Page 88 of Meant to be Falling
“Lana,” she says, her voice more serious than I’ve ever heard it.
“What?”
“I have whatever resources you need, so if it comes to any of that, don’t think twice about it. Our pockets are deeper than he can imagine, so it’s no contest. We’ll bury him.”
“I appreciate that more than you know,” I say, loving the vehemence in her voice and the determination in her stare.
It bolsters my own confidence, and by the time we pull into my driveway, I’m damn near ready to battle.
I thank them and then jump out of the car as Beck races across the lawn toward me. I drop my purse in the grass and meet him in the middle, his body so big and yet so small.
“I’m so sorry,” I whisper. “I’m so sorry you had to see that.”
“He hit him, Ma. He hit Mason but Mason didn’t hit him back and Dad kept yelling and Holland was crying and?—”
He hiccups, and I can’t tell if my tears or his are soaking his shirt.
“I’m so sorry. But you were so brave; you protected your sister and Mason. You are so brave, Beckham Howard, do you hear me? I’m going to make sure nothing like that ever happens again, okay?”
“Can we have ice cream for dinner?” he asks, pulling back but taking my hand as we grab my purse and head for the door.
“Yes.”
“Really?”
“Yeah, I think we could all use a little ice cream tonight.”
“Mommy!” Holland yells as soon as I’m inside, jumping into my arms and squeezing me tight.
“Are you okay?” I ask and she nods into my shoulder as my eyes lock on Mason’s. “Why don’t you and Beck get everything out to make sundaes? There’s probably a frozen pizza in there we can make too.”
Holland wiggles her way out of my arms and runs to help Beck as I cross the kitchen and step right into Mason’s space, cupping his face in my hands and kissing him hard.
“Thank you,” I murmur against his lips as he holds me close to him, his body sagging against the counter. “Thank you for protecting my babies.”
“There’s nothing I wouldn’t do for them,” he whispers and I nod.
“I know.” I brush my fingers gently over his jaw, a red mark forming on his skin. “I’m so sorry.”
“I’ve endured far worse for far less.” He swallows. “He was out of control, but I wasn’t gonna hit him.” Lowering his voice, he adds, “Not here at least.”
My lips twitch and I kiss him again. “Ellison said she’d help with expenses or whatever I need, so whatever it takes, I’ll do it and I’ll figure the rest out after.”
“We’ll figure the rest out together.”
“Ma, can I have chocolate chipsandpeanut butter cups?” Beck asks as I turn in Mason’s arms, my son very much a little boy in this moment, with a spoon full of candy hovering over his bowl.
“You can have it all,” I say with a laugh as Mason’s arms tighten around me, his voice dropping to a whisper.
“Yes, we can.”
39
MASON
The next Friday, Lana and the kids went to spend the night at her parents’. She asked me to go but I declined. We’d been together every day since Jacob had shown up at the house, and she needed the one-on-one time.
It also made me realize I’d barely seen my brother.
