Page 142 of House of Payne

I ignore the twist in my chest. “I don’t need you to tell me that every damn second. You think I don’t know what this is?”

Each time I think I’m getting closer to peeling back the layers, he pushes back harder, and I have to start all over again.

I’m not even sure why I bother.

Because somewhere deep down inside, you want to be the one to fix him. Just like you want him to be the one to set you free. You need to let this sad little fantasy go if you have any hope of surviving, London. Don’t be stupid.

Mason straightens his back. “Start acting like it then. You could make yourself useful and do some cleaning while you’re here.”

I stiffen, and it feels like he’s poured ice water on me. “That wasn’t part of the agreement.”

I’ll be damned if I get down on my hands and knees to scrub his floors.

I have no idea what’s gotten into him, but he’s in an even worse mood than usual.

It must have something to do with his brother.

Based on his reaction, I’m going to assume this isn’t a social visit, but I’ve learned my lesson after snooping last time.

I won’t get sucked into his drama.

You shouldn’t even be here. You should go back to the complex with whatever shred of dignity you have left.

Except something about the look in his eyes when he told me to stay made it impossible to leave. I can’t seem to make myself turn my back on him, and God help me but I want to make him feel better.

I want to silence his demons.

Mason takes another step and towers over me. “You’ll do whatever the fuck I tell you to do, and you’ll like it. I own you, London. Don’t forget that.”

Tears burn the back of my eyes, but I blink them back. “Screw you.”

Mason goes as still as a statue. “What did you just say to me?”

I square my shoulders and draw myself up to my full height. “You heard me.”

His expression darkens. “Luckily for you, I have business to attend to. You’ll pay for that tonight.”

I give him the dirtiest look I can muster, but it doesn’t faze him.

Without waiting for a response, I stalk away, and I feel Mason’s eyes on me the whole time.

Goddamn Mason Payne, his stupid rules, his contract, and everything about this arrangement.

What the hell am I doing?

I am not his slave.

I can leave whenever I want.

Haven’t we already been through this? You only think you can leave and not have it all blow up in your face, but you know that he’s not wrong. You can’t walk away now.

Like it or not, Mason has me right where he wants me, and there isn’t a damn thing I can do.

But I don’t have to take it lying down.

I refuse to let him break me.

I’m halfway to the kitchen when my phone rings. For a while, I ignore it and step into the kitchen and look around. I open and close several cupboards before I realize I have no idea what I’m doing. When I stop in front of the fridge and peer into it, I exhale. I count backward from five, stand up, and fling open the nearest cupboard.