Page 5 of Forever Relentless

“It’s working.” Mason shook my hand off.

“And being violent is what they want,” I hissed, not caring whether they could hear me.

“Actually, violence is the last thing we want,” Savannah corrected. “The athletics program is broken,” she told us simply. “But fixing it means putting every athlete, not just these three, at risk. Not everyone in the program deserves to sink with the ship that Coach Sutherland is steering. We’re trying to find a decent way to fix it for everyone.”

Mason shrugged. “I don’t care.”

Savannah shook her head slightly. “I don’t believe that. Don’t you want it fixed?”

“Fixed?” Mason shook his head slightly as he thought about it. “You’re four years too late.”

“For you.” Noah held his gaze. “You either should have fought harder, man, or let it go. You’re still pissed, so you didn’t let it go. You can still put it right for others, though.”

Mason rolled his neck. “They already took enough. This is the last time I’m saying it. Fuck. Off.”

I looked at the five of them. Hadley looked annoyed, Savannah looked resigned, and the three footballer players looked blank. None of them reacted. I wish my brother had the same control as these three.

My eyes met Noah’s, and I felt a jolt of electricity run through me. Hastily, I looked away before I could figure out what his expression meant. I didn’t need to know what it meant.

“Mason, honey, it’s time. Are you ready for—”

We all turned toward my mom, who’d just walked around the corner. She pulled up short at the sight of us.

“Oh . . . Um. Mason?” Worried eyes met mine. “Briar, what’s going on?”

“They’re just leaving, Mom,” I assured her. “Friends from work,” I lied.

“You don’t have friends.”

Wow. Thanks, Mom.

She examined them carefully. “Especially the football team from the Alabama Lions.” Her hands rested on her hips. “What the heck are you doing in my son’s garage?”

Mason was about to speak, but the reporter beat him to it.

“We’re looking for Tiffany Preacher.”

Mom looked at her in confusion. “Tiffany? Why?”

“It doesn’t matter,” Mason told her gruffly. “They were just leaving.”

“They can leave me when they tell me why they’re looking for Tiffany.”

I jumped in before any of them could say a word. “Mom, it’s the old shit from years ago. They think they’ve got a story, but they don’t.”

“Of course they don’t.” Mom rolled her eyes, turned away, no longer interested. “Ugh, that girl was always a troublemaker,” she tsked.

“And how was that?” Hadley jumped in again, and I wasn’t sure whether my brother or I would be the one to knock her out.

Mom turned back.

“Mom, don’t,” Mason warned quietly.

My mom rolled her eyes again. “You were always so protective of her, Mason. She never deserved to be shielded like that.”

Mason looked down at the ground. “Fuck this. I’m out.” He glanced at me. “I told you not to go there. You can’t change anything.”

“Mom, please be quiet,” I urged her. “You’re making it worse.”