Page 170 of House of Payne

I set the lid down and wheel to face her. “Can I help you?”

She says nothing.

I stare back at her. “I don’t know where Mason is.”

Katia gives me an indecipherable look. “I know where to find him.”

“So why don’t you go do that, and leave me the hell alone.”

Katia pushes off the wall. “Is that what you want?”

I blink. “Does it matter what I want?”

She shrugs.

“I don’t know what kind of mind game you’re playing, but I’m not going to take the bait. If it’s all the same to you, it’s been a long few days, and I’d just like to have something to eat.”

Katia looks at the container. “You’ll get food poisoning.”

“I bet you’d love that. Then I could be out of your way.”

And she and Mason could go back to whatever they have.

I didn’t miss the look between them in the sedan. He’s known her for years. She knows his world in a way I never will. I’m just in the way of the two of them getting back together.

I have no interest in being a distraction or a way for Mason to pass the time, and I definitely don’t want to be in her line of fire.

I’d be doing everyone a favor if I pump the brakes while I still can.

“There’s a cook,” Katia informs me. “As Mr. Payne’s guest, you can ask for whatever—”

“I’m not his guest,” I interrupt. “Not for much longer, anyway.”

I just have to wait for some of the heat to die down before I decide on my next move.

And what exactly is your plan? Are you going to go back to your old life and leave your dad to fend for himself?

As if Mason would let me.

I have no idea what’s happening between us anymore, especially after his earlier confession, but he’s already made it clear he won’t let go.

I should want him to, but I don’t.

After everything you’ve been through, how can you still want to be with him? He almost got you killed, and who knows what’s happened to your father.

“Is that your decision or Mr. Payne’s?”

I glare at her. “Why do you care? Katia, right? I saw the way you two were acting around each other in the sedan. I’m not blind.”

Nor am I as stupid as everyone wants to believe.

Having Mason’s ex-girlfriend flaunted in front of me was bad enough, but seeing him tend to her while I staunched my own bleeding, hurt in a way it shouldn’t.

I don’t know if it’s because they didn’t need words to communicate, or because I wanted Mason to hover overme, but I can’t forget what I saw.

It’s only a matter of time before he realizes you aren’t worth the trouble. You can’t hold your own against his enemies, and you’re a liability now. What use will you bewhen he gets tired of you?

And hewillgrow tired of me sooner or later, once the novelty wears off, and he realizes how problematic it’s all becoming.