Page 55 of The Eleventh Hour

“I’ve already got them.”

I stand up and hand the bowl to Dane, who takes it and disappears. I cuddle the kid close as he drifts to sleep.

I watch as Dane comes in and starts wiping down surfaces. I almost tell him there’s no point, but it will buy me time, so I bite my tongue.

If I let myself think about what I think has happened, I’m going to fall apart, and I can’t right now. I owe it to Cherise to protect her son. Oh, god, the weight of the guilt presses in on me and makes the world wobble. I shore up my defenses and force myself to move, one step after another, until I reach the car. I climb into the back, and Dane reaches around and carefully does my seatbelt up.

I look up and meet his eyes. “Thank you.”

He nods and withdraws, closing the door softly behind him.

“The Harmon Estate,” I say softly, ignoring Rafe’s sound of surprise.

I lean my head back, but I don’t have much time. There is a clock inside my mind, a timer counting down before shit hits the fan. We pull up outside the mansion, and I look up at the lights with trepidation.

Dane opens the door, and I gently hand Zair to him.

“Thanks.”

I walk up the steps with the two guys flanking me. The door opens, and I step into the light. Mason eyes the guys and closes the door before muttering into a mic piece on his collar. He turns to me and pulls me into a hug.

I stand there stiffly and pat his back. “Hi, Mason.”

“Hi, gorgeous.”

I scowl at the wall and pull back. “Is Eddie in? I need to see him urgently.”

Mason pouts, and I have to resist the urge to roll my eyes.

“Who is this?” Mason asks, his voice hard, and is that jealousy?

“These are my colleagues, Dane and Rafael. You met them. I know you remember them, Mase. They’re just friends.” Why am I explaining myself?

Mason glides over to them and shakes their hands. I can see the strain in the way he takes Rafael’s hand. When he tries for Dane, I let out an indistinct sound of anger.

“And that,” I say pointedly, “is Zair.”

Mason backs off, but there are lights of war in Dane and Mason’s eyes that tell me whatever pissing contest just started hasn’t finished yet.

“Fucking men,” I spit and stomp through the mansion. The white, polished marble floors give way to the deep, thick, powder blue carpets of the family wing. I go straight to the door with no adornments and tap three times. I wait until I hear a sound from inside and open the door.

Eddie looks up and smiles, but there’s a man opposite the enormous desk, who turns around, scowls, and opens his mouth to ask me to leave. I recognise him as Andy’s fiancé, whom I met briefly at the party. When he looks at people, especially me, he sneers, his lip curls. You’d think he was a prince or some duke of some far off kingdom with all his haughty derision. His shirt is too big on his frame, revealing weak shoulders, and he has pock marks on his cheeks. Still, with his hair gelled back, if he didn’t have that sneer, he wouldn’t be that bad. Unfortunately, Phil is an ugly man on the inside and that fairly glows out of him.

“I wouldn’t if I were you. On the ladder, you rank lower,” I say under my breath and just for him before I slide past him and hug my dad.

“We can do this another time, Phil.” Dad waves him out of the room, and then closes the door on all four males waiting on the other side.

His arms surround me in a moment, warm and safe. I can smell the cigars and expensive whiskey he’s been drinking.

“I missed you.”

“I always miss you,” I reply back with a tight throat.

“But this isn’t a social visit?”

I shake my head slowly and look away. Is there ever going to be a time I can live my life without feeling this damn guilt?

I get up and open the door and gesture for Dane and Rafael to come in. Mason works his way in as well, and I shrug. The man is trusted family. In my dad’s sanctum, there are floor-to-ceiling bookshelves, four leather chairs by a fireplace, and a huge desk, with a window that frames my father when he sits there. The carpet is burgundy, and there are photos everywhere. This place is the heart of my father. Strong, soft, warm, and powerful.