Mason (Carter Brothers #2) - Lisa Helen Gray Page 0,86

past her, son. She’s been sending me crazy messages all day,’’ he tells us and gets his phone out to show the police.

“What about the break-in? Could the two be connected? That was about my case,’’ Harlow whispers, but loud enough for the one officer to hear.

“I’m sorry. What break-in?’’ he asks looking between us.

“Denny, she stayed at her brothers before we moved in here together. One night there was a break-in. Nothing was stolen, but a picture was shoved under her locked bedroom door. The picture showed one of the witnesses to the Davis trial, dead.’’

“Oh, yes, I’ve been informed of the case. So Denny is another witness?’’

That’s what I fucking said asshole. “Yes.’’

“I’ll call this in. If it’s the same person that has Miss. Gittens, then we will need a bigger team.’’

“You should have everyone searching for her anyway,’’ I sneer, standing up.

“Don’t do something stupid, son. I don’t want to have to arrest you, but I will if you push me.’’

I nod my head sharply, barely registering anything they’re saying to each other over the radio. Walking into the kitchen I grab a bottle of vodka and pour myself a decent amount.

“Don’t take that too far boy. She’s going to need your head straight,’’ My Granddad’s voice cuts in and I slam the glass back down after downing the glass. I run my fingers through my hair before frustratingly pulling at the ends.

I need her.

I need her here so goddamn much it’s slowly killing me from the inside out.

“Granddad, I can’t do this. I can’t lose the only good thing I’ve ever had walk into my life. I spent so long pining after her, thinking she’d never see past a good time, or the real me, but she did. Then I went and let my fears consume me and I fucked everything up. I just got her back,’’ I choke out, the tears falling as another sob tears from my throat.

Granddad walks up to me, pulling me into his beefy arms and slapping my back.

“She’s going to be okay,’’ he assures, his voice choked up just as mine is.

I feel like this is karma. Karma for letting such light into my dark soul, but I’m selfish enough to never let her leave again.

I need to find her.

I need to get her back, where she belongs.

Chapter Seventeen

DENNY

Waking up, I groggily try to roll over, but something pinching my wrists stops me from moving.

If Mason is trying to do something kinky I’m going to fucking throttle him. My bladder is bursting to be relieved and I’m freezing, no doubt Mason is also hogging the blanket.

“Mason, I’m freezing,’’ then cough when I smell the most rancid smell I’ve ever smelled. I can’t even begin to describe just how bad it is. It’s burning my nose and when I open my eyes I startle awake. I’m not in my bed, at home with Mason, in my nice clean, warm house. No. Instead I’m in a dingy, black, burnt out basement, with rain water puddles in various little holes around the room. I sit up blinking, noticing my hand is attached to a long metal chain that is attached to a concrete wall.

“Help,’’ I croak out, suddenly remembering what happened. Images of flashbacks skitter through my mind and I struggle to make sense of some, until they start flashing in order.

Mom and Carl, Davis’s brother were there, he had a knife and went to attack me. I tried to run, but didn’t get far when he put an awful smelling rag across my face. No wonder my brain is all foggy and confused.

“No one is going to help you,’’ a cruel voice whispers and my head shoots to the left, the movement making me nauseous. My hands run over my belly, making sure nothing is wrong, that they didn’t hurt my baby when I was knocked out, but everything seems fine. I mean, I would bleed if something was wrong, wouldn’t I?

“Mom, please, mom, let me go. I promise I won’t tell anyone¸ just please let me go. I’m having a baby, your grandchild,’’ I beg, tears falling rapidly down my face, now just realising how dangerous of a situation I’m in.

If only you didn’t run out on Mason, my mind screams at me and I want to scream back ‘fuck you’ but keeping quiet wins out.

“Grandchild?’’ she laughs and I want to puke. How can this woman be my mother? I’d never treat my kids like this, let alone put them