Aftermath Book Two Crash Series

Chapter Thirty-Four

Aria

            My mind still whirls forty minutes after hanging up the bizarre phone call. As soon as I saw his name flash across my phone I knew it would be bizarre but knowing the state Mason was in my gut sunk as soon as I read Jaxson’s name across my phone screen.  

            It didn’t help matters that I was with Cynthia at the time or that she was quick to be informed of the situation as well. It just happened that my information and hers were slightly askew, just how they wanted it.

            According to the chirping birdies circling Dixie Inc and the Mavericks in general, Edward had come down with quite the bug, bad enough to evacuate the floor with a mandatory paid day off. With what I can only assume is years of practice Cynthia hid her confusion and doubts behind the ruse of a concerned and doting wife.

            But she is his wife and she knows very well he wasn't sick. She's also a mother and been around the business long enough to know releasing a whole floor of employees for the day doesn't happen, ever. 

          Clarice was after all in the room with his employees the gossip rags will already be going wild she sure didn’t want to add anything else to the mix. Well, anything other than a Maverick Wedding, AKA the wedding of the year.

            I rolled out of bed earlier than usual this morning, hoping to catch Mason before he left only to see the house empty besides John and Aiden. They tend to take nightshifts or off days when Levi, Connor, Wyatt, or Isaac need a day off. Our relationship is a little more stilled and awkward so I gave up looking for Mase and asked them to get the car ready so we can get to Shirley’s early.

            My grandmother’s name graces the doors and every box that leaves through them. Her recipes, love, and knowledge are woven in every flaky crumb and creamy filling. I’ll be spending every moment from now until retirement ensuring there will only be positivity spoken around her name. I’m going to make her proud.

            So with a fire lit under my ass I was up earlier than my body likes and opening the doors to Shirley’s so I had some time there before I was due to meet Cynthia for the fitting. She followed through yesterday staying way longer than I would have ever assumed. Really she blew away all my assumptions, which really has me as curious as the phone call.

            Not only did she get my display looking more than wonderful, but she also has expert handwriting and was able to knock out a beautiful chalkboard menu on top of helping clean up the decorations throughout the whole place. It looks amazing, enough to have me feeling real gratitude and giving her enough thank you’s that she made me promise I would be at every obligation she set up to prove my gratitude.           

            My yes slipped into existence as I fought the collar that seemed to wrap around my neck with that one word, the leash already locked on and in Cynthia's hand. Yet this morning wasn’t terrible neither was yesterday.

            Yes, she was and is a lot to handle or digest but she tamed it down enough to get semi-comfortable and I can't help but be suspicious of her motives. Today she was all compliments and gentle suggestions as if she’s a proud mother-in-law-to-be.

            Even after the many messages from her “friends” about Edward she showed concern for Mason, Jaxson, and myself, hoping none of us caught whatever Edward had. Apart of it was for show I know that. I don’t doubt for a second she thinks Edward is actually sick and I know she’s dying to find the truth but still, she could have very well shown her sympathy and concern for Edward alone and moved on.

            Jaxson’s call came shortly after she got her first round of messages and already informed the room. I was nervous to start, knowing something happened with Edward the very morning after Mason was standing on the edge of a whole with an endless depth of possibilities. He did something I knew it to my bones, I itched to knock the needle away from my sides where Clarice was working on pinning the dress and adding extra minor details, that we “needed”.  

            The excuse my ringing phone gave me was very much appreciated. I keep my end of the conversation short and sweet as to not give anyone in the room information that didn’t belong to them I knew by Cynthia’s narrowed eyes she’d be on me the second we were alone. I played my part, turning away from her knowing eyes and humming in agreement when I needed to until we hung up the phone.

            Still almost an hour later with my ass finally back at Shirley’s I have the time to really think about what he said. Mason broke his father's wrist. My gut churns and my eyes water as I sink into my computer chair cradling my phone in my hands. I’m facing the wall so I can pretend Wyatt, who replaced Adien before we made it to the dress shop, isn’t really here. I have to take my privacy in any way I can, and right now this is the best I’ll get.

            Where was Leo? Why didn’t he stop Mason before it was too late? As much as I enjoy knowing Edward got a little of what he deserves, I’m not a fan of violence unless necessary. This was not. There can only be a future where Edward ends up behind bars there was no reason Mason needed to do what he did. What will the repercussions be?

            We agreed to keep it quiet, that we weren’t going to make any moves as to not draw any more attention to our building investigation and ultimate takedown. Yet he did the very thing that will enrage Edward enough to involve Stasevich directly. In no time at all, we could have a full-blown mob attack at our doorstep, too much attention to keep Grace safe let alone continue with my undercover endeavors or gather enough evidence to follow through on taking not only Edward but Stasevich down too.

            He could have just ruined everything by being impulsive which is so unlike him. A low tortured moan falls from my lips though I try to hold it in. He doesn’t know what I’ve been up to, or the consequences he could have brought to our doorsteps. How could he when I’ve been sneaking around behind his back and hiding things from him?

            I’ve never felt worse about hiding the past month from him than I do now. I was working with good intentions but what have I really done bedsides put a young woman and her child at risk? And what do I do now when Mason is so clearly at his breaking point. I don’t want to say unstable, he isn’t but he’s overwhelmed, frustrated, and I’m sure scared.

            How could he not be? I would be. No, I am. Thinking about him being in danger, imagining him facing off with Edward today. He could have easily had a gun or knife, anything could have happened and Edward could have gotten the upper hand. Mason is a great teacher and a better fighter, but even the best fall down. If he didn’t come home because he thought he had to prove something to Edward because of me?

            I’m doing everything I can to protect Mason, his company, and everyone else that’s a victim of Edward and Stasevich’s dirty business dealings. My main concern when Brian was haunting us in physical form, unlike now when I still see his ghost or hear his voice, was that Mason would be collateral damage.

            My Mason.

            I draw in a shaky breath disturbed to see the tears that drip onto my dark phone screen. Have I ruined him too? Has my darkness bled into someone as good as Mason? My soul feels darker than a moment ago when I only had the murder of one man on my shoulders. It feels heavier, worse. Mason is a better man than Brian ever was. I can justify my actions with Brain but driving Mason to a point where he puts his entire career on the line. Everything he’s ever worked for. All the goals he’s ever had.

            For what? Me?

            Swallowing down the lump in my throat, I take in a deep breath and dry my tears on my shoulders. Holding my thumb to the bottom of my phone I wait for it to unlock before I pull up his number. It’s the first time in a long time I’m truly nervous, to my bones nervous to talk to him.

            Does he already regret his actions is that why he hasn’t called me but Jaxson did?

            Cynthia wasn’t able to get me alone for the interrogation she so clearly wanted. I’m fully expecting her to be here any minute or maybe she’s on her way to whatever s**t storm may still be happening on the executive level at Dixie. Either way, I have a part to play, showing up at Dixie will help no one.

            An impersonal phone call is all I’m going to get until tonight. It isn’t ideal but Mason needs me even if he doesn’t know it. Or want to accept it.

            His phone rings four long times before he picks up, his voice rougher than normal, heavy with restraint, maybe a little dread. “Crash.”

            It soothes a little piece of me just to hear his voice saying my name. The name only he calls me. “Mason.” I don’t know what to say, let alone how to approach an important conversation like this all over the phone.

            “How’s your morning going?” I hear the familiar sound of clinking glass and rattling ice cubes. Pulling my phone away from my ear I note the time. It’s only ten but he’s already chugging down what I’m sure is a heavy pour of top-of-the-line liquor.

        Flashes from my childhood, little snippets of ingrained memories show me a different man that went to the bottle to cope and formed an obsession. My father was loud and clear with his opinions, he thought I was the reason he was forced to drink his problems away. Because I was the one that created them, he didn’t have problems before I was born.

            Mason is so much better than my father ever was there won't be a time I forget that but it’s hard not to see the similarities too. The problems I’m creating. The life I’m ruining. He might not blame me now but will he one day? He might not be an alcoholic at the moment but he could become one. Is that my destiny, to destroy lives wherever I go?  

            “It wasn’t bad which is surprising since I spent it with your mother. I’d ask how your morning was but I heard all about it from Jaxson.” I leave it open-ended, hoping he'll pick up the ball and give me the answers to the questions I’m not saying out loud.

            “Why were you with my mother?” His words are hissed out in surprise as his glass clashes on the bar top or his desk. He sounds angry or worried, maybe he’s still running on adrenaline from his fight I don’t know and I can’t read him to find out. I sigh into my phone as I wish once more that this was not a phone call.

            “Dress fitting. She helped me with Shirley’s yesterday so I’d be available to do all her wedding bidding she has planned.” He ignored my real question or questions and that rubs me the wrong way. Is he going to pretend like it didn’t happen? Like he didn’t break his own father's arm? Or is the guilt too much? Is it eating at him as it eats at me? Does he feel the stains on his soul like I do?

            His soft chuckle is followed by the rattling of his glass and a slurp. “That’s surprising on both counts.”

            “I’m calling Leo now, you’re coming here.” I don’t leave any room for argument as my control breaks or maybe snaps into place? All I know is this is bullshit, if I can’t go to him he can certainly come to me. I hang up before he can protest, turning in my seat I find Leo’s number as I look to Wyatt.

            He has his dark eyes raised and his arms crossed as he sits in the chair next to my door. He doesn’t say it out loud but I hear it loud and clear. He thinks we need to tell them everything. I happen to agree.

            Minus one tiny little part. Mason is going to be majorly pissed, telling him now when he’s already reeling, will do no one any good. We have a s**t storm on our doorsteps and I’m going to do everything in my power to get us all out of this alive and on top. To do that means keeping the truth from Mason for a little longer.

            Shaking my head towards Wyatt I swallow hard. I might be making a huge mistake. f**k my life.