Page 112 of Word to the Wise

34

Mason

Watching Reed walk awaytugs the cord tied to my chest. I make it inside the door to Twisted Roses, but I can’t get rid of the knot that twists every time she’s not around.

“The way you were looking at Reed out there… you’re just as fucked as the rest of us.” Crew laughs at me when the door to the shop closes.

“Yeah.” I glance over my shoulder to the car at the curb, knowing he’s right in more ways than he realizes.

“Thought Reed was headed to Lyla’s today.” He motions to my car. “Trouble with the engine?”

I look back at him. “Someone fucked with it.”

“Someone as in…?”

“Carter.”

Crew’s face shows me everything I’m already feeling. The second I can get my hands on Reed’s piece of shit ex-boyfriend, I don’t think there’s much that’s going to be able to hold me back.

“Give me one round with that asshole.” Crew pops his knuckles.

“Only if I don’t get to him first. Reed went to call Sage to let him know what’s going on.”

He chuckles. “I’ll be surprised if he doesn’t show up with his whole fucking club.”

“Same.” And I kind of hope he does. “It’s time we finally do something about Carter. I’m sick of sitting on my ass waiting.”

Besides, now that his business is falling apart, do I really care if it’s difficult to get to him so long as I can?

“My brother Adam has connections up in San Francisco if you need some help,” Crew says.

“Thanks.” I shake my head. “But if my car is any indication, he's bringing the fight here.”

Carter’s getting close, which means he might also get sloppy. Wherever he is, it’s only a matter of time before he makes himself known. And I can’t fucking wait for it.

“Hmm.” Crew looks back out the window.

I follow his line of sight to a car parked across the street. The windows are heavily tinted, but the car looks empty, and there’s nothing unusual about it.

“What?”

“You’ve just got me thinking…” Crew’s eyes narrow. “Echo’s been getting this weird vibe from that car. She said she caught some guy sitting in it watching the shop a couple times. But that as soon as he notices her staring, he leaves. So she’s never really gotten a good look. I’ve been keeping an eye on it, waiting for the dude to return.”

“How long’s the car been there?”

“Today?” Crew glances at the clock. “An hour or two at most. But it’s been coming and going for about a week now. At first, she thought someone was casing the jewelry shop across the street. But then she caught him lookingin Twisted Roses… and now someone’s been fucking with your car.”

“You think it’s Carter?”

He nods. “Don’t you?”

“Probably.”

Fuck, he’s been right here watching us. Hiding in plain sight. It explains why he’s been so quiet since Reed officially ruined his chances with Zane Enterprises. He hasn’t been calling Sage because he’s been here, keeping an eye on things himself.

My heart seizes, and I take in the car’s proximity to the shop. Not only that, the apartment.

Carter isn’t just close—he’s here.