Page 101 of City of Sin (Men of Manhattan 1)

She pressed her lips together. "Please, Mason. I just want to see it."

I stood up when the waffles popped out of the toaster. Which place was the least damning?

Chapter 54

Bee

We were standing outside an unmarked building.

"I'm actually getting hungry for lunch," Mason said. "There's this place down the street that's really good. What do you say?"

"Is it really that bad?" I asked. He looked upset. No. He looked guilty.

"I don't know why we're here," Mason said. "I told you I was done with this. I wish you would just trust me."

"It's not really that." I folded my arms in front of my chest. "When Patrick broke up with me, he made it seem like it was my fault. Like I wasn't giving him what he needed."

"Do you still have feelings for him?"

"No." My voice sounded small, but I meant it. "I just need to know."

He looked a little relieved. "Patrick is a dick. That's all you need to know."

"Please, Mason."

He sighed and tapped three times on the door. There was a buzzing sound and a little box next to the door lit up. Mason pulled out his phone and looked down at something before pressing the button on the box. "Sunset," he said into the small speaker and then let go of the button. He put his phone back in his pocket.

A huge bald man in jeans and a black t-shirt appeared at the door.

"She's with me," said Mason.

"Did she sign the forms?"

Forms?

"I'll vouch for her," Mason said.

The bouncer looked me up and down. His eyes made my skin feel cold. "She doesn't work for the press?" he said.

"No." Mason sounded annoyed.

The bouncer stared at me for another minute. "Fine. If there's a leak, it's on you, Mason."

"She's not going to tell anyone." Mason looked at me. "Right?"

"I won't," I said. Geez, what the hell is behind those doors?

"Good to see you," the bouncer said and slapped Mason on the back. "It's been awhile."

"Yeah." Mason looked back at me again. "I've been busy." He lowered his eyebrows for a second but then looked away. He seemed sad.

Had he missed coming here? Or was he sad that I didn't trust him? Of course I couldn't trust him. I didn't know what weird stuff was behind those doors. And Mason had introduced Patrick to whatever it was. I wasn't trying to vilify Mason. But I felt nauseous standing there. I didn't care why Patrick had cheated on me anymore. I cared about why Mason was going to cheat on me. Because he would. Maybe not anytime soon, but he would. Maybe I could prevent that. I wanted to be able to give him what he wanted. Because I was falling for him. No matter what I told myself. I could see myself loving him. I could see a future with him. And it terrified me.

I wasn't backing down now. I was here. And I was determined to see what was behind those doors.

"Are we good to go then?" I asked.

The bouncer smiled. "She has a lot to learn." He winked at Mason.

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