Page 77 of Forbidden Desires

“Whose side are you on, Son? I’m doing all this for you.” She waves the gun between them.

“Yours, Ma, I just don’t see why we can’t have it all. The business and Gisele.”

“Mason, you don’t have me,” Gisele whispers. She looks ill, like she’s about to pass out, and I want desperately to get her out of here and away from these crazy people.

Mason’s grip on her tightens.

Lana shakes her head, moving to shove the gun into Gisele’s back. “I’ve waited long enough, Brody. It’s unfortunate that you have to pay for your father’smistakes, but you do. Now, you’re going to make a choice. Sign the papers over to us or never see your girl again.”

My mind races, thinking over every possible move. I want to tear this room apart to get to her. There is no way I would ever let anything happen to her, and Lana’s as mad as a cut snake. Just like Victor said, I assume she would do whatever it takes to get what she thinks they’re entitled to. I take a deep breath, trying to keep a clear head. “You can have anything you want. I’ll call my lawyer and have the deed handed over to you. Just let Gisele go now.”

She chuckles darkly. “Now we’re talking. See, that wasn’t too hard, was it? No need to involve your lawyer. I have a perfectly good contract just here.” She taps on the papers on the little table.

I can see Gisele is scared and only just holding it together. I want to help her. I want this ordeal over as quickly as possible. And even though I know this contract can’t ever be legal, Lana seems to think it will be, so I take a seat and look over it. Like I suspected, it would give her everything. She's delusional if she really believes this is going to go her way in the end. When I read it over again, something twigs. “This has no mention of Mason,” I say, looking between them.

“What? No, that’s not right.” He drops his grip on Gisele and comes to look over my shoulder, furiously reading the contract.

“Mason’s a good boy. He wants his ma to have all her dreams come true. See, when I used to be the one working at reception here, your father used to whisper sweet nothings in my ear. Promises of a life we would have together. He said one day this would all be mine.He thought I was a silly girl he could manipulate into getting what he wanted, but he put the idea in my head, and I have spent years preparing for this. I deserve it for everything he put me through.”

In a sudden move, Mason makes a grab for the weapon Lana is holding, wrestling it out of her hands. “Everyone down on the fucking ground!” Mason yells, his voice booming off the empty walls. She’s just pushed him too far.

Lana looks at him, confusion crossing her features for a second, then she complies, just like me and Gisele.

“You old bitch. This was never about me. All this time, you wanted this all for yourself. You have put me through hell for years trying to get this hotel, and it was all for you.”

“I wanted it for us,” she wails. “But you had to go and mess it all up, blackmailing him. I had it all under control. I killed him for us,” she admits, staring up at him with desperation in her voice. “You just had to wait for it all to be handed over to you. But I couldn’t trust you this time, Mason. You get too crazy about things. If I take over, I will look after you. This can still be your business. This will be a good life, Son,” she tries to convince him.

“Bullshit,” he yells, enraged with his mother, before turning his attention to my girl. “Gisele, sweetheart, come here,” he says warmly, his personality flip-flopping. He’s a madman, possessed with rage and years of hatred.

She looks petrified but complies, getting to her feet shakily and walking to him.

“Good girl.” His attention returns to me. “Taking the hotel will be satisfying but having your girl will fulfillevery dark depraved fantasy I have ever had. You know how many times I had to hear about the great Brody Alexander, all your fucking achievements? I was never good enough no matter what I did, not compared to you. But now I will be. I will be the king of her world. The only girl you ever really wanted will worship me.”

He holds her tight, still threatening us with his weapon.

She whimpers, her scared eyes finding me, but I can’t move. If I do, he’s going to shoot. Where the hell is Noah?

“After tonight, I no longer live in the shadow of Brody fucking Alexander.” He drags her out the door, and there is nothing I can do with his gun pointed toward her. If I move, he will shoot her. They disappear down the hallway toward the elevator, and I waste no time snatching up my gun, right as Noah comes through the open window. His gun is drawn, pointing toward Lana. “Don’t try it,” he says, his eyes glued to her as she tries to grab for me.

“Get her under control,” I call to him. I have to go after Gisele. I run down the hall, passing Detective McAllister and Parker on my way. “Lana’s in there, but Mason has Gisele,” I call to them, shoving my way past.

Detective McAllister calls after me, “The elevators have been disabled, and we didn’t pass them on the stairs. They’re still on this floor somewhere.” Parker comes with me, and we rush down the hall, checking doors, my heart in my throat. I have to get to her in time. There is no way he’s leaving the hotel with her. I can’t lose her. Not now.

Chapter 37

Gisele

Mason's grip tightens around me, and my lungs feel constricted. Fear courses through my veins. He’s so irrational. What’s he going to do next? Even turning on hismother. His promise to Brody of taking me from him infuriates me. I’m not his to take, and I will fight him tooth and nail to make sure he doesn’t get his hands on me. Right now, I just need to stay alive. He drags me to the elevator, banging furiously on the button. Tears roll down my cheeks, I can’t stop them. When the elevator doesn’t come, he grows impatient, dragging me farther down the hall into another hotel room.

“Please, Mason, I will help you get what you want if you just let me go,” I beg him, not sure what else to do. I can’t believe he’s the same man I met on that date; he’s barely recognizable now, his features hardened, his eyes dark.

He shoves the door closed behind him and secures the lock. “I already have what I want. You.” He grins at me, brushing hair away from my face. “Don’t cry, sweetheart.” He leans in closer, talking to me sweetly, but it only adds to the sick feeling washing over me. “I know what you like.” He kisses the side of my neck just below my ear. I can’t help the way I tremble. I want him to stop touching me, to leave me alone.

My head moves from side to side. In a silent no. This isn’t what I want. My heartbeat echoes loudly in my ears, each thud seemingly pushing me further into a surreal abyss.

“All those times you and my brother snuck off thinking no one could hear you or see you, I was there watching. Listening to your little cries of pleasure. So fucking perfect, aren’t you. You going to cry for me, sweetheart? I live to hear those little murmurs, knowing it’s me bringing you apart. I know you so much better than Brody ever could. He’s been too busy obsessing over work while I studied you from afar, learning all your intricacies.”

I meet his eyes. “Then you know you’re scaring me,” I cry. “Can’t we just talk all this over? No weapons, no threats. If you care about me at all, you won’t do this.”

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