Fallen Crest Home (Fallen Crest High #6)(74)

Heather and Channing came over, his hand resting at the small of her back.

“What’s going to happen after this?” Heather asked.

Nate and Logan shut their mouths and looked at Mason.

I felt tension flood him, though he showed none of it. “We’re in the clear as long as those guys are okay.”

“What guys?” Heather looked around the station. “Everyone’s here.”

We all looked over as Adam and Becky entered the station. Behind them two police officers brought in Steven Quinn. His hands were in front of him with a sweater laid over them. It didn’t matter if we didn’t see the handcuffs. We knew they were there.

“Ah…” Logan cleared his throat. “Mason means Caldron and all his goons.”

“But Mason doesn’t have to worry about that.” Nate shot him a meaningful look.

Mason let out a silent sigh. I could feel the release from his chest. “You’re not doing that.”

Nate shook his head. “I don’t care. I’ll do it before you can.”

“Nate—”

“Stop it, Mason. I mean it. You have football yet.”

“What’s happening?” I asked them.

Nate and Mason fell silent. Logan said, “We’ll tell you later.”

“Nothing’s going to happen—” Mason started.

Nate cut him off again. “You’re right because there’s no way in hell I’m letting my best friend throw his life away because he was protecting himself and his loved ones. It will be self-defense. My parents are movie directors. They have good connections. If it goes to a trial, I won’t get convicted. You know that.”

“Nate—“

“For the last goddamn time,” Nate snapped. “Shut up.”

I was putting the pieces together.

Mason said if those guys were okay, so if they weren’t… I looked up at Mason and horror struck me deep in the chest. If one of them died, or even if they had serious damage, he would be arrested, again. He would be charged. There could be a trial.

Feeling like I was in water, like an invisible force had slowed my movements, I looked at Nate.

He would take the fall. That was what he meant.

My lips parted. I felt a gasp, though no sound came from me, and I reached back down to find Mason’s hand. I squeezed. I knew he was in pain. I knew I should loosen my grip, but I couldn’t. I felt like I’d almost just lost him. And now, if that happened, I could lose him all over again.

He would never let Nate take the fall.

I looked at Logan to find him watching me. He knew what I was thinking, and I could tell he knew it, too. I looked again at Nate and saw the same look there. He knew it as well. No amount of convincing would change Mason’s mind.

I wasn’t waking up from a nightmare.

It was only beginning.





When we got home, James followed us into the house, but he only repeated what he’d said at the station: Don’t say anything. That was the bottom line, and judging from the exhaustion and pain on Mason, Logan, and Nate’s faces, no one was going to argue with him.

Matteo had been sitting in the living room when we all went inside, but he waited until James left before standing up.

“Uh.” He folded his arms over his chest, his biceps and chest muscles bulging a little. Glancing around, he seemed unsure. “Do you guys need anything?” He turned to me. “Bandages? Antibiotic cream? Are you stocked with all that stuff?”

Mason’s hand came to rest on the small of my back. “I think we’re good on everything. Thanks, though, Teo.”

He nodded. “Yeah. Just let me know. If you need me to run and grab something, I can do that, too.”

I fought against leaning back into Mason’s hand. I wanted to. I wanted to sink into his warmth and reassure myself he was okay. I didn’t. I didn’t know the extent of his injuries, and I was grateful when Nate and Logan murmured they were going to bed.

Logan paused on his way to his bedroom. “I’m going to call Taylor.”

I rested a hand on his arm. “That’s a good idea.” She left a week earlier to spend some time with her dad and her friends. “She’ll want to know you’re okay.”

“Yeah.” He sighed.

Matteo lingered as everyone dispersed. Even Mason went to our room, but I held back.

Matteo’s shoulders fell. “I don’t know what to do.”

He looked lost, like a three year old whose mother was out of sight.

I knew that look. I’d seen it on others who’d thought they were in the circle and then realized they weren’t.

I patted his shoulder. “Just be a good friend. That’s it.”

“I didn’t—I know the three of them are tight, but I could’ve helped. They didn’t even give me the option, you know?”

“You’re a good guy. That’s how Mason views you. He doesn’t want to make you not good.”

“That’s what he thinks? Because it feels a whole lot like I’m not good enough.”

I shook my head. “No. That’s not it at all. Mason wouldn’t let you stay here. He wouldn’t have even called you if he thought that. He doesn’t want to put you in a position where your future could be affected.”