Finally Us (Next Generation #5) - J.M. Walker Page 0,103
picking up a dinner roll off a plate, and began breaking off pieces. He popped one into his mouth before looking at me. “Did you know that we had a pact that we wouldn’t let a woman come between us?”
“Looks like you broke that pact,” I mumbled.
Mason’s grin grew. “I guess I did.” He leaned over Tenise, cupping her cheek and placing a hard peck on her mouth. “But honestly, it’s been worth it.”
She giggled.
“I thought you were with Rory,” I said. “And I thought you wanted Vince.”
“I was with Rory, but he was only a ruse to get me closer to Vince and yes, I wanted Vince. Still do.”
“And you’re fine with this?” I asked Mason.
He shrugged. “As long as I get her, I don’t give a shit.”
Tenise sat forward. “I want them both. I want them all.”
“Vince will never go for that. He doesn’t share,” I told her, still unable to believe what I was hearing.
A dark shadow passed over Tenise’s face. “You see, that’s where you’re wrong. Vince will want me when he has nothing left. When you die, he’ll be all alone and I’ll be there to pick up the pieces.”
“Why?” None of this made sense. “What’s in this for you?”
“Something was taken from me. Because of his family, I lost everything. I tried getting through to his sister, but her boyfriend is too damn protective.” Tenise looked up at Mason. “You should have broken into their home like I suggested.”
“I tried.” Mason huffed. “But they were always together. I couldn’t get Luna alone.”
Tenise scowled. “No matter. This is actually better.”
“I don’t understand what’s going on. Why are you doing this?” I wanted answers but at the same time, I feared what they would be and how this would play out.
“Vince’s parents took something from me and now I’m going to take something from them.” Tenise lifted her arm. “Oh look at the time, Vince should be home soon.”
I swallowed hard when I realized that she wasn’t actually wearing a watch. She was unstable. “What did his parents do?” I needed to keep her talking, hoping that Vince would come home soon before she did anything else.
Tenise’s brows narrowed in the center. “They took my father from me.”
My stomach sunk. Shit. “How?” I was vaguely aware of Mason pulling up a chair.
“My father was Vince’s Uncle,” Tenise said, waiting. For what I wasn’t sure but when she didn’t get the reaction she wanted from me, she continued. “His mother had him killed. I was just a baby but because I never got to know him, my life was hell.”
“So, now you’re avenging him?” I asked, trying to process the information she was giving me. “That would make you and Vince cousins.”
“No.” She shook her head. “My father and Vince’s mom weren’t blood related. Her family took mine. Her father had my grandparents killed and raised my father as his own. He was supposed to be heir to everything, but Vince’s bitch of a mother was a greedy whore and took that from him.”
“Why are you in on this?” I asked Mason.
“Because I’m in love with Tenise,” he said like I should have known. Like it was the most obvious answer.
“Now what?” I whispered, wishing I could go back in time. Wishing that none of this had happened. Wishing that Vince and I had moved and not told anyone. But with the way things were going, Tenise and Mason probably would have found us no matter where we were. This was going to destroy both him and Rory. Just when you thought you truly knew someone and find out they are not as they seem. My heart ached for Vince. For both of them.
A knowing look passed between Mason and Tenise.
“I want to know why you took Vince from me.” Tenise placed her hand on the gun. “I want to know why you messed everything up.”
“I didn’t know he was yours. You were with Rory.” I took a chance and glanced at Mason. His face was impassive, almost like he was waiting for Tenise’s next instructions.
She scoffed, waving her hand in front of her face. “Please. Rory was just a reason for me to get closer to Vince. That’s the only reason I stayed with him. It was all a ruse anyway. I never loved Rory.”
“You want Rory and Mason? As well as Vince?” I asked, looking between them both.
“I haven’t decided yet.” She looked up at Mason. “What do you think?”