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16

MASON

Mason didn’t pick up a camera for weeks. Sure, he’d missed a day or two since Gran had given him his first DLSR, but he’d never gone this long without snapping a single picture.

He’d always believed that photos could never let him down and that he couldn’t hurt Rain if he tried, but he’d been wrong on both counts, and guilt weighed on him like a lead cloak, leaving him lethargic and despondent. After everything he’d tried to be to Rain, he’d ended up betraying him, violating his peace and privacy, and he’d never forgive himself for that.

Sighing for probably the fifteenth time that hour, Mason stood, cracking his neck and back. The shrine had been more layered than he’d realized and it had taken a long time to pull the monstrosity apart, especially the bottom section which had been stapled into the wall.

Torn and warped Rains were scattered across the floor like shrapnel and Mason couldn’t help but look them over, trying not to cry. Even though he’d vowed to take it all down after Rain had first seen the darkroom, he’d set himself up, avoiding like he always did, and this time it had cost him his muse, the only person he’d ever love.

Cricket, you were a nincompoop.

Watching Rain walk out that door was as painful as losing Gran, and Mason had no one to blame but himself. It didn’t matter that this house had sentimental value because it was empty without Rain and Mouse, and Mason still caught himself checking around his feet every time he opened the door to upstairs, feeling worse every time he did.

Despite being on silent, Mason’s phone lit up, letting him know that he’d gotten a message, and he couldn’t help but check it, frowning at the screen.

I want the keys to the house in my hands tomorrow. You’re an embarrassment, hanging onto something you don’t deserve. This is your last chance to comply.

Taking a screenshot of his father’s demands, Mason tossed the phone aside, unable to muster enough energy to care. Sitting in the middle of the shrine’s carnage, he put his back against the table, staring at the now-empty wall.

Maybe he was an embarrassment. He knew that the traumatic bullying had left him with a dislike of most people and spectacular avoidance, but he thought that he’d learned to manage enough to appear somewhat human. Rain had shown him that he was wrong; he needed to level up, not only for love but for life.

Sure, it was nice to have Rain handle things, but he should be able to answer his calls without cringing and do tasks when they needed to be done. Of course, he’d been saying that for as long as he could remember, but Rain and the upcoming exhibition had Mason refocusing, recentering, and no longer wanting to live through his trauma. He’d been letting his bullies hold him back for far too long. While Mason wasn’t a vengeful person, he’d heard that the best revenge was living well and now he finally understood what that meant.

However, a large part of him wanted Gage to be crushed by a falling piano for what he’d done to Rain.

Mason also knew that his life would be a lot easier if his family would leave him alone. Thankfully, he still had that appointment with the lawyer that Liam knew, and it was the first step to getting his parents off his back.

The last thing he wanted to do was slog over there and tell his story to someone who probably wouldn’t take his case but he refused to let his avoidance take over. He’d already lost Rain and Mouse, he didn’t want to lose the house too, and he didn’t want to throw away all of Rain’s effort.

Speaking of which, Mason needed to find the paperwork. While hunting for a new lawyer, Rain had printed out all of the emails and texts from Mason’s family, made copies of any letters, and duplicated the footage from the break-in. He’d also gotten Stanley’s case file after calling several times and citing the law to him verbatim from the internet, compiling it all together in an envelope that was somewhere in this apartment.

Standing, Mason cleaned up the remains of his dismantled shrine and then went on the hunt, checking the main room first. When that came up empty, he headed into the studio, searching through the paperwork on his desk, but all he found were invoices and receipts. Turning, he was about to try the bedroom when Rain’s eyes caught his from across the room. He’d forgotten that he’d printed out a few test photos and the shock of seeing Rain’s larger-than-life portrait had him freezing in place.

As always, Rain’s beauty was undeniable, his bare shoulder hinting that the white robe might slide even lower, his expression barely containing his walled-in fear, and Mason’s heart ached. That particular photo had been taken during their first official session, when things between them were so new, when Rain had never seen the studio before, and Mason wished he could go back to that time or even further into the past, where he’d mind his own business and not sneak into a threesome to take voyeuristic photos.

He didn’t know how to explain the hold Rain had over him, how he wasn’t himself whenever Rain was near, but there was no one left to listen and Mason sighed again, still staring at the picture. A saner person would probably scrap Rain and use other photos, but that would be a betrayal of everything Mason and Rain had shared.

He had to see this through. However, he thought that by now he’d have a theme but all he had was a stack of portraits, most of which had become too personal or seductive to use.

Mason shook himself, looking away. He’d come in here to find the lawyer file, not to brood over Rain. Moving into the bedroom, he resumed his search, and as he got to the few shelves Rain had used for his belongings, he found the envelope sitting there with For Lawyer written on its front.

Gingerly picking it up, he ran his gaze over Rain’s handwriting, the swoopy letters somehow matching Rain’s demeanor, rubbing salt in Mason’s wounded heart. Sure, he’d been the one at fault but it didn’t cancel out his feelings, feelings he hadn’t had a chance to express.

A glint caught his attention, and he crouched down in front of the shelving unit, staring at the backside of an SD card, its gold pins catching the light. This couldn’t be his because he always stored his cards correctly, never leaving them out, but there was always a first time.

Within seconds he was back in the studio, sitting at his computer and feeding the mystery card into an adapter.

A folder opened on his desktop, showing him that the files were all video. Confused, Mason double-clicked on a clip in the middle of the list and it opened, showing him a wrecked bedroom. The sheets had been pulled from the bed and bunched up in a ball on the mattress, the dresser drawers had been opened and emptied, and it looked like everything had been strewn all over the floor and stomped on. Even though Mason could only see a sliver of the doorway, he could tell the room had no door and the entire thing felt eerie, as if someone loomed off camera. When that someone finally walked on screen, Mason jumped out of his skin, slapping the space bar and pushing away from the desk.

Sitting there in full color on Mason’s monitor, looking drunk and out of sorts, was Gage.

What the hell was this?

All I have is an SD card with video of her latest jerk trashing my room…maybe. But it’s his place, so it’s not like he did anything illegal.

Rolling back to the desk, Mason squinted at the footage. This was Rain’s room? It made sense; he’d been forced to live with Gage, so of course he’d have a security camera.

Hitting the space bar again with almost too much force, Mason continued playing the clips, rage boiling in his blood as he realized that he was right, everything on the floor was Rain’s and Gage had destroyed it; he’d even taken Rain’s door. No wonder Rain had been sleeping in a storage room.

Despite the subject matter and his fury, Mason sat there for hours, watching as Gage hung out in Rain’s room, picking through his things, drinking and tossing the beer cans into the rubble, and occasionally doing lines of coke on the desk.

Strangely, Mason found it healing. Seeing how pathetic Gage had become and what he was like alone made him feel like less of a threat and more of a joke. It wouldn’t eradicate the years of torture but it was a start.

He slapped the keyboard again during the next to last clip when Gage quickly undid his pants and began to jerk off over Rain’s pillow. That’s when Mason’s rage transformed, becoming steel clarity, and for the first time since Rain left, Mason’s brain began to churn.

Taking out the SD card, Mason stared at it. While he’d been too stricken to protect Rain at The Pointe, there was still something he could do. For both of them.

“I’m astounded that this person managed to get a law degree.” Ms. Chauhan looked up from the paperwork Mason had brought with him. “Who is this imbecile?”

He didn’t answer, grateful that it seemed to be a rhetorical question.

“And your family’s lawyer is only a step above an ambulance chaser. He’s not anything to be afraid of.” Her statement necklace jangled as she straightened her jacket. “Your grandmother’s will is airtight, signed before an attorney and a witness when she was of sound mind. This shouldn’t have been an issue.”

Mason didn’t know whether to punch himself for choosing such a shitty lawyer to begin with or to cry that he’d finally found an amazing one, either way, he sat rapt with attention, stunned and a wee bit scared. Formidable, with an energy that stated she wasn’t to be trifled with, Ms. Maya Chauhan seemed like she ate bullies for breakfast. Mason wondered if she knew Marci because they seemed to be cut from the same cloth.

“There’s a few things I can do here.” Folding her hands, she placed them on top of the file, fixing her steely gaze on Mason. “I can start the process of officially putting the house in your hands. I can also submit all of the communication your family has so stupidly sent you, as well as the video you took of the burglary, and get you a restraining order.” Her eyebrow rose. “I’ll also have a sergeant personally visit them with a warning.”

Even though this was exactly what Mason wanted to hear, his heart still panged. Rain had put in so much effort to get them to this point but he wasn’t here to see it through, to know that he’d helped Mason beyond measure, even though Mason didn’t deserve it.

“Good.” He nodded stiffly and she studied him, making him nervous, but he had to ask. This had been going a little too well, so it was time for a reality check. “How-” he coughed, putting more strength into his voice. “How much would all that cost?”

“Since you’re a friend of Liam’s I’ll do this almost pro bono.” She gave him a dangerous smile.

“Almost,” he echoed warily, his nails digging into his palms as he waited for the catch.

“I looked at your website, Mr. Hart. You have remarkable talent. I’d like you to take my portrait.”

Mason blinked. Wait. This impressive woman liked Mason’s work? Gran must’ve pulled some strings on the other side because somehow he was getting the best help for free.

He felt his brow crinkle and he knew that his mouth fell open a little, but he quickly recovered.

“I’d love to.” Truthfully, capturing the cold fire of Ms. Chauhan’s soul would be an honor, and for the first time in weeks, Mason’s creativity stirred in its cocoon, giving signs of life.

“Then we have a deal.” She held out her hand, and the good manners Gran had instilled in him had Mason returning the shake. “I’ll have my office draw everything up for you to sign and I will keep you updated at every step. Is there anything else I can help you with?”

Mason reached into his pocket, flipping the SD card in his hand and thinking of how secure and happy Rain had been before everything had fallen apart. As Emma had said, Rain shone, and the way he used to smile when he held Mouse, the creases in his brow gone, his eyes calm and gentle, had been the pinnacle of his beauty.

As Mason’s brain made the connection, it felt like a physical click. Now he knew the theme of his show.

And since he’d ruined Rain’s contentment, he had to make amends by doing whatever he could to protect Rain, even from afar.

“Yes.” He took out the card, putting it on top of the file. “Can you help me find someone’s parole officer?”