Page 79 of Forbidden Desires

“Mason’s gone,” is all I can get out. So much has happened today. It’s all so confusing, and I feel partly responsible for the loss she and Brody will feel knowing their half-brother’s gone.

“Hush now, it’s all going to be okay.” She tries to calm me, but I know it’s not okay. “It’s a media frenzy down here. Take her into your office,” she tells Brody.

“What about you?” he asks, full of brotherly concern. “We can get someone else to deal with this circus. Noah or Parker,” he suggests.

“I have it under control.” She glances toward the camera crew, and I see Hamilton in one of his fancy suits standing just off to the side. She gives me a more serious look, and I know what she means. No one else can handle this because she’s cutting a deal with the devil so the hotel doesn’t come off looking bad. She’s the strongest woman I know. And right now, I love her for it more than words can say.

A commotion sounds behind us, and two uniformed police officers walk through with Lana in handcuffs. Her normally perfectly put-together persona is gone. Her hair is a mess, her dress all over the place. Her eyes find us and narrow in on me. Ifeel her hatred right through to my bones. “Where’s my boy? If anything’s happened to him because of you. There will be hell to pay,” she seethes, spitting her poison at me.

Brody wraps a protective arm around me and ushers me away. “Don’t listen to her. This is all on her, not anyone else.”

I shake my head, knowing he’s wrong. “I tried to help him. He wouldn’t listen to me. He was irrational,” I try explaining, fresh tears welling up in my eyes.

“I know you did. Unfortunately, I think Mason was beyond help.”

We get to his office, and he closes the door behind me. “Detective McAllister will need to question us before we leave today. But not until you’re ready, okay?” He holds me close, and I let him. Part of me thought one of us wouldn’t make it out of there today. I thought I might never get to hold him like this again.

I nestle into his chest, trying to block out all the awful things that happened today. Then something occurs to me. “The wedding, what’s happening with the wedding,” I cry in a panic.

“It’s under control. Luckily for us it’s far enough away from the main hotel. Emerson rallied her fix-up crew, and Elliot, Mae, and Paisley pulled it all together.”

I relax again. Why did I listen to Mason in the first place? I should have known something was up when he asked me to go up to the fourth floor with him, but before today he seemed perfectly normal. How could I have known?

I’m not sure how long we stay in silence just curled up on his office couch, but when a knock sounds at his door, I nearly jump out of my skin.

“It’s okay, it will just be Detective McAllister. He’s a good guy, Elliot’s middle brother.”

“Okay,” I agree.

“Come in,” he calls.

Detective McAllister strides in with Emerson by his side.

“The media circus is done. Can’t promise you we won’t be front-page news tomorrow, but at least the story will be told correctly.” She sighs heavily, exhaustion showing.

“Thank you, Em,” Brody says, giving her hand a squeeze.

The detective pulls up an office chair and sits in front of us. “Hi, Gisele, we haven’t officially met. I’m Detective McAllister, but you can call me Kane.” He holds out a hand for me to shake. “I need to ask you a few questions about what happened today.”

“Okay,” I say softly, not sure how much help I will be in my current state.

“I know today was quite an ordeal for you all. And from Emerson’s statement, you have been thrown some huge life-changing revelations already. But before we start, I wanted you to be aware that we didn’t find Mason.”

I can feel Brody’s body stiffen next to mine. “You what? He fell four stories. If he wasn’t down there, where is he?” he demands.

Detective McAllister looks to Emerson then back to us. “We don’t know. Some of the witnesses say they saw him land in the hotel pool, then take off for the beach. He’s on the run.”

“He escaped?” I gasp. I didn’t want him to be dead, but knowing he’s out there somewhere on the loose is almost worse.

“We will keep looking for him, but it’s best you all stay alert in the coming weeks in case he shows himself.” The look of concern on his face scares me more than I already was. Where would he be? How do you survive a drop like that? I watched him jump.

“It’s okay. I’ll make sure he never touches you again. You’re safe with me, Gisele,” Brody tries to assure me. And I know I am. He didn’t stop until I was back in his arms again. And I’m glad Mason’s not dead like I thought he could be. But now what? I’ll spend the rest of my life looking over my shoulder, wondering if he’s coming to get me.

Chapter 38

Gisele

Main Street has been shut off to cars today, and instead of traffic, it’s lined with cloth-covered tables. The goodpeople of the town have brought a selection of baked dishes to share in a townwide Thanksgiving feast.

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