Page 25 of Magnetic Temptations

“You too, love bug. Take care of our boy.” Dad and Mason, even only knowing each other for a few short days have grown close. Gunner doesn’t take easily to outsiders so it’s a conundrum of why he has grown attached to Mason. If I had time to further examine that I’d get to the bottom of it, but there are more crucial things needing my attention so I dismiss it even though it’s a thought that stays in the back of my mind as I follow Mason up the stairs.

Mason is comforted by my silent companionship as he packs and gets ready for our trip. It’s nice to know that we don’t have to talk in order for him to feel peace at being alone with me. When we crawl into bed, he wraps me in his arms and digs his nose into the nape of my neck.

“Night, beauty.”

“Night, Mason. We’re going to find him and end this threat to you, your family, and us.”

“I know, beauty. I know,” he murmurs as sleep pulls him under.

CHAPTER

FOURTEEN

MASON

Opening my bedroom door, I nearly stumble across the suitcase laying there in the mouth of the doorway. I find it amusing that Ella just nonchalantly laid it in front of the door for me to trip over first thing in the morning instead of setting it to the side. I guess she thought I’d miss it if it wasn’t in my path. Shaking my head, I grab it by the handle, toss my pack over my shoulder and head downstairs.

My eyes enlarge when I walk into the dining area because it looks like an armory exploded in here. “Here,” Gunner says, walking up to me and handing me a couple of throwing knives and two nine millimeter handguns. “For protection. I don’t trust Benji boy not to have some sort of warning system and ambush us the moment we cross the city line.”

I holster all of the weapons because, like Gunner, I believe that he's sitting and waiting for us like the hunter he thinks he is. “Thanks, man,” I reply. “I’m sure by now he knows I’ve been called and informed about Myles’ mysterious disappearance.”

“For all we know he bugged that trailer and there's no telling if he was able to listen in on yours and Maverick’s conversation or not.” I never considered that as a possibility until Gunner just brought it up.

“Fuck,” I groan, then voice my thoughts, “didn’t even think of that.”

“It's because you're emotionally invested,” Gunnar tells me. “If you were on the outside looking in, it would have crossed your mind.”

“Let's get everything loaded,” Hydro calls out. “We're rolling up on five a.m., guys. Wheels will be rolling out in fifteen.”

Gunner turns to me and says, “You, me, and Mane will be taking your truck. The prospects will be hauling my bike with the van that’ll hold most of our equipment.”

Hydro strolls up to me with a determined look on his face. Holding up a prospect cut? He asks, “Yes?”

As he asks me this, I feel a soft, butterfly of a touch settle between my shoulder blades before roaming down my spine and wrapping around my middle. Turning my neck, I see Mane smiling up at me, and I know that no matter what choice I make here, she’ll have my back. She’ll walk beside me on whatever path I choose and that feeling gives me a sense of euphoria.

I quickly weigh the pros and cons. The only thing that still makes me pause are the women, but there’s a plan in place that’ll ease me of that burden. Whereas a few months back, their violent tendencies would’ve made me shudder with revulsion, after everything I survived and have seen first-hand, it no longer bothers me. I’m reformed on that aspect.

Nodding my head, I reach out to accept the cut only to have Hydro slap it away. “It’d be my honor to slide this over your shoulders, Mason.”

I’ve been dressing myself for a long time now so at first, I back pedal, but then, I realize the importance of this and step forward. Squaring my shoulders, I turn my body when he circles his finger in the air. The moment it’s slipped over my arms and settles on my back, the leather hugs me and I get a feeling of being home hit me square in the chest.

The walls vibrate as the room breaks out into an ear splitting roar as the members whoop and holler in excitement. “Welcome to the DreamCatcher family, prospect,” Hydro says, but there’s a villainous gleam in his eye that I’m going to interrogate Gunner about on the way to Trucktown.

“Thanks, pres,” I say, my voice cracking with emotion. “It’s an honor and privilege to have the DreamCatcher insignia across my back.”

“Don’t wear that while driving your cage,” he orders as he twists on his heels and whistles to get everyone’s attention. “Let’s get gone!”

Mane slid my cut off before we climbed into my truck. She folded it in half then gently laid it over the armrest. Gunner does the same with his but keeps his in his lap. Once the truck is fired up, the rev of engines echoes throughout the quiet morning and a smile forms, spreading from one cheek to the other.

“Feel naked when I'm not wearing my cut,” Gunner grumbles, and if my eyes are deceiving me, I see a slight tremble of his bottom lip through the rearview mirror. Mane chuckles at her dad’s pouting, but other than that, she doesn’t say anything in response.

As we drive out of the lot, I ask Gunner the question that’s been ruminating in my brain. “Why did Hydro give me that look when he welcomed me?”

“Being a prospect isn’t an easy position in the club. It’s where we determine if you have the balls to be a brother,” Gunner answers.

“Think frat house,” Mane interjects, an amused smirk aimed my way. “Initiation times.”

“I’ve come to loathe that word,” I mumble, a frown on my face. “Initiation… using it in any capacity now leaves a foul taste on my tongue.”

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