Itwasn’t until I heard Viola’svoice that I pulled back from Mason. He let me step away from him,but he made sure he was right behind me. “Are you okay,Shane?”
Micah wasstanding behind her, much likeMason was standing behind me, and I realized how much of aprotective stance it was. “I’m fine. I’m okay. Are…areyouokay?”
She huffed.“I’m perfectly okay. But I can’t say the same for BransonMorgan if I ever see hi-”
“Stow itaway, woman,” Micah quipped. I lookedup at him and he was looking directly at Mason as he said,“Buchanan has it under control, I’m sure.”
I twistedaround and looked up at Mason. He still looked spitting mad, but Icould tell he’d calmed down.When my eyes darted around at the scene all around me, I noticeAiden, Michael and Gabriel still flanking Mason’s space and thecrowd waiting for what was coming next.
I finally threwmy arms up in the air and asked anyone…everyone, “Can someone,anyonetellme what the hell is going on?”
Chapter 10
Mason~
I almostlaughed at Shane’soutburst,but I was fairly certain she’d get violent if I did.
It’s not like I couldblame the girl. I’d be confused too, if I were her.
So, Igrabbedher by her hand anddragged her behind me, in search of an empty room upstairs. Havingpartied here before, I knew there were a shitload of spare bedroomson the second floor.
She didn’tobject as I dragged her behind me until I came upon an open, emptyroom. Once we were inside theroom, I locked the door behind me. The room was dark, except forsome light coming in through the window from outside, but I couldsee her entire body freeze at the sound of the lock.
I didn’t carethough.
It might nothave beenhow I had plannedit, but I finally had Shane alone, and I would not let her leaveuntil we settled a few things between us. Especially, being dressedthe way she was.
And Iwould never let her go once wedid.
She stood inthe middle of the room and wrapped her arms around her waist as she said, “You have some bloodon the corner of your lip.”
I lifted myhandand used my thumb to wipethe blood off. It wasn’t much, but it still stung a bit. We weresilent for a few seconds before I asked, “What are you doinghere?”
Shane cockedher head tothe side and herbrows furrowed. “It’s a party. I came to have a good time,” sheanswered, like it was so obvious.
“Since when do youparty?”
Her arms fellaway from her waist and I could see her tiny hands ball upintofists at her side. “Sincenone of your business, Mason,” she snapped, and I’d never wanted tokiss someone so badly in my life.
“That’s whereyou’re wrong, Slaughter. Youaremybusiness,” I replied, finally letting the cat out of the bag.Everything about her was my business.
I steppedtowards her until I waslooming over her and her beautiful, hazel eyes were as wide asdinner plates. “Since when am I your business?” she asked, throwingmy words back at me.
I reached upand cupped her jaw, brushing my thumb back and forth over her chin. “Since the first day I everlaid eyes on you, Shane,” I confessed, causing her to gasp. “You’vealways been my business. You’ve just never been stupid enough topush me before.”
Outrage replaced shock.“Stupid enough topushyou?” she screeched.“Going to a party ispushingyou? Are youinsane? Do you take medication or something? Is thatit?”
I smirked. I couldn’thelp it. She was just so entertaining. “No, Shane. I’m notmedicated,” I reassured her.
“Then youshould be, Mason. You reallyshould be,” she replied, a might bit hysterically.
“Shane…”
Shestepped away from me and thenpaced the room. “I don’t understand,” she mumbled, and notnecessarily to me. “I don’t understand,” she repeated. “I don’t getit.” She whirled around towards me. “You’ve got to give mesomething, Mason. You have got to tell me what is going on.Everyone and their mother will be asking me what’s going on and I’mnot going to be able to tell them anything, because I don’t fuckingknow!”
Her voicewasa high-pitched squeal bythe time she was finished her breakdown. “What exactly are youconfused about, Shane?”
She shot me alook so lethal, if looks could kill, my brothers would be sweepingup my ashes right now. “Why don’t we start with why you’vehated me all these years?” Shecocked her hip out and placed her hands on her curves. “Or maybe,we can start with the visit to the bookstore, or maybe, why youwould start a fight with Branson Morgan just because he was talkingto me.”
