Page 86 of Mason

Fucking Keith.

He’d have to thank the asshole.

“Hi,” she whispered.

“Hi.”

Everything in him unfurled at the sight of those sky-blue eyes of hers. His body sagged with relief.

“Mason…your face!” She reached out to him, and he tried again to lift his hand, but the effort set off a headache. His blood pressure spiked. “Mason?”

“I’m sorry I couldn’t come for your, JoJo. So sorry. I…”

“What happened to you, Mason?”

“Sean, or whoever the fuck it was, caught me off guard and beat the shit out of me with a pipe. It caused a brain injury that screwed up my motor functions. I can barely move. It’s going to take months for me to regain my mobility.”

“That’s why you’re strapped to a wheelchair?”

“I can’t even sit upright by myself.”

“Then get yourself in a bed!” Jo started pushing the nurse’s call button.

“I’m okay, just so fucking sorry I couldn’t come for you.”

“You did, Mason.” She smiled softly. “You sent Conner, and he saved me. I’m here, and I’m alive, and I’m safe because you never stopped looking. None of you did.”

“Always, Josephine.”

“And that is all that matters, Mason.”

“I love you, Josephine. More than anything in this world. I love you.”

“I love you too.”

Lisa came in, and Jo demanded a bed for him. The woman looked relieved. She didn’t seem to think Mason being strapped to a wheelchair was a good idea, apparently.

Once Mason was tucked into bed and they were alone, he turned his head to look at her. “I wish I could crawl into bed and hold you, Josephine.”

“Tell you what, when they take this dratted aluminum foil off me, I’ll crawl into bed with you and holdyoufor a change. How about that?”

“That sounds good, baby.”

“We have the rest of our lives for the holding, Mason, but only right now for this. I was scared, but I kept thinking about you, and I did give up a little bit, but deep down, I always knew you would find me. And you did, even if you had to send your brother to get me. It was still you driving that. That’s what counts.”

“Did he…did he…” Mason broke off, afraid to even ask, but he needed to know. He needed to make sure she got the help she’d need.

“No. He was going to tonight, though.”

Anger burned the back of his throat, making it hard to breathe.

“He didn’t. I got away, and then Conner found me.”

“Did Conner kill him?”

“No. I know the police arrested him, but I don’t know if he’s here or if he’s in lockup.”

“Why would he be here?”