Then another.
Mason moved instantly.
He pulled Maya behind him.
His security team appeared from nowhere.
Someone shouted.
Then the lights returned.
The room fell silent.
A glass had shattered near the entrance.
A man lay on the floor.
Not injured.
Just unconscious.
Mason looked toward the doors.
“Lock the building.”
His security team moved.
Maya stared at him.
“What happened?”
Mason didn't answer.
Instead, he looked at her.
“Are you hurt?”
“No.”
“Good.”
“Mason.”
“I'll explain.”
“No. Now.”
He took a breath.
“You deserve the truth.”
They moved into a private room.
Mason closed the door.
“My business isn't entirely what you think.”
“I figured that out.”
“I own legitimate companies.”
“I know.”
“I also inherited something else.”
“What?”
“An organization.”
Maya's heart began pounding.
“What kind of organization?”
Mason looked directly at her.
“Criminal.”
Silence.
Maya stared at him.
“You're kidding.”
“No.”
“You're actually a—”
“Mafia boss.”
The words seemed absurd in the quiet room.
Maya laughed nervously.
“You're serious.”
“Yes.”
She walked away.
“Maya.”
“Don't.”
“I didn't intend to involve you.”
“You already did.”
“I know.”
“You could have told me.”
“You would have left.”
“Maybe!”
He nodded.
“You're right.”
Maya turned toward him.
“You don't get to decide what I can handle.”
“I know.”
“You don't get to protect me by lying.”
“I know.”
She stared at him.
For once, Mason looked uncertain.
Not afraid.
Uncertain.
“What happened to your family?” she asked.
“My father ran the organization.”
“And?”
“He was killed.”
“How?”
“By people he trusted.”
Maya's anger softened slightly.
Mason continued.
“I took control because otherwise the organization would have been destroyed. I spent years restructuring it. Most of what we do now is legitimate. The criminal side is smaller than it used to be.”
“But it still exists.”
“Yes.”
“And you?”
“I control it.”
Maya closed her eyes.
This was insane.
She had wanted a boyfriend for one day.
Instead, she'd found a billionaire mafia boss.
Then she remembered the way he'd held her hand in the darkness.
The way he'd immediately asked whether she was hurt.
The way he'd told his men no one would touch her.
She looked at him.
“Why me?”
Mason didn't hesitate.
“Because you were the first person in years who spoke to me without wanting something.”
Maya's eyes softened.
“That can't be the only reason.”
“No.”
“What else?”
He stepped closer.
“I like you.”
Her heart beat faster.
“You barely know me.”
“I know enough.”
“You're dangerous.”
“Yes.”
“You scare me.”
“I know.”
“You lied to me.”
“Yes.”
She stared at him.
“And somehow I still don't want you to leave.”
Mason went completely still.
“Maya.”
She whispered.
“I don't understand you.”
“Neither do I.”
For the first time, they both laughed.
Quietly.
Nervously.
Then Mason's phone rang.
He answered.
His face changed.
“What?”
Pause.
“Where?”
His eyes moved toward Maya.
“The parking garage?”
Another pause.
“Don't touch him.”
He hung up.
“What happened?”
Mason looked at her.
“Victor wasn't alone.”
The Price of Being Close
The truth changed everything.
Maya couldn't pretend anymore.
She couldn't pretend Mason was simply her boyfriend.
She couldn't pretend the strange men outside the hotel were ordinary security guards.
And she definitely couldn't pretend that the people watching her were interested in anything except getting to him.
Yet she stayed.
Maybe because she was stubborn.
Maybe because she was frightened.
Or maybe because, somewhere between the espresso machine and the wedding reception, Mason Reed had stopped being a stranger.
The next morning, Maya woke to a knock.
Her mother entered.
“Maya?”
“Yes?”
“Can we talk?”
Maya sat up.
Her mother closed the door.
“I know.”
Maya froze.
“Know what?”
“About Mason.”
“What about him?”
Her mother sat down.
“I know he's dangerous.”
Maya stared.
“How?”
“Your aunt's husband used to work in Seattle shipping.”
“What does that have to do with Mason?”
“Everything.”
Her mother lowered her voice.
“There are stories about him.”
“What stories?”
“That men who cross him disappear.”
Maya swallowed.
“I don't know what's true.”
“Neither do I.”
Her mother reached for her hand.
“But I know one thing.”
“What?”
“He looks at you differently.”
Maya looked away.
“I don't know what this is.”
Her mother smiled sadly.
“Neither did I when I met your father.”
The door opened.
Mason stood outside.
“I apologize.”
Maya's mother looked at him.
“You have five minutes.”
Mason nodded.
Her mother left.
Maya stared at him.
“You heard?”
“Yes.”
“What happened?”
“Victor has left Seattle.”
“That's good.”
“No.”
Maya frowned.
“Why not?”
“Because he didn't leave alone.”
“Who went with him?”
“Your cousin Evan.”
Maya stood.
“What?”
Mason nodded.
“Evan has been communicating with Victor.”
“No.”
“I checked.”
“Why would he?”
“Money.”
Maya felt sick.
She thought of Evan's questions.
His suspicion.
His interest in Mason's wealth.
“Oh, my God.”
Mason stepped closer.
“He's in danger.”
“Because of Victor?”
“Because Victor believes Evan knows something.”
“Can we save him?”
“Yes.”
“Then let's go.”
Mason looked at her.
“You don't have to.”
“He's family.”
Mason nodded.
“Then stay behind me.”
They drove to an abandoned warehouse near the harbor.
Maya sat in the back seat between two security officers.
Mason sat in front.
He had changed.
The warm man from the wedding was gone.
This Mason was cold.
Focused.
Every movement precise.