Page 35 of Mason

“Dude, you don’t look much better.”

“You don’t look so good yourself,brat,” Nik told him.

If he looked as bad as Nik did right now, then he really needed to get some fucking sleep.

“I’ll sleep tonight.” He dug his phone out, and using one hand, shot off a quick text to Keith to take Jo to work tonight. He had some family stuff to do. “Do you think I should tell her if I ask her to marry me?”

“About the whole marriage goof?”

Mason nodded.

Nik thought for a moment. “Da, brat. You should tell her. Secrets have a habit of coming out, and something like that…” He shook his head. “Be honest with your woman. If she finds out later, she’ll think you only asked to save Papa, not because you love her.”

“Thanks, Doctor Phil.”

“At your service.” Nikoli grinned.

“Mason, Nik, you might want to get your asses in her now!” Luther shouted from the main room.

Nik was up and running before Mason had time to move. Damn, for a man who was dead on his feet, Nikoli could move when he had to. They were both bent over his open laptop when he made his way back to the dining table.

“What’s going on?”

“Someone’s messing with your laptop.” Luthor turned it so he could see.

“What the fuck…” Someone was remotely logged into his laptop, going through his files and pictures.

“They do not know who they are fucking with,” Nik growled and sat down, preparing to attempt a back hack.

“Wait.” Mason stopped him. “Let’s see what he’s doing. Fucker thinks I’m in class right now and my laptop is open season.”

He reached down and picked up one of Rosie’s tiny stuffed animals to entertain her with while they watched the guy open file after file. Luther plugged Mason’s laptop into his own and quietly worked. It wasn’t a back hack, but he was doing something.

“Sit, this is going to take a while.” Luther kicked out a chair.

Mason frowned but sat. He had all day for this shit.

Jo changed into her scrubs and waited for Keith to show up. Mason had texted her earlier to say he was at his brother’s helping out with the baby. She glanced at the clock. If Keith didn’t get here soon, she was going to be late for her shift.

“Jo!” one of the girls shouted up the stairs. “You got a delivery!”

Huh. She wasn’t expecting anything. Grabbing her small wallet with her ID and a few bucks in it, she went downstairs. A large vase of tulips sat on the front hall table, her name printed on the card. Mason must have sent them.

After finally getting over her insecurities a few days ago, she and Mason had spent every night together. She grinned thinking about what kind of dorky message he left her.

Opening the card, she frowned.

It simply read, “I forgive you.”

Forgive her for what?

“Is it from Mason?” her roommate, Cara, asked.

“I don’t think so.” She showed her the card.

“That’s creepy, Jo. Didn’t you get a weird note at the hospital too?”

She agreed. It was creepy. Maybe this wasn’t some kind of joke. The note at work, the email, and now a vase of flowers—creepy didn’t do it justice.