Finally, I can concentrate on my legit work, my passion, without the worry of where I need to be each night, who I need to charm, what information I need to memorize. Who I need to kill.

A warm hand covers mine and I look over at Oliver. Together, in the same place we started this, over chocolate cake and tea, Olly and I end an era. My shoulders relax and the sins of my past fade into the background. They’re there but no longer at the forefront of my mind. Instead, something else is. New feelings ignite inside of me. Hope. Excitement. My lips curl up into a small smile. Mason.

CHAPTER NINETEEN

Lindsey

I never understood it, until I felt it. Now I know I’ll defend this feeling until the day I die.

A quick month passes after the bank job for Rossi. One smooth month compiled of casual lunch and dinner dates with Mason and sometimes Charlotte. A month of visits to Ali at the clinic and usual office antics with Olly, all without an ounce of drama. The normalcy is becoming unnerving. Uncertainty etches its way into my brain as I clasp the dog tags around my neck. The air up here breathes new life into me. In four weeks, I’ve become lost with no direction to guide me to where I’m supposed to be. For the first two weeks, waves of nausea knocked me around until I found my footing and came to the conclusion being lost allows me time to find myself again.

I’ve become a girlfriend to Mason, a friend to Charlotte, and work doesn’t feel quite as stressful. I’ve had many more chances to check in on Alison, who is doing well in rehab. She fought her innocence on the relapse until she ran out of breath but there was no need. Her results came back a day after we’d had her examined at the hospital and they tested positive for Rohypnol. She’d been drugged, likely by someone who intended for his or her evening to turn out very differently. I have thanked Mason profusely for being there that night. If he hadn’t, things could have ended ugly. My heart plummets in my chest remembering Roamyn’s face drop when we found out Ali had been drugged. Agony rippled over muscles when he punched the wall beside him, muttering under his breath about something I couldn’t quite hear. He immediately went to the clinic, but Ali refused to see him.

Snuggling into the outdoor sofa, I pull the hood on my jumper up for extra warmth. The air is always fresher on the rooftop. Silence envelopes me, sparing me time for myself this Saturday morning to just breathe. There is nowhere I need to be, and that feels good. I’m waiting for the moment everything turns upside down.  Marino and some of his men may be held up in Riker’s, but they are still antagonizing the streets and had yet to retaliate. But hope resonates from somewhere deep and just maybe, it can outweigh the doubt that looms.

“Thought I’d find you up here.” I grab my chest and whip my head around, a voice from the deep scaring the ever-living shit out of me.

“Well, good morning, Detective. Next time, warn a girl if you’re gonna creep around making no noise. I wasn’t expecting you. Where’s Charlotte if you’re here?” If it’s one thing I’d learned about Mason, it’s that he never lets Charlotte out of his sight unless she is either with Cora or her best friend’s also very over-protective parents. The inner child in me is envious of Charlotte. She has a father who makes up for both parents and that was more than I had ever really had. Mason points behind him and Charlotte pops around the corner of the open door.

“I’m here,” she announces, her whole face lighting up with happiness.

“Oh, hey, sweetie.” I wave and go to stand, but as I gain my balance, I’m thrown off and nearly fall back into the sofa. Small delicate arms tighten around my middle and Charlotte tucks her head under my chest. Had this been a few weeks ago her close contact might have come as a shock, but now she greets me with a hug every time we see each other.

“Are you busy today, Lindsey, because if you’re not, we’re going out for brunch and then we’re gonna go to the park. You should definitely come with us.”

Mason interrupts. “What Charlotte is trying to ask you is, if you have no plans today, we would love it if you would join us because it isn’t as fun without you.”

I swoon, my heart loving the attention. “Aww, sure. Let me just get ready and we’ll go.”

“Yay! Okay, let’s go.” Charlotte cheers, running toward the door to the stairs.

“Someone’s excited about brunch,” I say, grabbing Mason’s attention as I nod toward Charlotte.

“Not brunch that’s got her worked up.” He shakes his head, shoving his hands in his pockets as we make our way back to the loft. My body floods with love for his little girl. It’s strange how easy and fast I’ve fallen for her charm, and her precious smile. She’s so easy to be around, much like her father. Finally, it feels like all the pieces of the puzzle have been found. Now it just had to be put together to become complete. It wasn’t simply because I have found a man who I’m growing to adore more each day and a little girl I love as if she were my own. It’s because the feelings I so desperately tried to suppress for years are now strengthening, turning me into a better woman, one I’m proud of, one I’m blossoming inside with happiness to be.

Mason touches the top of my messy bed hair, knotted on top of my head. “Loving the hair, sweetheart,” he says with a huge grin on his face.

“Oh, shut up.” I backhand his chest playfully and he laughs as we jump into the elevator.

He’d seen my hair twirled into a complete and utter mess and he didn’t run the other way. God, he is definitely a keeper.

***

The cool evening air after an amazing day with Charlotte and Mason has me wrapping my coat tighter around my waist. Yet the further I walk, the more the eerie feeling of being watched washes over me. The hairs on the back of my neck rise as I take the first step of my building. I turn quickly, but nothing seems out of place. People are walking by, talking into their cell phones, lovers hold hands, but no one is paying attention to me. I shake off the fear, and hastily pull out my keys and open the door. Shifting inside, I lock it immediately and rest my head against the back of the door. I close my eyes and Giuseppe Marino’s face appears. I flick them open to erase the image, and make a quick dart for the loft. Had I seen him out there? No, I hadn’t, I couldn’t have. He’s in prison. The wind sweeps under the door and I become ice cold. My scalp prickles and I glance down the hall, both sides, nothing. Nothing but quietness fills the building. I comb my fingers through my hair and clear my throat, taking a moment to get a hold of myself. I saw no one. I heard nothing. It’s all in my imagination. Calmly, I head up to the loft, but not without making a call to Mason. Figment of my imagination or not, I’m not taking any risks now I’ve got a damn good reason to stay alive.

Mason

My cell vibrates in my pocket and when I pull it out, I see Lindsey’s name lighting up the screen so I swipe to answer.

“Miss me already?” I tease, considering she only just left us twenty minutes ago after spending the entire day with us.

“Hey,” she answers and my back goes stiff at the sharp tone of her voice.

“Talk to me, Linds.”

“I think I was followed home. I didn’t see anyone suspicious but I had that feeling, Mase. I know someone was watching me.” Every muscle in my body becomes rigid. My hands tighten around my phone, threatening to unintentionally crush it.

“I’ll be right there. Hold tight. Lock your place up. Don’t answer for anyone, unless you know it’s me.”

“Okay. I’ll see you soon.” She clicks off and so do I.