Page 141 of The Spare

Despite all the space, it'd be nice to have our own place. I squeeze her hand and open the car door. "Let's get this over with. We can soak in a nice tub with some wine when it's all over. But we need to get this over with."

I know I'm one to talk, having ignored Hendrix’s and mother's calls since I've been here in California, but as her husband, maybe I need to start leading by example. I suck in a deep breath when she closes the car door with a slam and put a hand to her shoulder.

"Hey, butterfly," I say hesitantly, catching her eyes. "Do you think…" I trail off, suddenly losing my nerve.

Her eyes widen, and she puts a hand to my cheek, caressing me. "Do I think what?"

"Do you think maybe we can call my mother after we talk to yours? Maybe tonight?"

She gives me a sad smile, standing on her tiptoes to press her lips to mine. I wrap my arms around hers, deepening it. "Of course we can."

I nod, and we make our way into the house and through to the den where Maximus stands across from Donna, who's looking rather teary-eyed. Pablo's sitting next to the baby grand in the far corner of the room, out of earshot with his face averted.

Melody twists her lips as Donna turns and catches her eye.

Donna's face contorts as she sniffs, her eyes slightly bloodshot. She smooths her hands down her royal-purple silk dress and takes a few hesitant steps towards us. Tears stream down her face before she lets out a gasp and full-on runs to us, colliding with Melody, who buries her face into her neck and squeezes her hard, now crying, too.

"I'm so, so sorry, honey," Donna sobs. "Will you please forgive me? Don't hate me forever; I can't stand it!"

Stepping away cautiously I shake my head, fighting against the sting in my eyes. Wishing more than anything I could have a moment like that with my father, but it doesn't seem like that's in the cards for me.

Leaving them to it, I make my way over to Maximus and cast him a look, my brow rising, seeing his eyes are red-tinged as well, like he'd been crying.

"Are you okay, Max?" I ask gruffly, folding my arms and turning to the side a bit, averting my face from the two women. I see Melody pull away and then step away from Donna, whose face falls as Melody shakes her head and holds up a hand.

"Hmhm,"he grunts, clearing his throat before turning and walking completely out of the room, through the accordion glass doors and into the gardens outside the den.

My brows rise at his sudden departure. Damn.

Hearing the women crying, I pull out my phone and text Hendrix.

Melody's rejection and Donna's tears affect me more than I care to admit. The fact our family is so fractured in so many different ways cuts me deep and causes me to make concessions where I can. And I think I can start with my sibling.

I'm sorry I've been ignoring you. Let's plan some time this week to talk. I have a lot to catch you up on. Please give Izzy, Mariah and the baby our love. -Mason

Chapter forty-four

M&Ms

Iwake around four o'clock in the morning and look over at Mason sleeping soundly on his back with an arm bent and tucked behind his head. He's nude. The sheet only covering his cock, leaving the rest of the well-defined muscles of his physique to my gaze.

At one point in time, not that long ago, this very vision had been a mere figment of my imagination. A craving.

His broad chest rises and falls evenly with his breathing, and right when I'm about to climb on top of him, his phone lights up on the nightstand, and I reach over to grab it, not wanting it to wake himup.

He's been making himself available to me, my father, and now Lucien, and I want him to get his rest.

Naked, I swing my legs over the side of the bed and walk over to the chaise lit up in moonlight by the window and sit, pulling the throw pillow into my lap. Checking that he's still sleeping, I open his phone to see a text from his mother. They'd briefly talked when I was falling asleep after we made love, but I was so tired I couldn't tell you what was said.

I should put the phone away, but Maribel's words draw my attention.

Mijo I'm so sorry, mi amor. Please forgive me. -Mami

My eyes widen and I cast a quick glance to Mason who's still dead to the world, before going back to his phone. I tentatively scroll up, curious as to what was said before this. I gasp, putting my fingers to my lips. Maribel's temporarily been staying with my mother! Apparently, she moved out of King Compound shortly after we moved to California.

And one of the texts was her asking him to please not tell Hendrix.

Oh my god.