Chapter 10: Chapter 10

Mason

Mason watched her, seeing the fear in her eyes.

She looked at him like he was the devil incarnate, and after what she had just witnessed, he couldn’t really blame her. But Antonio had crossed a line, and Mason didn’t tolerate disrespect—especially not from someone like Antonio. It didn’t matter if Elnora had been a one-night stand or something more; touching her had been a mistake Antonio wouldn’t soon forget.

As her hand gripped her shoulder, Mason’s jaw tightened in annoyance. The memory of her groaning in pain, the one that had pushed him over the edge, lingered in his mind. She was his, and that meant something in his world.

Her back straightened as he moved toward her, and he could see her holding her breath, like she was bracing for whatever might come next. He bit back the grin tugging at his lips. She looked like she might pass out at any moment.

“I came down to get my purse,” she whispered, her voice shaky. “I know you said no contact, but I’d already texted Marcy earlier… I just wanted to check on that.” Her breath hitched as she finished.

“Hm.” Mason nodded, reaching for her shoulder.

Elnora leapt away from him with a startled yelp, slapping her hand over her mouth. Mason groaned, frustrated by her retreat but also by himself for how he had handled the situation. It had been a rough night for her—hell, for both of them—and shooting Antonio in front of her hadn’t exactly helped matters. He scratched his brow, glancing at the black clock in the den. Six hours. That was all it had been, but it felt like a lifetime.

“Breathe, El.”

“Please don’t shoot me,” she pleaded, her voice small and broken.

Mason chuckled, tucking his hands into his pockets. “Why would I do that? That’s bad business. I’ve got to keep you intact if I want that network.”

Against his better judgment, he moved toward her again. This time, she didn’t flinch when he reached out and touched her. Gently, he guided her back to the couch and lifted the collar of his shirt to peek at her shoulder. The bruise marring her delicate skin sent a flash of anger through him, but he forced it down.

She glanced at him, curious, before quickly looking away. A smile tugged at the corners of Mason’s mouth as he watched her.

“Maybe next time don’t go snooping around,” he grumbled, settling next to her on the couch. “You won’t have to worry about running into my associates again. I’ll make sure of that.”

She nodded, still staring straight ahead, lost in her thoughts.

“Where’s your purse?” he asked.

Elnora pointed toward the den, where her clutch sat on the counter. The details of how it got there didn’t interest him; he was more focused on her. Standing, he helped her to her feet.

“Let’s take care of that shoulder,” he said, gesturing for her to follow him. She nodded again, her gaze fixed on the floor, her steps hesitant. “Look at me.”

Elnora took a deep breath, finally raising those big hazel eyes to his. Mason reached out, brushing a strand of hair from her face, his touch lingering longer than it should have. The softness of her skin under his fingertips sent a surge of desire through him, but he pushed it down.

“I won’t hurt you, El. Come on,” he said, his voice softer than he intended.

Mason led her up the stairs and back to the guest room. The silence between them was unsettling, gnawing at him. Elnora wasn’t exactly chatty, but her sharp wit and quirky responses had a way of cutting through the tension. Antonio had ruined that, and it was pissing him off more than he cared to admit.

“Get the shirt off,” he instructed, his tone more gruff than he meant it to be. He stepped into the bathroom to grab a hot towel and a first aid kit, giving her a moment of privacy. When he returned a few minutes later, she had tied the sleeves of his shirt around her chest, the fabric clinging to the delicate curves of her body in a way that made his pulse quicken. The sheer material offered a tantalizing glimpse of her bare skin, and Mason had to clench his jaw to keep himself in check.

He grunted, fighting the overwhelming urge to rip off that shirt and lose himself in her. But now wasn’t the time. Elnora gripped the hem of the shirt as he approached, and his eyes zeroed in on a faint bruise marring her left arm.

“Did he do that too?” Mason asked, his voice low and dangerous.

She didn’t reply, just stared at him with those eyes that spoke volumes of hurt and distrust. Mason rolled up his sleeves, the knots coiling tighter in his gut. He took her arm gently, easing her onto the bed. He pressed the hot towel against her bruised shoulder, feeling her muscles tighten in response. She didn’t make a sound, but he could see the pain on her face.

After the heat had done its work, he reached for a small jar of tiger balm he had found in the bathroom cabinet. The strong scent filled the room as he worked the balm into her bruises with careful precision. Her skin was impossibly smooth, like cream under his hands, and the simple act of touching her was doing things to him he wasn’t prepared for. His fingers traced along her collarbone, dipping into the hollow of her throat. She swallowed hard, her eyes locking onto his with uncertainty and something else—something that sent a shiver down his spine.

Mason froze, cursing himself for getting lost in her again. He was here to take care of her injuries, not indulge in the primal urges clawing at him. But damn it, she was making it hard. Every touch, every breath she took, seemed to pull him deeper into a dangerous place—a place where the lines between business and pleasure blurred far too easily.

He pulled his hand back, forcing himself to focus. This wasn’t the time to lose control. But the more time he spent with her, the harder it was becoming to keep his head straight. Elnora was like a slow-burning fuse, and he could feel the current building within him with every second he was near her.

The warmth of her skin mixed with the sharp scent of the balm as he returned to massaging her shoulder. Her muscles were tight, coiled with stress, and he could feel everything she’d been through. The temptation to rub the balm all over her soft, curvy body gnawed at him, an ache that refused to go away. His hands moved over her smooth skin, each touch deepening his yearning, but he fought to maintain control. Elnora was a bundle of nerves, equally terrified and confused, but her composure was fascinating. It was daunting, even, how she held herself together in all this.

The silence between them stretched out, heavy and loaded. He did his best to focus on the task at hand, pushing his desires into the background where they belonged.

When he finally slipped his hand off her, it was with a reluctant sigh. He returned the towel and other supplies to the bathroom, trying to shake off the lingering heat from his skin. When he rejoined her, Elnora glanced at him briefly before turning her gaze away, that something flickered in her eyes again.

“Thank you,” she murmured with reluctance.

“Look at me,” he said softly, and she did, almost immediately. Her beautiful hazel eyes stared blankly at him, the usual fire behind them gone. “El, I apologize for exposing you to such danger. I failed to protect you, and I’m sorry.”

She eyed him, unconvinced. Her scepticism was clear in the way her brow furrowed. Then, slowly, she exhaled with a small smile, one that didn’t quite reach her eyes.

“Is it so hard for you to believe that I could apologize to—”

“Yes!” she cut him off.

He chuckled, moving to sit beside her. “Be that as it may, forgive me. It will never happen again.” He reached for her hand, holding it gently between his.

His gaze dropped to her lips, and for a moment, he forgot where he was, who he was. Elnora stared back at him, her expression softening. “It doesn’t hurt any more. Everything’s better, thanks to you.” She slipped her hand from his and rose.

Mason watched her duck into the bathroom, and as she disappeared, he glanced at his watch. Duty called—he had associates to deal with, an organization to run. But as much as he tried to focus on that, his mind kept drifting back to her.

“El,” he called out, almost an afterthought as she readjusted the shirt and stepped back into the room.

Their gazes locked, and he found himself wondering why she made him feel like this. There was something about her that unsettled him in ways he couldn’t quite explain.

“Kristine will be here soon,” he said, his tone returning to its usual coolness. “If you need anything, let her know.”

“But I’ll still see you around, right?”

The yearning in her voice caught him off guard. After everything, he hadn’t expected her to want to be around him, especially after what she’d been through with Antonio. Knowing what he was capable of should have sent her running. But there it was, clear as day—she wanted to see him again.

He nodded, his own surprise mirrored in his expression. “If you want.” He shrugged, trying to bait her into revealing her intentions.

“Mason,” she called softly, taking a step closer to him. “I need something from you.”

Not this again. “El, we’ve been through this—”

“No, it’s not that.” Her voice was stronger now, but her eyes dimmed with a sadness that tugged at him in ways he didn’t like. “I accept your offer to help me find out if Marcy is the Priest or has any ties to him. I need to know if she did this.”

Mason studied her, noting the pain in her gaze. It bothered him more than he cared to admit. But he knew Elnora didn’t really need his help—not with this. He already had his soldiers keeping a close watch on Marcy’s condo, waiting for any slip-up. Elnora might be stuck here, but she still had control over this situation. Once Kristina arrived with the laptops, she could work her magic and uncover whatever truths she was looking for.

“Of course,” he said, twirling a strand of her hair around his finger, a gesture that earned him a weak smile. “And I’m sure you’ve got some devious plans for Antonio.”

She hesitated, then her voice turned cold. “Scooping out his one good eye seems appropriate.”

He chuckled at her boldness, a wicked grin spreading across his face. “I didn’t think you were the type to get your hands dirty. Maybe you could make him eat out of your palm as punishment.”

As she licked her lips, drawing his gaze again, Mason’s pulse quickened. Those lips—soft and inviting—tempted him in ways he struggled to control. The hunger he felt was almost primal, an ache that gnawed at his restraint.

“The incident back there wasn’t my intention, Mason,” she continued. “I apologize for the commotion.”

“We do bad things, El. You already know that, and believe me, that was barely a commotion.” He tucked his hands into his pockets, and her eyes followed the movement. “It’s been a long night. You should get some rest.”

Elnora huffed, combing her fingers through her hair in a gesture that was both frustrated and endearing. “You still owe me dinner, Mason—among other things.”

“You don’t give up, do you?” He smiled.

She shrugged with a small smirk. “I might, for a moment. Then I start up again.”

A smirk tugged at the corners of his lips. She was a welcome distraction, no doubt, but a distraction nonetheless. “I need to attend to my business,” he said, turning away from her and heading for the door. “Rest well, belle.”

“Mason,” Elnora called after him. He turned back, a slight smile lingering on his face. “Antonio called you boss earlier. Are you the head of the Castelli family?”

His smile faded, replaced by something colder, sharper. “I’m not in the business of giving answers, especially to questions that don’t concern you,” he replied, his voice a measured drawl as he walked back to her, closing the distance between them in a few swift steps. “Keeping your pretty nose out of this would be best, El.”

She met his gaze without flinching. “You are who you are, Mason, and I’m part of it now, whether I like it or not.”

He leaned in, his eyes narrowing as he held her gaze. “A fraction that shouldn’t concern itself with this,” he said. He lifted a finger, silencing her before she could respond. “That’s the last of this conversation, El. I’ll be seeing you.”

Without another word, Mason turned on his heel and walked out, closing the door behind him with a decisive click. But he didn’t move away immediately. He paused just outside, his hand resting on the door handle as he considered the woman inside.

Elnora was much too smart for her own good.

She was digging, trying to unravel the layers he’d spent years carefully constructing. It wasn’t just dangerous for her—it was dangerous for him. He had to keep her at arm’s length, keep her focused on the task he’d set for her, and nothing more. But he knew the more she pushed, the harder it would become to keep her at bay.

He shook his head, forcing those thoughts aside, and began making his way down the stairs. The game was shifting, the stakes rising. Elnora had stepped into his world, and now, whether she realized it or not, she was playing by his rules. One key rule was to never reveal your true intentions, no matter what.

And in his world, losing wasn’t an option.