Page 37 of Surviving Love

“Don’t play innocent, Mason.” Jack curled his lip.

I lifted my chin. “Look, I don’t know what you’ve heard, but I didn’t write your name down, Jack. I swear.”

“No?”

I shook my head. “I made a promise to you, and I kept it.”

Jack chuffed. “How honorable.”

Heat seeped into my cheeks again. “Would you have preferred I wrote your name down?”

“It wouldn’t have mattered. I’d already protected myself.”

“I’m glad, but I had no idea that was the case.”

Jack studied me. “No. You didn’t. Maybe that’s why it worked.”

I frowned. “You’re saying you think I’d have told Rob and Luciano your plan, had I known it?”

“Probably.”

I glanced at Harold, feeling annoyed. Why was I taking all the flak alone? He was the reason I’d been sucked into that mess with Rob and Luciano to begin with. Yet there he was, looking as if he had nothing to be guilty about.

“I wouldn’t have said anything to either of them.”

Jack frowned. “Are you pretending you weren’t working with them?”

My stomach sank at his accusing tone. “It wasn’t like that.”

“Tell me how it was, then,” Jack said gruffly.

“They did… approach me, but I wasn’t really on board.”

Jack leaned toward me. “You threw the challenge yesterday. Did you think I wouldn’t notice?”

Gritting my teeth, I said, “I was only pretending to be in their alliance.”

“Pretending?” Jack scoffed.

“Yeah.” I scowled. “They definitely weren’t people I’d want to form an alliance with.”

“Then why were you involved with them at all?” Jack frowned.

It was on the tip of my tongue to tell Jack about Harold scheming behind his back, but I pressed my lips tight. Harold had come to me trying to help me stay on the right side of the numbers. It didn’t feel right to throw him under the bus. Jack already didn’t like me. He might as well go on not liking me.

“They approached me, and I didn’t know how to say no,” I said.

“So you were just minding your own business, and Rob and Luciano approached you?” Jack’s gaze was intent.

“That’s right.”

Jack looked skeptical. “Why would they pick you of all people?”

“Probably because I have no one I’m close to yet.” I kept my eyes pinned on the ground.

When Harold started laughing, I looked up in surprise. His belly bounced as he watched me, his face split in a grin. “I told you he’s trustworthy, Jack. Even now, he’s not saying one word about me being involved.”

Shocked, I watched him in confusion.