Chapter 3 - The Secret Her Father Never Told Her
Maya was off the dance floor before the music ended.
“Dad?”
No answer.
Her mother looked confused.
“He was here a minute ago.”
Mason’s security chief was already speaking quietly into his earpiece.
Maya grabbed Mason’s sleeve.
“Tell me what’s happening.”
“I don’t know yet.”
“You clearly know more than I do.”
“Yes.”
“Then start talking.”
Mason looked around the crowded ballroom.
“Not here.”
“I’m not going anywhere until I find my father.”
“Neither am I.”
That stopped her.
There was no hesitation in his voice.
Mason turned to his security chief.
“Elias.”
“East corridor camera caught Mr. Bennett leaving through the library doors approximately four minutes ago.”
“With whom?”
“Unknown.”
Maya’s face drained.
Mason immediately noticed.
“He may have gone voluntarily.”
“May?”
“Maya.”
“Don’t give me billionaire calm right now.”
His expression softened.
“All right.”
He turned to Elias.
“Find him.”
They moved through the estate without creating a scene.
That was clearly Mason’s specialty.
Everything happened quietly.
No shouting.
No panic.
Guests kept dancing.
Olivia kept smiling.
Nobody realized anything was wrong.
Maya hated how impressive that was.
They found her father in the library.
He wasn’t hurt.
He was standing beside the fireplace.
Victor stood across from him.
A folder lay open on the desk between them.
“Dad.”
Thomas Bennett turned.
“Maya?”
Relief hit her so hard her knees nearly weakened.
She rushed toward him.
“What are you doing?”
Thomas looked embarrassed.
“Talking.”
“With him?”
Victor smiled.
“Your father and I have business to discuss.”
Mason entered behind Maya.
“No, you don’t.”
Victor’s smile disappeared.
Thomas looked between them.
“You two know each other?”
Maya laughed without humor.
“That question has become the theme of my day.”
Mason approached the desk.
His eyes fell on the folder.
“What did he offer you?”
Thomas stiffened.
“This is private.”
“Dad?”
Thomas rubbed his forehead.
The truth came slowly.
Years earlier, before Maya had started college, Thomas Bennett had invested in a small freight company.
The company had nearly collapsed.
Then someone had quietly purchased its debt.
Thomas had spent twelve years believing the matter was settled.
It wasn’t.
Victor had acquired the old financial obligation.
Now he wanted something.
“What?” Maya asked.
Her father looked at Mason.
“Information.”
Maya followed his gaze.
“About Mason?”
Victor closed the folder.
“Nothing dramatic.”
Mason’s expression hardened.
“Get out.”
Victor ignored him.
“I merely wanted to know whether Reed intended to acquire Northline Shipping.”
Thomas looked confused.
Maya didn’t.
Suddenly the strange pieces connected.
Mason.
Shipping companies.
Victor.
Her father’s old freight business.
This wasn’t random.
Victor had known who Maya was because he had investigated Mason.
And Mason had brought security because he knew Victor might appear.
Maya turned toward Mason.
“When did you know?”
His silence answered before his words did.
“Mason.”
“This morning.”
Her stomach sank.
“You knew someone might come here.”
“Yes.”
“And you still came?”
“I increased security.”
“That isn’t what I asked.”
Mason looked at her.
“No.”
The word was quiet.
“You brought this to my cousin’s wedding.”
Victor laughed.
Mason’s head turned.
“Leave.”
This time, something in his voice ended the argument.
Victor picked up the folder.
“You can protect one café waitress, Reed. You can’t protect everyone forever.”
Mason’s expression became still.
Elias stepped forward.
Victor left.
No violence.
No threats beyond the words already spoken.
But the room felt colder after he was gone.
Thomas sat down.
Maya looked at her father.
“Are you okay?”
“I’m fine.”
“What did he want?”
“Exactly what he said.”
“Did you give him anything?”
Thomas looked offended.
“Of course not.”
Maya hugged him.
For several seconds, she forgot Mason existed.
Then she remembered.
She turned.
He was standing near the doorway.
Watching her.
“I need to talk to you.”
“I know.”
Outside, evening had begun settling over the vineyard.
They walked beyond the terrace where music from the reception became muffled.
Maya crossed her arms.
“Start.”
Mason didn’t pretend not to understand.
“Victor Hale and I owned businesses together twelve years ago.”
“What kind?”
“Shipping. Warehousing. Clubs. Security.”
“And?”
“I discovered he was using legitimate companies to conceal illegal operations.”
Maya stared.
“What did you do?”
“I ended the partnership.”
“That simple?”
“No.”
“What happened?”
“I provided evidence to people who could stop parts of his operation.”
“The police?”
“Among others.”
Maya’s heartbeat quickened.
“And now?”
“Now he hates me.”
“You said you weren’t convicted of anything.”
“I wasn’t.”
“That still sounds carefully worded.”
“It was.”
Maya stepped backward.
Mason didn’t move toward her.
That mattered.
He allowed the distance.
“What are you, Mason?”
He looked toward the trees.
When he answered, his voice was quieter.
“Someone who spent too many years believing power was the same thing as safety.”
“That isn’t an answer.”
“No.”
“Are you a criminal?”
His jaw tightened.
“My businesses today are legitimate.”
“Today.”
“Yes.”
Maya swallowed.
“What about before?”
“I grew up around people who operated outside the law. When I was younger, I participated in things I’m not proud of.”
Her chest tightened.
“Did you hurt people?”
Mason looked directly at her.
“I’ve made decisions that hurt people.”
Not a denial.
Not a confession designed to sound impressive.
Just an answer.
Maya appreciated the honesty and hated what it meant.
“Why did you volunteer yesterday?”
He was silent.
“Was it because of my father?”
“No.”
“Did you know about him then?”
“No.”
“Then why?”
Mason looked at her for a long moment.
“Because every Tuesday you put an extra almond croissant in a paper bag for an elderly man who can’t afford breakfast.”
Maya blinked.
“What?”
“You pretend it was ordered accidentally.”
“That has nothing to do with—”
“You asked why.”
He stepped slightly closer.
“You treat people kindly when you think nobody important is watching.”
Maya’s throat tightened.
“That’s why?”
“That’s part of it.”
“What’s the other part?”
His eyes held hers.
“I wanted one day where nobody at the table wanted anything from me.”
Maya had no response.
Behind them, music changed.
Guests applauded inside.
Mason glanced toward the ballroom.
“I ruined your cousin’s wedding.”
“No.”
“Victor nearly did.”
“But you brought the reason he came.”
“That’s true.”
Maya studied him.
For once, Mason Reed looked uncertain.
Not afraid.
Uncertain.
It made him seem more human than anything else had.
“Our twenty-four hours end tomorrow,” she said.
“I know.”
“After that, I need distance.”
A small pause.
“You’ll have it.”
Maya hated how easily he accepted it.
She turned toward the ballroom.
Then Mason’s phone rang.
He checked the screen.
His expression hardened.
“What?”
He answered.
Listened.
Said nothing.
Then looked at Maya.
“What happened?” she asked.
Mason slowly lowered the phone.
“Someone broke into your apartment.”
The blood drained from Maya’s face.
“Was anything taken?”
Mason’s expression told her the answer was worse.
“No.”
“Then why break in?”
“They left something.”
“What?”
“A photograph.”
Maya swallowed.
“Of what?”
Mason stepped closer.
“Of you serving me coffee.”
And written across the bottom in black ink were five words:
May you like
HE CAN’T PROTECT YOU FOREVER.
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