Page 47 of Mason

“No.” Jo shook her head and tried to get control of her emotions, which ranged from anger to outrage to simple sadness. Cara did not deserve this. She wasn’t a party girl. She didn’t go around hooking up like a lot of college girls. Heck, she had a boyfriend.

Mason pushed open the door, and they walked inside. When Cara saw her, she burst into tears all over again. Jo rushed over and hugged her, Mason right behind in case she fell.

“I’m so sorry, Cara.”

She said something, but it was unintelligible.

“Mason, why don’t you and Keith go find us some coffee? I think there’s an all-night Starbucks down the street.”

He nodded, and the men left the room, something Cara appreciated even if she didn’t say so. Jo felt it when the woman’s entire body relaxed.

“What happened?” Jo asked softly, sitting in the chair and holding her friend’s hand.

“Matt wanted to go to the frat party. He’d been invited, and you know he’s been trying to get in since last year. I figured why not? It would be fun. We got separated at the party, and I don’t remember a lot. The doctor said they found GHB in my bloodwork.”

“Someone slipped you the date rape drug?” Jo’s anger intensified.

Cara nodded miserably. “I was aware, but I couldn’t do anything. I couldn’t stop them.” Tears made their way down her cheeks. “I couldn’t stop them, Jo.”

“This isn’t your fault, Cara. I don’t want you thinking that.”

“I know it’s not, but I can’t help but try to think what I might have done differently…”

“No.” Jo cut her off. “Don’t do that to yourself. You did nothing wrong, and you’re going to get through this.”

Cara nodded, and Jo climbed on the bed with her the same way Mason did when Jo needed comforting. She hugged her friend tight. “You’re not alone, Cara. I’m right here. I’ll be right here for everything.”

“Promise?” Cara asked softly, and Jo remembered the girl had no family. Her parents died last year in a car accident, and her only brother was overseas somewhere in the Navy. She was alone. But not anymore.

“Promise,” Jo said softly and settled in to wait, her own horrifying experience, while not forgotten, pushed to the side while she comforted her friend.

The next few days were busy for Mason. Statements were given, and then came the interrogation of Mason and Keith. Mason couldn’t care less the three fucks who had assaulted Cara were trying to have charges filed against him and Keith. They wouldn’t stick. The two of them had acted in defense of someone else. Someone the fuckers slipped GHB to. Those three bastards were going to jail, but they weren’t going quietly.

After their arraignment, the guys came back to the frat, where they were met at the front door by Ben. He had their bags packed and waiting on the porch for them. They’d had a vote, and the three guys were out for violating the code of conduct of the house. Once a charter was given, it was next to impossible to get it rescinded, but sexual assault on frat property was a sure way to do it.

They argued, but with two eyewitness accounts and Cara’s medical records, the evidence was undeniable. Mason wasn’t sure where they went, and he didn’t fucking care.

Jo had been spending a lot of time with Cara, and for that, Mason didn’t fault her. The two of them had been closed up in their room for days, only coming out to go to classes. True to his word, Jackson kept eyes on Jo while the police tried to figure out who was stalking her.

Mason had his own suspicions. Her ex-boyfriend, Ray. The fucker hadn’t been able to let go, calling and texting constantly after their breakup. Jo had finally blocked his number. He’d told the police about his suspicions, and they were taking them seriously, even if Jo wasn’t. She said she’d thought of Ray at first too but dismissed him. It came down to the flowers. The creeper, as she called him, sent her tulips, her least favorite flower, and Ray knew that. He wouldn’t send her something she disliked.

While on one hand it made sense, crazy didn’t need to make sense. If Ray snapped and went off the deep end, who knew what he was capable of? That was why he was grateful the police took it more seriously than Jo did.

He shook his head at all the nonsense of the last couple days and knocked on Nik’s door. His brother had asked him to come over earlier, and with nothing else to do, he dragged himself away from the girls and over here.

Lily answered the door with a grin. “Hey, Mason.”

“Looking mighty fine, girl!” Mason bounced on his heels, wanting to hug her, but knowing it could freak her out if he moved too soon. “You ready for a hug?”

Nervousness tinged her blue eyes, darker than Jo’s, but just as beautiful. She reminded him of Snow White with all that dark hair, porcelain skin, and deep blue eyes. He hated that she still got nervous around all of them, but he understood it was something she continually worked on.

Lily nodded, and he let her hug him. It made it easier for her to control her anxiety if she was the one who made the first move, something Nik figured out early on. Mason hugged her tight, but only for a minute. Then he let her go, and she moved back out of his way so he could come in.

“Nikoli’s in the shower.” She gestured for him to follow her to the kitchen. “Want some coffee?”

“When have you ever known me to turn down coffee?” He stopped on the way so he could lean down and kiss Rose’s head. She was happily occupied in her swing. “How’s Uncle Mason’s girl? You miss me?” The baby grinned and cooed at him.

“Thanks for helping to keep her awake the other day.” Lily handed him a mug of coffee and pushed the milk at him. “We finally got a good night’s sleep.”

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