swallow, but Trix is strong. She of all people knows what it’s like to be backed into a corner and forced to do things we’re not proud of for our family.
No, fuck this. We said no good-byes.
I need to see her. My legs carry me three steps before I realize I have no idea where Angel lives or the slightest clue how to get in touch with Santos. That means I sit on my ass until the morning and start hitting up her house and Zeus’s until I find her and force her to give me some answers.
“Why now?” Jessica’s voice comes from the stairs that lead down from my bedroom. “It’s the middle of the night.”
“Business is taken care of, why not leave now?” Drake has her bag slung over his shoulder and his keys in hand. “You can sleep in the car, okay?”
I eye my brother. “You’re leaving?”
He only nods.
“You don’t have to leave now. Get some sleep and take off when you’re rested, man.”
“Can’t sleep.” He heads to the front door. “Driving will be good for me.”
Still dressed in her pajamas, Jess turns toward me with a sleepy smile. “Thanks for letting us stay, Mase.” She waves, and Drake opens the door for her then guides her out by the small of her back.
“Drake, you sure you’re okay?”
For the first time tonight, he looks at me, but there’s no emotion in his expression. “Did I ever tell you how I got this scar on my face?”
“Yeah, you got in a fight.”
He shakes his head. “Not exactly. I was cut in. Cut in to Eli’s crew.”
I cringe, wondering how bad that must’ve been to leave that deep of a scar.
“These guys aren’t fuckin’ around, bro. Believe me.”
“I do, but I’m not going to let them take down my family. Not if there’s something I can do to protect it.”
His chin drops to his chest, and he mumbles something that sounds like “that’s what I did.” He turns his back on me, but freezes in the doorway. “Mason, just know that . . . I’m sorry.”
“Don’t be.” I squeeze his shoulder. “We’ll figure this out. You just focus on getting your girl and your baby home safe, yeah?”
He nods and slinks away, leaving me standing in my doorway, wondering what in the fuck my next move should be.
Thirty-four
Mason
The next morning I’m racing to the Youth Center. It didn’t hit me until last night after staring at my ceiling fan for two hours that today is Sunday. I called Blake, whose turn it is to run the MMA class, and it didn’t take much convincing to get him to give me his shift.
My tires squeal as I pull into a parking spot, scanning the lot for Trix’s car. I don’t see it, but maybe she parked out back. I jog to the door and Sylvia jumps when I rush in.
Her hand flies to her chest. “Take it easy on an old lady. You scared the heck outta me.”
“Sorry. I’m sorry. I’m here from—”
“Yes, I remember. Mr. Mason, right?”
I nod and run a hand through my hair, anxious to get back into the gym and find Trix, put my hands and lips on her to know she’s okay.
Sylvia pulls out her clipboard and slides on her glasses. “Hmm, okay, let’s see here . . .”
I practice my deep breathing and wait until she gets her fucking shit together.
She peeks up at me from over her glasses. “You remember where to go, right?”
“Yes, I do.” I point back down the hallway that leads to the gym, but my feet are already moving.
“Your nametag!” She waves, but I’m halfway there. “That boy’s in a hurry.”
She has no idea.
Once in the gym, my eyes search out the huddle of dancing girls for the flash of platinum and purple, but come up empty. Maybe she’s not here yet? I walk around, scouring the place from the mats to the tops of the bleachers and everything in between.
Still nothing.
Last night was probably rough on her. Maybe she slept in? I head over to the kickboxing area and drop to the mats, keeping alert. I don’t know how much time passes, but a small group of kids slowly makes its way over. I greet them without taking my eyes off the gym at large when there’s a tug on my shirt.
I peer down and find Denny, whose mouth is turned into a frown. “Mr. Mason?”
I kneel to his eye level and hold out my fist for a