by Kells, India
Travis moved to stand in front of her, before crouching down. “Do you want some coffee or hot chocolate?”
Travis had been kind, and she didn’t want to be short with him, but what she really wanted was to be left alone. Cleo nodded instead. “Hot chocolate would be nice thank you.” She moved to get up. “Let me just show you…”
He stopped her with a hand on her arm. “I can find everything, Cleo.”
She sat back and offered him a small smile of thanks. Noticing the hoodie Mason had worn a few days before slung over the sofa, she grabbed it and pulled it over her head. The instant comfort from his scent almost made her cry. Her body huddled deeper into the soft, warm fabric that hung halfway down her legs.
She and Mason had been an instant attraction, but she had fought it, putting up vibes for him to stay away this last year. Even the stabbing that had left him clinging to his life had not woken her. Life was precarious and short, she saw that now.
Somehow though, he had managed to break through the barriers around her heart, cracking the walls she’d built until they had crumbled. She loved him, and there was no denying it. Had Spears taken away the only man she ever loved? Life wouldn’t be so cruel that he would take everything from her. A tear slid down her cheek, and she swiped it away, determined not to give up on Mason. He was skilled and intelligent, and he would make it out of whatever hell Spears had him in.
Cleo looked up as Travis came to stand in front of her. Taking the hot chocolate from him she allowed the warmth to spread through her.
“He’ll be okay, Cleo. You have to believe that wherever he is, he’s safe and unharmed.”
Cleo sipped the warm sweet drink before looking at Travis. “I know I have to think that, but it’s easy to let your mind go to the bad first.”
“I know it is. But Mason is a good man, the best in fact. You have to believe that things will work how they are meant to.”
Cleo stayed silent processing that, too tired to speak but not wanting to sleep in case something happened. Her cell rang in her bag, and she rushed to grab it, her hands shaking as she looked at the unknown caller. “Mason!” she exclaimed.
“Cleo, honey, is that you?” She immediately recognized her grandmother’s strong yet feminine voice.
“Nana.” Tears filled her eyes at hearing her grandmother’s voice.
“Yes, dear. Are you okay? They said Spears had caught up with you?”
“Yes, he did. He said he had you and I fell for it.” Her sob caught in her throat as she realized it was all her fault for being so stupid.
“Oh, my sweet girl. You have such a big heart. They say he has your young man?”
Cleo took a breath to steady her voice. “Yes. Mason came to rescue me with his team and then he disappeared.”
“Well, having met these people, I have no doubt he’ll be back with you in no time, and then I want to meet the man who has my beautiful granddaughter so enamored.”
Cleo smiled at the old fashioned statement but didn’t deny it. “You’ll love him, Nana. He is just so...” She stopped not having the words.
“I know, sweetie. I felt the same way about your grandfather, god rest his soul. Now it’s very late, and I’m old. I’ll call you tomorrow when this handsome young man you sent wakes me with breakfast in bed.”
Cleo said goodnight with a smile on her face thinking of the fun her grandmother was having with Wolf.
“Is she safe?” Travis was watching her from the doorway, and she noticed he was wearing Mason’s jumper, the one with the zip on the neck. For some reason, it bothered her that he had been in and helped himself to Mason’s clothes. “Cleo?”
She shook herself. “Yes, she’s flirting with Wolf, so I assume she’s fine.” She stood, wanting to be alone. “I think I might go to bed. Do you need anything? Blanket, pillow?”
“Na, I can grab a throw from the spare room.”
Cleo tilted her head. “Okay, will you please wake me if you hear anything at all?”
“Yes, of course, I will.” He moved forward and hugged her tightly, and she took some comfort in that. Travis was a good man and would make some woman very happy one day.
“Thanks, Travis. I don’t know what I would have done without you.”
“There is no place I’d rather be than here with you.” A shiver fell down her spine at those words.
An hour later, Cleo heard the front door close and heaved a sigh of relief. She hoped Travis had decided she was OK on her own and had gone back to his place for the night. It wasn’t that she didn’t like Travis, he was just a little full-on—watching her every move, asking if she was okay every five seconds, or if she wanted to drink or eat. She looked at the hot chocolate sitting on her bedside table. A couple of sips couldn’t hurt. He meant well, but she wanted some peace to think about everything that had happened in the last few hours. And even maybe catch some sleep. Perhaps it would help clear her mind, see a detail that may help find Mason.
Chapter Nineteen
Mason groaned as he emerged from the darkness. It was the whooshing sound inside his skull that finally woke his brain cells. The tremendous effort it required to open his eyes made his head pound, but the pain pushed at the fog, clearing his thoughts.
The corrugated metal walls all around him and on the ceiling looked filthy, and the metal desk in the corner made him think of an abandoned office. There were no windows, only a door with a neon light above his head. Still woozy, he tried to move, and realized he was tied to a metal chair.
Where am I? What happened? Squeezing his eyes hard, he mentally kicked his mind until images rose, and the most disturbing of them all, Cleo. Bits and pieces started to come back until everything made sense, apart from the reason why he was bound to a chair.
The gravity of the situation made his adrenaline surge, finally clearing the dross from his mind. Testing his bonds, he found it futile, so he started analyzing his surroundings.
Whoever captured him had planned well. The metal-covered walls didn’t show any glaring weaknesses or openings as every inch had been riveted. Even the light above his head was bolted tight. The floor was not an option as it was smooth concrete.
Had Spears organized all this? And if he had, why kidnap him? And even worse, had he got Cleo too?
In one desperate attempt fueled with thoughts of Cleo unprotected and scared at the hands of that monster, Mason poured all of his brute force against the tape and rope, hoping for a miracle that would never come.
As he was considering shuffling to the wall and hoping that he could find a kink in the metal sharp enough to cut his ties, he heard a garage door open and close from beyond the walls. There wasn’t anything he could do but wait. He just hoped that Spears was alone, as it would give Mason an advantage. Maybe he could trick him into untying him. He only needed one free hand to take that psycho down. If he had been taken, it meant that Spears had some sort of plan. Maybe his friends got Cleo to safety. That single thought made him relax a little.
If Spears had Cleo, he would have killed him immediately and not bothered with him. That small hope sparked his determination. He knew every single person in the agency would never allow Cleo to trade herself for him, and they would lock her up for her own safety if need be. However, if the worst scenario had happened, he would do what it took to ensure Cleo survived.
Distant noises reverberated inside the space, although he didn’t know what they were. Bracing himself, Mason ignored his headache to solely focus on the target about to open the door. This was a life and death situation, his and most assuredly Cleo’s. He needed a way to turn the tables and subdue Spears, or better yet, kill him. Then he could save Cleo and get her safely away.
He heard footsteps, and when the door was finally unlocked and pushed open, Mason thought for a second he was still unconscious and in the throes of a nightmare when he saw the man entering.
Travis walked inside and closed the door behind him. “Glad you’re finally awake. How’s the head, my friend?�
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Mason had trouble processing what was going on. His mind blanked and he couldn’t think. All he could do was watch his friend walk in, a look of concern on his face, without being able to utter a single syllable.
Travis came closer and touched his head where Mason had received that blow. “You have a hard skull, that’s for sure.”
The sting brought him back into the moment, even though he wasn’t sure if everything was real. That probably meant that the team knew where he had been taken and had found him. “Travis, quick. Untie me before Spears arrives.”
Despite the urgency in his tone, Travis only walked toward him and crouched. “You’re safe. Spears is nowhere near this place. But before I untie you, we need to talk.”
Mason opened his mouth before closing it again. “Talk? What about? What’s going on, Travis? Free me now!”
Travis looked pained as he shook his head. “I’m sorry, I can’t do that, not until we talk.” Once more, Mason pulled on his bonds to no avail, and Travis sighed. “Man, I know it’s uncomfortable, but they are necessary.”
Mason glanced around again, trying to make sense of the situation. “I don’t understand what’s going on, Travis.”
“Of course you don’t, and that’s why that entire situation went south so quickly. Damn man! If you’d seen the signs, but instead, you just went in another direction, bringing fucking psychos into the mix.”
Never before had he seen Travis in such pain and conflict as he paced the small office like a caged lion. On the other hand, Mason’s entire world seemed to be crumbling apart and he didn’t know why. Why was he talking about psychos? It took everything in him to focus on what Travis was saying when all he wanted to do was get free and run to Cleo. “Travis. What are you talking about? What do you want me to see?”
His blond friend turned to him, and there was hurt in his blue eyes. “Me! I want you to see me! Don’t you understand?”
Mason felt like he was caught in a dream as he tried to grasp what his friend was saying. “I see you, Travis. You’ve been my friend since the Secret Service.”
“You’ve been much more than a friend, Mason. You’ve been a lifesaver, and I don’t think you’ve seen or understand how much. I never told you, but I had just suffered the worst breakup of my life just before we met. One that pushed me to contemplate suicide.”
Mason stayed silent, his attention on Travis. “I didn’t know. Only that your parents died a couple of months after we started working together. You were a mess.”
Travis nodded, lost in his thoughts. “Yes. It was hell.” And then his eyes lightened a bit when he looked back at Mason. “But again, you offered me your full, unconditional support. I’ve rarely had that in my life. My parents wanted me to be a lawyer and resented me for entering my line of work, but you knew that. Through all those years, you were the only one who never judged me, stood beside me, defended me. I’ve never had that sort of support in my entire life.”
Mason nodded, although he sensed an unusual restlessness in Travis. In any other situation, he wouldn’t have worried, but being bound and vulnerable, it was another matter. “Travis, untie me.” Mason tried to keep his voice as low and calm as possible, but Travis seemed to be on a roll and ignored him.
He raked his hand through his blond hair before crouching in front of him once more, his hand on his shoulder. ”You were a godsend. The only person who stood by my side. You are a good man, Mason. An amazing friend.”
Waiting for a chance to convince Travis to free him without antagonizing him, Mason remained silent. Travis’ smile turned unsteady, his eyes filling when he cupped his jaw and leaned closer. “I know you told me over and over that it was the way you were, and I see that. The innate goodness and strength in you. Do you see yourself as I do?”
When Travis kissed him, Mason was too stunned to react. His brain analyzed the scene like it was an out of body experience. It was a sweet kiss, but the most surreal one of his life.
When Travis broke the connection and leaned back, a tear slid down his cheek. “I know the Secret Service wasn’t enough for you. You have the soul of a hero. Of course, you would have found a way to continue helping in your own way. But even though I understood your reasons, I wasn’t ready to see you go. I needed you, I still do.” After a brief moment, he locked gazes with him. “I love you, Mason. That’s why I came back here. The mission was a cover. I’ve been here for months, following you, observing you, making you were okay, gathering the courage to finally say those words to you. I love you.”
All the air left Mason as he looked at the man before him. It wasn’t the declaration of love that threw him, but the entire situation. One of the people he trusted the most on earth couldn’t be saying that to him. Time froze for a moment before Mason could form words. “Travis, man. You know I love Cleo.”
The way his friend’s face twisted into a grimace of pain and anger didn’t bode well. Mason thought he would lose it, but instead, Travis shook his head and pushed away from the chair.
“You can’t believe that. How can you fall for a woman after a few months? And one with a sketchy past that exploded in your face as soon as you decided to protect her. You’re risking your ass for someone who’s not worth it.”
“You know nothing about her!” Mason knew he should remain calm and in control, but he was edging quickly toward losing it.
Travis returned to him, leaning with his hands on his thighs, calm slightly returning to his demeanor. “You are blinded.”
“Travis…”
“No! I won’t let you lose your life with someone who brings trouble to your door. Not if I can’t help it. You are the only person in my life that matters. I didn’t have a say in what happened to the others but I will not fail you. I will protect you even if it’s against yourself.”
The way he said the words made Mason tense and he pulled at his bonds to the point he expected his skin to start peeling off.
“You know you can’t get free from these. You remember basic training don’t you? It seems it will take you more time to see the light, but I expected that.”
Standing, Travis heaved a heavy sigh. “While I leave you to think, I’m going to start righting the situation. Once I deal with that violet-haired secretary of yours, it will be a positive step forward. I should have done it that night. Ending her would have resolved this whole situation. I thought that scaring the little runaway would be enough for her to bolt from Miami, but I was wrong. I should have followed my instincts.”
Now, Mason couldn’t breathe as he realized that from the beginning, his target had been the wrong one. “It was you all along? The stalker? The snakes?”
Travis smiled. “They were a nice touch, although finding snakes from Arizona was a challenge.”
“You poisoned a service dog, for fuck’s sake! How did you find heart medication?”
Immediately, Travis sobered. “That wasn’t my intention, man. It was something I found that speeds up the heart. I wanted to make her think she’d had a panic attack. An increased heartbeat is an undeniable symptom. I wanted to make the situation untenable for her to the point where her only logical option was to leave.”
“You could have damaged her heart!”
And Mason saw it on his face, that gleam of madness he had never noticed before in his friend, and it was frighteningly clear.
“As I didn’t succeed and I intend to put an end to this charade, your point is moot.”
“This is not a charade. This is not a joke! She loves me.”
A dark cloud thundered over his face. Travis came so close and his body was so tense, Mason thought he would punch him. “I’m the one who loves you, who laid my life on the line countless times to protect yours, who would die for you! And I know you feel the same. You just have to realize it. I need to remove your blinders.”
Travis’ body shook and he seemed to get a hold of himself before a grim look crossed his face. Mason knew Cleo’s life was on the line. Full-scale panic settled
inside him, the chair rattling hard under him. Travis ignored him and as he went to the door, giving him a forlorn look as if he was trying to convey how sorry he was before leaving him.
As the door closed, Mason’s pain and desperation dissolved into a primal scream that filled the empty room as he felt his heart slowly dying inside his chest.
Chapter Twenty
As soon as she woke her mind went to Mason, and tears welled in her eyes. She hadn’t heard from the team, and seeing no messages on her phone, she glanced at the clock before calling Emme. It was still early. She hadn’t slept for long, but she knew the team would already be in the office and looking for Mason. The phone rang on the other end as she waited for someone to pick up. What she wanted was to go into work and keep busy.
“Hey, Cleo.” Emme sounded fresh-faced and wide awake despite it being six in the morning.
Cleo sat up in bed and swung her legs over the side, swaying as a wave of nausea hit her. “Hey, Emme, any news?”
“Nothing yet, sweetie but we’re looking into a few things.”
Cleo heard the pause in her voice and felt her body go alert. “Tell me.”
“Some of the avenues we’re exploring suggest that Spears may not have taken Mason.”
Cleo’s brain whirred as she tried to make sense of what Emme was saying. “My stalker? But that makes no sense.”
“No, but it is something we need to consider.”
“I need to come into the office. Can someone come get me?” Emme was silent, and she knew her friend was considering if it was wise. “Please, Emme, if this were Shane you’d want to help.”
A sigh came over the line, and she knew she had her. “Fine, I’ll have Nick swing by and get you.”
“Thanks, Emme.”
Cleo hung up and stood, and struggled to keep standing as she was hit with a bout of dizziness. She should be feeling better by now, but if anything, she felt worse. It must be the worry making her feel ill as she hadn’t eaten for hours, except for the hot chocolate Travis had given her.
