. Well, fuck. Again. “I’m already here.” I rushed forward, “I’m sorry. I am. I didn’t think and to be honest, I only thought there’d be like thirty people here.” I looked around. “There’s gotta be around a hundred or so.”
“A hundred?”
“Yeah.” Holding the phone more tightly to my ear, I turned around. I could see a large stage alongside a couple of tents. There was one really large tent to the far right. I wondered if that was where the main event would happen. There was a smaller stage set off in the corner, and people walked around with drinks, food, and even balloons. If I didn’t know better, I’d think this was some sort of music festival. I knew better, though. So did Mason.
He was groaning now. “You’re there without me, Logan, or Nate.”
“I know,” I said quietly. “But hey—Heather’s kind of a bodyguard. I’m sure she’ll protect me.” I rested my shoulder against the car, half-turned so I could watch people walking by. “Channing is here, and so are all his friends. Besides, I really doubt anyone will recognize me or even remember who I am.” I sounded ridiculous. Who the hell was I? A nobody. People knew Mason and Logan. They didn’t know me.
He cursed again. “I know people in Roussou aren’t all happy with us. We did a lot of damage there and got away with it. That’s how they see it.”
“Yeah. Well.” My stomach twisted. “Do you want me to ask Heather to bring me back?”
There was no hesitation. “No. I’m coming there. James mentioned something about an after-work meeting he wanted me to attend, but I’m ditching it.”
“Okay.” A lump formed in my throat. “Wait. Should I be worried now about you? It’ll just be you coming.”
“I’ll see if I can find some friends, but be ready when I come. We’re not sticking around long.”
“I know. I’ll be ready.” I dropped my voice, “Be safe, okay?”
“Same to you.”
“Love you.”
“Love you.”
We always said our goodbyes that way. Disconnecting the call, I put my phone in my back pocket and headed to where Heather and Brandon were waiting a few cars down, on the outskirts of a large crowd.
Heather read my face and lifted an eyebrow. “He was pissed?”
I nodded. “I didn’t think.”
She grunted. “I didn’t tell you. Blame me. I didn’t think either.” Her eyes narrowed on me. “Do you want to go back?”
I shook my head, sliding my hands into my pockets. “He’s coming here.”
I didn’t tell her we were leaving right away.
A part of me was glad I came. I was hoping to change his mind. This was something I did on my own, and in a very weird way, I was enjoying being here only as Samantha Strattan and not as Mason’s girlfriend or Logan’s sort-of-sister. I hadn’t done something on my own in a long while.
It felt nice.
Once we’d gotten here, an excited buzz had begun low in my gut. It had gotten steadily stronger since. I was here with friends, and what I’d said was true. Nothing would happen. I was sure of it. Channing and his friends didn’t mess around.
Heather threw her arm around my shoulder. “Got to admit that I’m being selfish right now because it’s nice to have you here.”
I put a reciprocating arm around her shoulder and laughed at how ridiculous we must have looked. Then two shirtless guys wearing white shorts with green dots on them walked past us, each carrying a stuffed flamingo. They had blue paint on their faces.
Maybe we didn’t look that ridiculous.
MASON
Sam was going to give me a damned migraine by the end of the day.
I cursed and texted Channing. Sam’s there. Can you have someone watch over her? I’m sorry to ask, but I’m worried some fuckheads will do something to her to hurt me.
He responded right away: Already on it. Heather gave me the heads-up she was coming. Sorry, man. If she’s still here after my fight, we’ll get everyone out asap.
Hoping to be there long before then, I replied.
You watch out too then. Jared Caldron was Budd’s #2, and with Brett gone, he’s stepped up. We’ve gone head to head more than I want to admit. He’s a fucking snake.
I remembered Caldron. Thanks. I’ll be ready for him.
“Mason.”
I put my phone away as I saw James crossing the lounge with another man. This fucking guy…he looked vaguely familiar, but I couldn’t quite place him. He was dressed like my dad: custom-tailored suit and brightly colored tie.
I shook my head. Why the ties? All the businessmen I’d met today had solid looking ties, but the colors bugged me. Pink. Hot pink. Soft pink. Purple. Green. Blue. It was like all of them thought they were making a fashion statement. Or were they just rich? No… As James approached with this guy next to him, it struck me—it was their arrogance. They were broadcasting their special place in life: at the top with a secretary sucking their dicks and a miserable, alcoholic wife at home, where she’d never leave.
That was how it used to be for my dad. Not anymore, but I saw it again now.
I hated that arrogant, elitist attitude. I’d just forgotten how much after being away at Cain for three years.
