Page 54 of Mason

“It’s taken care of.” Nikoli put his phone down. None of them noticed he’d been texting. “I sent a text to KSI’s attorney. He’s a friend of Viktor’s and should be here within the hour. I’d have called mine, but he deals in corporate law and not criminal.”

“I can’t afford an attorney, though.”

“It’s taken care of,sestra,” Nikoli reiterated. “Don’t worry.”

“What does that mean?”

Nikoli grinned. “I will tell you later.”

“Why not now?”

Mason watched his brother squirm. Nikoli probably hadn’t meant to call Jo “sister.” He knew Mason was going to marry her eventually, and he’d subconsciously already accepted her as his sister. It was their way.

“Because I said so.”

Jo rolled her eyes, and Mason did laugh this time. “You’ll get used to them,moye dragotsennyy.”

She leaned so her head was resting against his shoulder. She was tense, but then again, she’d been accused of embezzlement. Fuckers. He wanted to punch Harper right in his hoity-toity face. Jo had nothing to do with this, and the fucker knew it. He was being an asshole.

“Did you just call her ‘my precious’?” Nikoli asked in his best Sméagol voice.

“See, I’m not the only one who thought that!” Jo accused, her face going red.

Mason groaned. Leave it to his brother to get her all riled up about that name again.

Another officer came in before anyone could reply. He said he was here to escort Kade and Nikoli out of the room. Both of them put up an argument but left. It was a police interrogation room for suspects, after all. Mason had a suspicion Harper was hoping he and Jo would talk and say something incriminating after his brothers left the room. Wrong. He worked for a security firm. He wasn’t saying anything.

“Mason, I’m scared.”

“Don’t be, baby. This is just Detective Asshat trying to find something where there isn’t anything to find. You didn’t do anything wrong, so don’t worry. The lawyer will sort it when he gets here.”

She nodded, but the look of misery remained. Mason grabbed her chair and hauled it up next to his so he could wrap an arm around her. She sighed and leaned into him.

“So, what do you want to talk about?” he asked, trying to alleviate some of her worry.

She shrugged.

“Did you talk to your parents yet?”

“Yeah, they called this morning to wish me happy birthday.”

“I had planned to take you to dinner, but I’m guessing we’re not gonna get out of here in time to make the reservation.”

“I would offer to cook, but the last time I tried, I set the microwave on fire.”

“You did not.”

“I did.” She nodded sagely. “I didn’t even know you could do that, but with me, anything is possible.”

God, he loved her. “I can cook, so you don’t have to worry about it.”

“You can?” She looked doubtful.

“Mama andBabushkataught us all. She said we needed to learn to feed ourselves since we could eat enough to feed an army.”

“How’s your dad?” she asked, tilting her head up so she could see him. “I know you’ve been worried about him.”

Mason closed his eyes. He’d been going over and over this. Talking to Lily helped more than anyone else, though.

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