Page 5 of Mason

“What the fuck?”

“That was my first thought too.”

“Does she know who it’s from?”

“Would I be calling you at this ungodly hour if she knew that?” Mason asked sarcastically. His brother was not on the up and up first thing in the morning, but then neither was he. If it were up to him, he’d never roll out of bed before ten. Sometimes he missed those days of sleeping in, but Jo was always up and gone early. He’d rather haul her around than risk her safety, even if it meant his own lack of sleep.

“Did she touch it?”

“Well, I’m assuming so, since she read it.”

“Asshole, stop being such an asshole before I get my morning coffee. Bring it by the house, and we’ll see what we can do.”

“Is my girl up?”

“Probably, since she has school.”

Mason grinned thinking about his niece Delia. He loved that girl more than he did the rest of his nieces and nephews, though he’d never admit that out loud. Didn’t matter she wasn’t Viktor’s biological daughter; she was theirs now. Blood meant shit. It was the time and the love you put into people that made them family. Delia and Sara had a rough time before Viktor came into their lives. Mason did everything he could to make up for the sperm donor who’d hit his kid.

“Okay, we’ll see you in about half an hour. Jo doesn’t have class today, and my lab isn’t until two.”

Viktor muttered something and hung up. Mason laughed at his brother’s surly attitude. The man had been working himself to death recently. Some big client that demanded twenty-four-hour surveillance.

“You up for breakfast with the family?” Mason asked, putting away his phone and carefully picking up the box.

“As long as I get some twin time, I’m good.” Of course, she’d say that. Sara had roped her into babysitting the twins on more than one occasion. Jo was the self-proclaimed best babysitter in her hometown, and Sara took full advantage. Not that Mason cared. He loved the boys. When he married Jo, he fully intended to have half a dozen kids if he could convince her. He loved family.

Mason squatted and relieved her of her bookbag. “Hop on, baby.”

“I can walk, Mason.”

He huffed out a laugh. “There’s ice on the sidewalk.”

Her face screwed up.

They both knew she was likely to fall and break her neck.

“Fine.” She climbed on his back, and he stood carefully, balancing the box and her bookbag on one arm. “Maybe I’ll let you slide down into a snow drift.”

“You wouldn’t dare.” Her hands clutched his shoulders tighter.

He turned his head slightly so he could look up at her. “Wouldn’t I?”

Beth laughed at them. “I want pictures if you do.”

“See ya, Beth!” he called as he gave Jo a piggyback ride out of the hospital. The ER admitting was right near the exit door, and he hurried toward his truck. January in New York was damned cold.

“What did Viktor say?”

“He said to bring it by the house.” He unlocked his truck and carefully set the box in the middle of the bench seat as she slid off his back. Then he tossed Jo’s things on the floorboard, and before she realized what he was doing, he’d pinned her against the truck bed. “Hey.”

“Hey.” She smiled lazily up at him, her blonde hair falling softly around her face.

“Did you miss me?” He leaned in and nuzzled along her jaw.

“Not a bit.”

“Lies, woman, I know you did.” He nipped her earlobe. “You know you missed all this.”

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