Page 138 of Freed By Fire
“What’s wrong?”
When Mason speaks, his voice is low and urgent. “I’m sorry. I did everything I could to make sure it didn’t come to this.”
My heart misses a beat as I draw back to look at him. “What happened?”
Mason opens his eyes, and there’s a storm brewing there. “It’s begun. They’ve attacked several of the warehouses, the dock, and the airstrip. Mathew is leaving no stone unturned.”
Terror and panic rise inside of me. “What about your father? Can’t he help?”
Mason’s expression tightens, and he shakes his head. “We’re on our own.”
I lick my lips and clear my throat. “I….I made arrangements for us to leave. I’ve got the passports and everything. I was goingto tell you about it later. I know it’s your legacy, and I know it’s a lot to ask for you to leave it behind, but what other choice do we have?”
For a long moment, Mason says nothing.
Finally, he blows out a breath his expression impassive now. “I don’t know how you managed to get any of that done, but we’ll talk about it later. We can’t use passports or anything else that can be easily traced. We have several safehouses.”
My heart jumps into my throat. “We can’t just leave. My parents—”
“Are already on the way to one of the safehouses with Nadia. Two more of Carlisle’s men will join them when the cost is clear. I’ve made all the arrangements.”
My throat is suddenly very, very dry. “What… what about Olivia and Oliver?”
We were supposed to have more time.
It’s all happening too fast.
Mason reaches into his pocket and pulls out a file. “We’ve got fake IDs for everyone. My father and siblings will go into hiding together, along with Carlisle and a few others. You and I are going somewhere different. Katia will be with us.”
My heart is pounding so loudly now that I can barely hear anything else.
I force myself to exhale.” Okay, when will we meet up with the others? My parents must be freaking out.”
Mason frowns. “We’re not. We can’t.”
I inhale sharply. “Will you at least tell me where they’re going? I can get in touch with them through a letter or—”
“You can’t,” Mason interrupts. “London, I’m sorry, but you’re not going to be able to talk to your parents again for a long time.”
“What?”
“I’m sorry,” he says. “We can’t risk them being able to tie us together, and knowing where they are is a liability.”
Anger courses through me. “I would never give up my parents.”
“Not willingly,” Mason says, “but if they threaten the baby, or me…”
I shake my head and fold my arms over my chest. “I still wouldn’t.”
Deep down, I know Mason is right. We’ve been living on borrowed time, and now it’s caught up to us just like I thought it would.
“Please,” I try again, in a smaller voice. “They must be freaking out. I just need to talk to them for a few minutes. They deserve to hear it from me.”
He stares at me and says nothing.
“You have five minutes to talk to them,” Mason says, with a deep sigh. “Don’t tell them anything that can be tortured out of them.”
I take the phone out of his hand with shaking fingers.
