Page 151 of House of Payne

I refuse to believe that sweet, kind Noah would sell me out to these thugs.

It’s not the man I know and love.

You might not know if Noah has betrayed you, but you know your dad. No matter the disagreements you’ve had, he’s always had your back.

Unless Noah went back on his word and said something he shouldn’t have, prompting my dad to put two and two together.

Have he and Noah decided I wasn’t worth the trouble?

Has my dad gone along with whatever plan Noah came up with?

How had they reached Mason’s enemies?

Anger can make a person do crazy things. Maybe your dad knew how to reach out to them, or maybe they took a risk.

I won’t get the answers I want from these men without offering them something else. Something I don’t have.

The dark-haired man shrugs and moves toward me, and I stand still, drawing on whatever vestiges of courage I have left. “I don’t give a shit,blondie. But if I were you, I’d get comfortable. You’re going to be here a while.”

I want to ask how long, and what they plan to do to me. But I don’t trust that my voice won’t quiver, or that he’ll tell me the truth.

I keep my head held high and hold his gaze. “I’m not afraid of you.”

I’m hoping he can’t hear the uncertainty or fear in my voice because I need it to be true.

Then, the two of them burst out laughing, and it sends another chill through me.

“I can see why he keeps you around. You’re not just a pretty face, but I’d keep that fucking mouth of yours shut before I find other uses for it.”

Let it go, London. They haven’t touched you, so you should be grateful all they’re doing is making threats. It’s better than the alternative.

I don’t know which higher power I’m praying to when they leave.

All I know is that I stay awake late into the night, imagining Mason’s face when he finally gets to me.

Chapter Twenty-Seven

Mason

I draw my hand back and land another punch, earning a grunt from Carlisle. “You should’ve been keeping a closer eye out. How did you fucking miss this?”

What’s the point of keeping a lumbering man like him around if he’s not going to do his job?

I blame Carlisle because it’s easier than admitting the truth.

I let this happen.

Keeping London from prying eyes painted a target on her back.

Your first mistake was not bragging about her. You always talk about your conquests.

With London, it didn’t feel right.

She isn’t like the other women I’ve been with, and I knew that from the start.

Part of the allure was keeping her a secret, but looking back, a part of me also wanted to protect her from my world.

If such a thing was possible.