Page 101 of Please Open Me
Leona smoothed Mason’s hair from her face. “She’s a good mom.”
The words landed strangely, but I nodded and reached again for the baby.
“I said, don’t you dare.” Louder now, sharper.
I glanced over my shoulder. She was glaring holes through me.
“That’s my kid. That’s my wife. I’m sorry Mason bugged you–”
Leona shot up and closed the space between us. Her whisper was venom. “Mason and the kids never bother me. You and Sebastian, on the other hand–”
“Okay, wait. What did I do?” I cut in, maybe stupidly.
Her eyes narrowed. “You really don’t know?”
I shook my head, heat prickling the back of my neck.
“When Mason gets worked up, she drives herself until she collapses. You know that. She’s got three kids, a job, and four partners—all of which I want to strangle.” She mimed wringing my neck, and I instinctively stepped back.
“Having her show up at my door distraught after a fight with Seb, pregnant—”
My heart stuttered. The word hit me harder than any glare could. For half a second, I forgot I was in trouble.
“She’s pregnant?” The grin slipped before I could stop it.
“Don’t youdaresmile right now.” Leona’s voice cut like a hot blade through plastic. “She showed up exhausted, crying, overstimulated. Rosie’s only seven months old. Do you really think this is the time to be happy about another baby?”
Every excuse jammed in my throat. My hand slipped into my pocket, brushed the bag of pills hidden there.
Leona stepped closer. “You want to fix this? Sit down. Be quiet. Figure out how. But if you wake her up…” Her jaw flexed. “…I swear, Lucian, it’ll be the last time you ever set foot near her.”
I nodded, eyes locked on Mason. I understood what Leona said. But part of me still wondered how she would even know if Iaccidentallywoke up Mason?
Chapter 25
Mason
My head began throbbing long before my eyes opened. It was the type of pain that came from hours and hours of crying. In the back of my mind, I’d hoped all of this had been a dream, or a prank, or an elaborate joke.
But, as the ache resettled behind my eyes, I knew I had imagined none of this.
Two of my lovers were murderers. And I had no idea what to do with that fact. I didn’t want them to go to prison; I wasn’t even sure if I wanted to break up with them. All I knew was I needed to keep my kids safe until I figured it out.
And, if I wanted to figure anything out, I needed to rest and clear my mind. As long as the kids were asleep and Rosie wasn’t screaming, I could rest as long as I wanted, and that was my plan until I tried to roll over.
I hissed as my stomach tightened; it wasn’t as painful as it’d been yesterday, but it certainly wasn’t comfortable.
Before I could fully process the sensation, a hand appeared on my back.
“Shhh, you’re alright.” The voice was velvety smooth and deeply comforting.
The sudden fact I wasn’t alone mixed with everything else going on scared the living piss out of me. So, instead of melting into the touch, I shrieked and fell off my beanbag, face-first, onto the carpet.
Inhaling sharply, I looked toward the bed. My heart fell out of my chest when I didn’t see Rosie. The carpet was soft under my feet as I dashed over, ready to tear the whole mattress apart.
“Rosemary?” I called, high and panicked, as if she could answer. “Rosie!”
“Hey, she’s okay. She’s asleep in a Pack ‘n Play with Leona.”
