Page 57 of The Spare

About ten minutes goes by before a dark green SUV turns a corner then parks next to the sidewalk. It's her and Leo. A minute later headlights shine in my side mirror before dimming. I look, seeing it's her bodyguard parking behind Stephen's car. Dante pulls out, headed to take Melody's things home.

Melody doesn't get out.

I watch them, seeing what they're about. I don't want to make my move in front of Leo but may have to. My heart begins to beat faster, the blood rushes in my ears, and my skin dots with goosebumps. It's finally time. I strum my fingers on the steering wheel, forcing myself to be patient.

I waited four years, surely I can wait a few more minutes.

I clear my throat. Looking at my watch, wondering what the fuck they're talking about. Ten minutes pass. Then twenty.

Her window lowers and I see her arm dangle out the car, looking like she's getting mighty comfortable at almost midnight.

Leo turns in his seat to face her better, and the brake lights go off as he turns the car off. My lips curl with displeasure as my patience finally comes to an end. I'm not going to sit here and watch them get chummy. I pull out my phone, calling Stephen.

"Sir?"

"I'm about to grab Melody. I need you to make sure Leo doesn't call the police or get in my way. Pay him off, whatever it takes," I say simply.

"Yes, sir."

I open the door, the sound almost sounding like a bullet going off, and make my way down the street to her side of the car, coming up from behind. I clock the side of her profile in the side mirror; her attention is so focused on him that she doesn't notice me.

Neither of them do.

I get to the window. "Time to go," I say sharply.

Her head snaps to the side and her mouth opens in a shocked scream, but I bend down quickly, grabbing her arm before she can retract it and lock down hard on her wrist. "Mason," she snaps, struggling against me."Mason, get off me!"

"What the fuck, man?What is your problem?"Leo reaches over and tries to grab her arm, pulling as well. But I'm stronger. I don't bother with opening the door; instead, I yank her out of the car through the window, hoisting her into my arms.

"I saidlet's go."

Melody strains against me as I walk us to my car. Stephen runs past me. Leo's car door slams behind us, but I keep my focus on her. "I was on a date!" she hisses, irate.

Her eyes flash at me, but I give her an irritated look, letting her see the extent of my displeasure. Her eyes lose some of their fire, but not much. "You think I give a fuck about your date?" I emphasize, arching my brow at her. "You turned your back on me earlier. And what's more, you disappeared with him for half an hour while you ignored my phone calls."

"You deserved it!" she yells in my face.

I get the car door open and set her inside, grabbing the seatbelt and pulling it over her body.

"I got-I got it!"Melody snaps irritably, jerking it out of my hands and pushing my arm away. She turns, her hands shaking sohard she can't get it to click. I wait for a second before trying to reach in again, but she throws me a nasty look."I said I got it!"she yells.

"Then act like it and snap the fucking seatbelt already!"I yell back, feeling my patience snap. "God, woman! What the fuck!"

It clicks, and she sits back tightening her lips together. Her eyes narrow at me, as I slam her car door, keeping her eye contact the entire time I walk around the car and get into the front seat.

"What?" I grit out, buckling my own seatbelt.

She recoils her head and scrunches her nose, giving me another nasty look. "Where are you taking me?"

"To my house."

"For what?"she snaps.

"You know what!" I growl, seriously hanging by a thread.

Her eyes go wide. She breaks our eye contact and sits back in her seat before turning her head to look in the backseat. "Where the fuck is all mystuff? I had way more than those three boxes."

I muffle an exasperated groan, feeling a headache gathering behind my eyes.