Page 53 of Word to the Wise

“He’s my friend.”

But the way it comes out reveals everything I’m not willing to admit, and I know Sage senses it the moment my voice shoots up an octave.

“Thought so.” He sighs. “Talk to Mason, Reed. And if he won’t tell you, then I will. But I think you deserve to hear it from him.”

“To hear what?” A lump forms in my throat.

The air is being sucked out of the room. I’m floating or sinking. It’s all the same because Sage is usually blunt with me, and it’s not a good sign that he’s diverting.

Sage pats my knee, offering me a sad smile. “It’s his story, sis. All I know is what the internet says. But I think he’d tell you more.”

More of what?

Do I really want to know?

I’ve trusted Mason when I didn’t know if I could trust anyone, and the last thing I want is to have doubt cast over my view of him.

“He’s a good guy, Reed.” Sage squeezes my leg before standing up. “Remember that. We’ve all got our secrets.”

Someone calls Sage’s name from the front of the shop, and he walks out of the room, leaving me alone in the office.

He wouldn’t let me stay with Mason if he was worried about my safety. But he wouldn’t have mentioned this at all if it was nothing.

A familiar tug forms in my gut. The same one I ignored not too long into dating Carter. Instinct that I always refuse to listen to when I prefer facts. I don’t know what Mason is hiding, but he wants me to find it.

He encouraged me to look into his family, knowing I would.

But now that I realize what he has me searching for, I’m not sure I want to. I’m not ready to lose someone else. Especially him.

17

Reed

Mason’s been at theshop all afternoon, while I’ve been pacing the apartment. My conversation with my brother has me on edge. I opened my laptop and closed it again and again. I’ve talked myself in circles trying to decide if I should search the internet for answers or just ask Mason. Nothing feels like the right thing to do, and now my fingers hover.

Sage told me to talk to Mason, but I need to know what I’m walking into. I need the facts—or, at least, what’s been printed. And then I can do my research. I can ask my questions. I can decide why my brother would keep Mason’s secrets from me and if I should have allowed myself to trust him.

My fingers float over the keys, and I’m staring at the screen. Hovering over the search bar before slowly typing in the nameGabe Prince.

My search floods the screen with articles, and I realize the Prince family is as prominent as the Zane family in Las Vegas. They roam in the same social circles and businesses. And they’re both known for their charitable work around the city.

But even if there’s plenty printed about each family individually, there’s very little that ties Gabe to Sienna.

At first, all I find are the couple of interviews Gabe did after she died. Him reminiscing on time they’d spent together or giving generic answers likehe’ll always miss her.

Digging a little more, there’s a photo or two of them together. They weren’t seen in public often, but the longer I scroll, I realize they must have met through Mason because he’s in most of the photos during a certain time span.

A picture of the two of them fills my screen, and it’s a strange reminder of how a person can look so much like themselves and not at all like the person I know.

In most of the photos, Mason and Gabe are in dress shirts and slacks—the opposite of the jeans, T-shirts, and hoodies I’m used to seeing Mason wearing. And they’re attending events like the ones Carter used to drag me to. Where everyone pretends to know everyone else, but it’s all a show of money and power.

Mason’s smiling in the photos, but he doesn’t truly look happy. At least, not the version of happiness I’m used to seeing. There’s nothing relaxed about his posture and there’s an unsettling, distant look in his eyes.

As I continue to dig, things start to devolve. Mason and Gabe are caught partying more often than not, and the images aren’t as classy and put together as they started.

Somehow, none of this came up when I was researching the Zane family, which is surprising. Until I realize Mason’s name has been removed from most of thearticles and the only reason I’m seeing them now is because I searched Gabe’s name.

There are a few photos of Gabe and Sienna. A few more of Gabe and Mason.