Chapter 18: Chapter 18

The ride to the safe house was quiet, broken only by the soft hum of the engine. Mason’s thoughts churned with relief and irritation—relief that El had pieced things together before they escalated, and irritation that she’d had a cellphone on her. Who had she contacted?

He turned from the dark scenery outside the window to find her drying off the phone she’d grabbed on their way out. There was something oddly captivating about watching her work with her gadgets, her fingers moving with practiced ease. After she laid the dried components between them, she pulled out her own phone. When her eyes met his, it was as if she could read his mind.

“I didn’t swipe the phone from Kristine to spite you or call anyone, Mason. I just needed an alternative way to test my code,” she explained.

He didn’t respond. Right now, his focus was on the priest and whatever game he was playing. Mason needed confirmation from Giorgio that they had him secured. He’d been too passive with Octavia’s schemes; it was time to go on the offensive.

“Would you like me to build a vetting system for your collective?” Elnora’s question cut through his thoughts.

Mason frowned, studying her. Was she genuinely trying to help him, or was this another one of her moves? Despite the way he’d treated her—hot one moment, cold the next—she didn’t seem to hate him. If anything, she seemed to be finding more reasons to stay, even though he knew she had the brilliance to slip away if she wanted to. Why didn’t she just do what she needed and leave? Sometimes it felt like she was daring him to catch her.

Something in her tone snagged Mason’s attention. El had pointedly referred to it as “your” collective. She knew—she had to know by now—that he was the godfather of the Berkton Mafia Collective and the Don of the Castelli Family. If she hadn’t figured that out after living under his roof for over a week, he’d have been disappointed.

El was brilliant, far too sharp to miss the signs, even if she tried to downplay it. Her mind was a weapon, always working behind those guarded hazel eyes. Mason had sensed it from the beginning, the way she absorbed everything around her, dissecting and analysing until she saw the truth. It was a quality he admired, even if it complicated things between them.

“Or you could just tell me what you want. I built Octavia’s firewall encryption; I can get you in,” she continued, her voice almost a murmur as she focused on her phone.

Mason’s jaw tightened. If Octavia had sent the priest and Burrell into the Underground, then she might already know he had Elnora. The thought of putting a target on El because of his own ambitions gnawed at him. He was beginning to suspect that her connection with Octavia was more than just professional. And as he watched her now, he realized that whatever he’d uncovered in her background search was likely just the surface—only what she wanted him to see. This woman, who had so easily captivated him, remained an enigma. He paused, recalling that the priest had already been after her before he placed his bid.

“Did you recognize him?” Mason asked, unbuttoning his jacket and turning to face her fully.

Elnora’s attention dropped to her phone, her fingers tapping away on the screen. Mason glanced out the tinted window, a twinge of regret tightening his chest. He didn’t want to leave her with Gia, but it was the only way to keep her safe until things settled. He would find out everything he needed about tonight’s events—and then, he’d come back for her.

“El, you have to—”

“I’ll get you his name and everything you need,” she cut him off. “I just need a minute. And whoever the priest is, I’ve never seen him before.” Her head jerked up suddenly, a flash of realization crossing her face.

“What is it?” Mason asked, leaning in, his curiosity piqued by the sudden shift in her expression. Whatever she had figured out, he needed to know.

“What did you find out about Marcy?” she asked, her brows furrowed in a deep frown.

Mason’s eyes narrowed. He shifted, grabbed the pieces of the phone from her, and tossed them onto the adjacent seat. She gasped, and he caught the flicker of surprise in her eyes, barely managing to suppress a smirk.

“I have to take care of some things, and it’s not safe for you to come with me,” he said, even as her hazel eyes narrowed suspiciously. “Gia will look after you until I get back.”

“So this is your subtle way of telling me you don’t want my help?” she shot back.

Mason reached out, his hand gently caressing her face. She let out a heavy sigh, her breath warm against his palm. “The last thing I want is to put you in danger.”

But it was more than that. He couldn’t think straight when she was around. She consumed his thoughts—the curve of her smile, the stubborn fire in her eyes, the softness of her body that he was dying to explore. His heart pounded as he found himself teetering on the edge of control.

Without warning, Elnora leaned in, her lips crashing against his with a force that sent a jolt of desire through him. Mason’s resolve crumbled as he pulled her closer, drowning in the intoxicating scent of cherry blossom that clung to her skin. She smiled against his mouth, a wicked gleam in her eyes as she began to undo the zip of her dress, her shoes already kicked off in the confined space of the limo.

“El—” he started, but she silenced him with another kiss, pushing him back against the seat with a hunger that matched his own. The fabric of her dress tore slightly as she straddled him, her legs splaying across his lap, and Mason’s hands moved instinctively, sliding up her thighs, his fingers tracing the smooth, satin skin beneath.

He couldn’t think—didn’t want to think. Her hands roved over his chest, then settled on his belt, tugging impatiently. The tension coiled in his gut, his muscles tightening in anticipation. Elnora’s intent was clear; she was going to take what she wanted, and right now, she wanted him.

After a lingering, heated kiss, Mason pulled back, gently guiding Elnora to sit upright again. His fingers traced the line of her chin as he studied her, a small smile tugging at his lips. She was his in every way, her bravery unmatched by any woman he had ever known. The fact that she seemed unfazed by his identity, indifferent to the power he wielded, both intrigued and unsettled him.

“You’re something else,” he murmured.

“I’m hungry,” Elnora replied with a mischievous grin, making him chuckle. “Are you going to stop playing the shy schoolboy now and get this over with?”

She slid around him, her teeth grazing his earlobe, and he couldn’t suppress the groan that escaped his lips. Her mouth was a furnace, hot and soft, like molten gold. His hands gripped her waist as she kissed her way back to his lips, fingers threading through his hair. When she pulled away, their faces were so close that he could feel her breath on his skin, her eyes locking onto his with a heart stopping stare.

There was so much he wanted to know about her—what she thought, what she truly desired, what drove her. But with her gaze holding him captive, his thoughts became a jumbled mess. The heat radiating from between her thighs had his pulse pounding in his ears. He swallowed hard as she cupped his face, her touch both gentle and commanding.

“You have the most beautiful eyes I’ve ever seen,” she whispered, her voice a soft caress. “Don’t leave me here, Mason. I wouldn’t be in any danger if I’m with you. You know I can help.”

It was true, but the thought of her witnessing the darker side of his world, the part he kept buried beneath layers of control, made him hesitate. Elnora was the last person he wanted to see the monster he could become.

“What’s it to you?” he asked, his voice gruff with restraint.

Her hands slid down to his shoulders as she pressed her body against him, her hardened nipples brushing against his chest through the thin fabric of her dress. The urge to rip it off her, to taste every inch of her skin, surged through him, but he forced himself to stay still, the tension between them crackling like a live wire.

“I’m not being used to my full potential,” she said, pulling back just enough to look him in the eye. “And it’s driving me crazy. There’s so much I can do.”

“That’s exactly why you’re so valuable to me, El. I’m taking precautions to protect my most important asset.” He took a deep breath. “And no, I have no intention of whacking Buns.” He glanced at her, catching the faint smile that played on her lips.

“And Marcy?” she asked.

“I think you already know,” Mason murmured, his finger tracing a slow, deliberate path along her smooth thigh. “That’s two dresses ruined now.”

“This one’s on me,” she replied with a sly grin.

A deep chuckle rumbled from his chest as the limo eased to a stop. Mason glanced out the tinted window to see the familiar façade of the Whistle Blower club. Standing sentinel outside was Gia, flanked by a cadre of soldiers, their gazes sharp and unyielding.

“Is that her, Gia?” El asked.

Mason turned towards her, his expression softening. “She’s good people, El. One of the few I trust with my life. She’ll look after you.”

Elnora swallowed hard, a bit of trepidation flashing in her eyes as she ran her fingers through her dishevelled hair, attempting to compose herself.

“Tell me what you found about Marcy,” she pressed.

“It’s the same thing I believe you realized about the Priest,” Mason responded, taking her hand in his, giving it a gentle, reassuring squeeze. He shifted, retrieving the scattered phone parts from the adjacent seat. “That’s how he gained access to your network code.”

He handed her the components, eyes lingering on the torn fabric of her dress. With a fluid motion, Mason shrugged off his jacket, the fine material rustling softly. Draping it over her shoulders, he tucked a stray lock of hair behind her ear, his touch lingering.

“They’re lovers, El,” he revealed.