Page 27 of Hidden Resolution (Stonebrooke #2)

T he drive to Dane’s house the following day took Mason ten minutes, and thankfully, it wasn’t a lot of time to relive Shonda’s goodbye.

Hell, even if it had been longer, he lacked the mental and emotional capacity to relive it.

Sleeping the previous night had been an exercise in futility.

The entire evening, he stressed about Billy returning to murder Shonda.

On five separate occasions, he grabbed his keys, prepared to sit outside her building.

But he wanted to honor her request. With Billy’s crimes in the open, the danger had likely passed.

Mason arrived as Zack rejoined the living, and he’d barely made it inside when the slamming of a car door caught everyone’s attention.

Dane admitted Bucky and another plainclothes cop, who introduced himself as Detective Fields.

“Bucky. Detective. What’s up?” Zack asked tiredly.

“Zack, we’re sorry to disturb you at a time like this, but may we speak with you?”

He led them to the living room.

“The coroner pulled DNA samples from the bodies found on the scene. We’d like to test yours against the boy they found,” Fields informed them.

Unease danced along his nerves, but Mason remained silent and waited for them to get to the point.

“Is that all? A phone call wouldn’t have sufficed?” Dane asked.

Zack sat forward. “What aren’t you telling me?”

The two officials exchanged a speaking glance.

“Buck,” Zack growled.

“The DNA came back to a woman who was reported missing four months ago. We’re still waiting on that of the boy.”

The silence was heavy as the implication sank in.

The bodies were likely a plant, meaning Erica and Jacob weren’t dead. Or not yet, anyway.

“I can go to the hospital or to the station right now,” Zack said, hopping up.

“Actually, that’s the reason why Byron is here. He’s head of our forensic team. He brought the swab kit.”

“Let me get this straight. You’re saying the woman found in the ruins after the explosion was not Erica?” Connie asked, seeking the clarification they needed.

“That is correct, Mrs. Sharp,” Bucky confirmed.

“So it is probable she is still alive.” When he nodded, she asked, “If that is the case, maybe my grandson is, too?”

“Yes.”

She started to cry, and Zack jumped up to hold her close. “It’s a good thing, Mom.”

“I know. I just… I have to tell Charlie,” she said.

“No,” Byron said, standing. “We want to keep this under wraps for the moment.”

“But Charlie is Jacob’s grandfather. He has the right to know,” she protested.

“Mrs. Sharp, no one but those in this room can know we suspect the bodies belong to anyone other than Ms. Sutton and your grandson. It could hamper our investigation and alert Christie Bauer we’re on to her deception. Do you understand?” he asked, not unkindly.

“Yes, but we can swear Charlie to secrecy,” she said, patting Zack’s chest and seeking his support.

“He’s right, Mom,” he said slowly. “We need to keep this under wraps until we locate them. If Christie finds out, she might hurt them for real.”

“What about Erica’s parents and Shonda? They’ll be here any second.”

Zack cast a worried glance toward Bucky and the detective.

The smaller the circle, the more likely they were to keep the secret.

“I don’t think we should tell them, Mom,” Mason said.

“Mason! You can’t keep something like this from Erica’s parents or your girlfriend,” his mother said, appearing appalled he’d actually consider such a thing.

“Shonda’s not my girlfriend,” he snapped. “For Christ’s sake, Ma. Stop with that shit already!”

His rage came from nowhere he could discern, but he was sure as shit over the constant assumption about their relationship, or lack thereof. The entire situation was tired.

As his rotten luck would have it, Shonda and the Suttons walked in during his rant. She wasn’t quick enough to mask her hurt, but she did have a ready excuse to leave.

Agitated, he rubbed the spot between his brows, wishing he were anywhere but there.

“Shonda, hold up,” he ordered, trailing her outside.

“I’m fine. We discussed it all yesterday. It’s not like I haven’t known the score from the start. Nothing’s changed,” she said as she circled her vehicle to get to the driver’s side. “Go take care of your family, Mason.”

“Goddammit!” he swore. “I said, wait !”

“Good grief. Please, don’t let’s rehash this.

” Her weariness tugged his last remaining heartstring.

Her eyes were dull, practically lifeless, as she said, “I’m truly fine, but it’s annoying to hear you protest so loudly whenever everyone’s around.

” She jerked open the car door. “It’s humiliating because you make it sound as if I’m throwing myself at you at every opportunity. And I’m not. You know that.”

“Shonda—”

“The situation is shitty, and unfortunately, our worlds are overlapping because of Erica. Otherwise, you’d get out clean. I swear.”

“Shon—” He surged forward.

“Keep your platitudes, Mason. We both know there’s nothing more to say, don’t we?” She cast him a sad smile of goodbye. “Please tell Erica’s parents I’ll give them a call tonight to find out what they’ve planned for services.”

Anxiety and guilt converged in his chest, suffocating him.

She really intended to walk away!

Her finality cut him in ways he could never express aloud.

“Erica’s not dead,” he blurted. “They haven’t found her, but the DNA of the body in the morgue wasn’t hers.”

He was in deep shit for revealing the news, but his mother was right. Leaving her in the dark, regardless of police logic and his agreement two minutes ago, was wrong.

“And Jacob?” she asked.

“They’ve come to gather Zack’s DNA sample to compare with the child’s body. We’re hopeful it’s not him either.”

She nodded and offered a tight smile. “Thanks for telling me. Have Zack or Dane text me when they hear anything more.”

“Shonda,” he called as she was about to duck into the driver’s seat. “You’re welcome to stay.”

A long beat passed. “No, Mason, I don’t think I am.”

“You’re exhausted and upset. Let me drive you home.”

What the hell was wrong with him? Good Christ, could he be any more wishy-washy? No wonder she was confused. He didn’t know what he truly wanted either.

Not sparing him another glance, she drove away.

It stung.

As Mason stalked back to the house, Dane stepped into view. His censure and disappointment were stamped heavily on his visage.

“Not a fucking word,” Mason snarled as he shoved by him.

“Asshole.”

He heard, but pretended he didn’t.

He was an asshole. Worse.

Shonda wasn’t shy about calling him out. Yet, coming from her, it almost always seemed like an endearment. And wasn’t that the crux of the matter? Whenever she busted him on his bullshit, he adored her all the more for it.

Inside, his mother had whipped up a spread to feed an army. On any given day, Mason would be the first to do it justice. But not today. He couldn’t force a single bite past his lips, not when his stomach churned.

And it was all because Shonda had called it quits. She’d given in and accepted what they’d had was casual.

But it wasn’t. Not by a long shot.

As much as he tried to tell himself he could walk away, he always ended up back at her door. She was right. His constant return was always under the guise of making sure she was okay. But because of him, she was a hot mess.

Shonda loved him, and it was hard to wrap his feelings around the fact. Under no delusions, he realized he was opinionated, domineering, and demanding. A few nicer qualities could be sprinkled in here and there, but overall, he was no prize.

Yet she loved him.

And he couldn’t let her.

For her own sake, he had to find a way to kill whatever she felt for him.

Reaching a decision, he tossed his plate on the counter, grabbed his keys, and drove to her apartment. The lights were out, and he had a moment of panic. What if she’d never made it home? Or what if Billy had come back to finish what he started?

He charged up the stairs and banged on the door, alternating fists and yelling her name when she didn’t answer right away.

“Can I help you?” her neighbor asked.

“I’m looking for Shonda.”

“Yeah, the whole complex got that,” she said, not sparing the sarcasm.

Ignoring her snark, he asked. “Have you seen her?”

“Afraid not.” With a careless shrug, she slammed her door.

“Thanks for nothing!” he hollered.

“You should make a point to read How to Win Friends and Influence People ,” Shonda commented from behind him.

He yelped his surprise.

Christ, he was on edge!

“We need to talk, and then you can tell me when the fuck you trained as a ninja.”

“Why rehash the conversation? Have you not met your insult quota for today?” she asked, chockful of anger.

The new jaded attitude pissed him off.

“Knock it off, Shonda. I’ve never insulted you. Not intentionally, at any rate.”

“Shall I count the ways?”

Banking his temper, he shifted closer. “No. I don’t really care to be reminded how you think I’m a jerk. I’d like to explain.”

“Even if I didn’t already know, I don’t care what your excuse is.” She ran a hand through her hair, a sure sign of her frustration. “You’re an adult, Mason, with the ability to reason. You know relationships, if you choose to have them, take work.”

“I don’t want the work,” he exploded. “I want it easy.”

“Says every guy on the fucking planet.”

“Don’t lump me with other losers.”

“Then don’t be one,” she snapped. “I’ve made it too easy for you for far too long.

You come here, screw my brains out, remind me it’s nothing more than a casual fuck , and then go on your merry way.

” She leaned forward, gaze furious as she drove a finger into his chest. “That no longer works for me. I’m not your cum-dumpster. Find another idiot to casually fuck .”

Her tantrum drew a crowd. While she apparently didn’t care, he did. “Stop saying that. Can we take this inside? Your neighbors shouldn’t be privy to our business.”

“No. If you don’t like it, leave.”

“Woman, you are getting on my last nerve. I?—”

What he would have said was cut off by a text on his phone.

“Must be someone from your hordes of women calling,” Shonda sneered, stepping into the darkened apartment.

Guessing her intention to slam the door, he stuck his foot on the threshold. “Look, I have to go, but I intend to finish this.”

She jerked the door wider and snatched his phone.

“Jesus!” She gaped. “Zack thinks Christie is at his house? Why doesn’t he just call the police?”

“Because he’s not sure.”

“Your brothers intend to confront Christie to end this thing, don’t they?” She didn’t wait for his answer. “Come inside while I change my shoes.”

He grabbed his device back.

“Oh, fuck no! You are not going,” his tone was flat, final.

“I am. You and I can drive together and back each other up, or I can go by myself.”

“You forgot there’s a third option,” he said silkily.

As expected, she challenged him, “Oh, and what’s that?”

“I can tie you up.”

She gulped in the face of his menacing grin and uncrossed her arms.

“Y-you wouldn’t dare.” False bravado inched her chin higher.

“Oh, love, I would dare a great many things,” he whispered, inches from a kiss. “You might enjoy being tied up.”

Before their mouths could meet, she shoved him. “No. Next time you come to me, it better be because you want more than a casu?—”

He pressed a finger against her lips. “Don’t say it. You’ve made your point.” God, he fucking hated that phrase. Why had he ever uttered it?

“I’ve got to go,” he said. “As it is, I’m going to be late.”

“I told you, I’m going, too,” she replied stubbornly.

Based on past experience, she would follow him on her own, and her insistence was more than simple contrariness.

With the lost job, the near-death, and her friend’s abduction, it appeared Shonda had reached a critical point and needed to take her life back.

On many levels, he understood, but he couldn’t live with himself if she got hurt or, god forbid, killed.

“Mason. Erica is my sister in every way that matters. What if the situation were reversed? Would you sit it out?”

Without a doubt, he’d hate himself later, but he caved nevertheless. “Fine. But you do exactly as I say.”

“Fine,” she agreed, eyes expressionless.

“You’re lying,” he said. “Have I ever told you how much I hate liars?”

“Have I ever told you how much I hate players?” she retorted.

“Go. Dress in all black and make sure they’re clothes you can move freely in.”

Suspicious, she asked, “You won’t leave me?”

“No. Now get dressed. We’re out of time. Zack is determined to end this tonight.”