Page 55 of Freed By Fire
“Keep an eye out and report to me the second anything changes.”
By now, they’ve probably already formed their opinions of me and pieced things together, and although I feel guilty for the rift it’s caused between them, I also know enough to know it won’t keep them safe. Regardless of how they feel about London’s choices, she’s still their daughter, and I know she won’t forgive herself if anything happens to them.
It’s why Katia tasked Nadia with keeping them safe, and why I haven’t told London.
The fewer people who know, the better.
For now, it’s better for London to think that I’m overextended and can’t be bothered with their security. The last thing I want is for anyone else to get wind of this.
I’m already taking a huge risk with Nadia, an unnecessary one as far as Katia is concerned, but my mind is made up.
Even Noah is safer in your custody than he is out there. The little weasel.
I don’t know how I ended up doing what I swore I would never do, but London brings that out of me.
Every impulse and instinct that told me to let her go is gone, replaced with an overwhelming urge to protect her, even from herself.
Katia swipes a drink from the passing waitress. “You know you can’t keep this up. We don’t have enough people.”
“The Harrisons have been more than generous.”
“They’re still the Harrisons’ people, not ours,” Katia says. “I can call in a few favors.”
I shake my head and stand up. “No.”
“Mason—”
“If I want your input, I’ll ask for it,” I interrupt. “I’ve indulged you for long enough.”
With a wave of my hand, Katia stands and leaves.
Her words are reverberating in my head as, a short while later, I weave in and out of people and make my way outside. The brusque night air on my face is a welcome change to the stifling feeling in the club, and I slow down as I walk toward the manor. Silence greets me when I step inside.
I take the stairs two at a time.
When I round the corner and see Oliver lingering outside my bedroom door, I pause. He glances down both sides of the hallway and then lifts his hand to the door. Then I step forward. A flicker of something moves across Oliver’s face when he notices me
He stands up straighter and clears his throat. “Mason, I didn’t see you there.”
I step between him and the door and fold my arms over my chest. “Evidently.”
A muscle works in Oliver’s jaw as he takes me in. “I was looking for you.”
I stare at him and say nothing.
“I thought you would have left the club by now,” Oliver continues, the words pouring out of him in a rush. “Or I would’ve found you there.”
I make a noncommittal sound.
“But since I’m here, I thought I’d check on London,” Oliver finishes. “She seems nice.”
As I let my eyes sweep over him, I realize two things at once.
The first is that I barely know my younger brother, having taken every step and precaution to keep him at arm’s length for his own good.
And the second is that not knowing the kind of man standing before me leaves me at a disadvantage.
I’m out of my depth where Oliver is concerned because I don’t know the first thing about him.
