10| Mason's Suzie
Taking the longest shower of my life, I traipsed down the stairs, cursing the tiring day.
A faint sound of an argument became audible, gradually getting more fierce as I neared the living room.
"It's all your fault, you get that?" Rafael roared, shoving Mason away.
For the first time ever, Mason didn't retaliate. He just stood there in shame.
What in the world was happening?
Then I noticed a guest. A brunette around my age, timidly seated on the couch.
"I- It wasn't his fault, sir." She stammered, more than afraid to look at Rafael.
Absolutely clueless, I met my questioning gaze with Allegra's.
"Jake's daughter." She mouthed.
I caught my breath as an effect, taking in her slightly injured condition.
"I'm sorry." Mason mumbled, not daring to look up at anyone.
"It wasn't because of you, Mase!" She said more firmly this time.
I could tell she wanted to say something but couldn't find the courage to do so.
"Say it Suzie. What is it?" Jake urged.
How is she here? Why is she here? Will someone tell me what the fuck is happening!
Her light grey eyes wandered around like a scared rabbit. Her arms were wrapped around herself. It was like she was afraid to exist in this place.
She whispered something into Jake's ears. I couldn't make out what it was. Good, bad, happy, sad? Jake's face was stone cold.
"Suzanne." Rafael said softly, placing a hand over her shoulder. "We won't be able to help you if you don't tell us."
Then she narrated the entire incident of the attack and how she escaped to Mrs White's house. She once again glanced at Jake.
"Tell them." He assured.
"They attacked me to threaten dad." She disclosed.
"What!" Mason and Alli exclaimed.
"Why didn't you tell me this before?" Mason crouched down next to her, taking her fragile hands into his.
Is this what I'm thinking it is?
"Yes." Alli whispered in my ears.
"Did you just read my mind?" I whispered back.
She nodded with a wide smile which soon dissipated into a sad one when she saw them.
"I was afraid they'd hurt him." She sobbed. "They spared my life as a warning to stop dad from searching the Visitant."
She knows about them?
I need to know this story!
"Please quit the job, dad. They'll kill you. You're all I have. I can't let anything happen to you." She cried on her father's shoulder.
"No, listen here sweetheart." He cupped her face. "Nothing will happen to me."
"Why don't you understand dad! I can't lose you." She yelled, standing up on her feet.
"Don't forget your manners, Suzanne." He said sternly.
"Calm down Suzie. Don't stress yourself. We'll figure something out, okay?" Mason rubbed her arm.
"Suzie." Jake sighed. "An innocent girl is in danger. I have some responsibilities here."
"That's okay, Jake. Your daughter needs you." Rafael said in a heartbeat.
Alli looked up at him in shock. I hope she sees for herself that Rafael is a good man.
"I've raised a strong girl, boss."
"Fine, then take a break. She's scared. She needs some mental support." Oliver offered.
A small smile crept up my face. I was afraid Oliver would hate him. But he's got a heart way to big to hold grudges.
"Loyalty is above everything, sir. I had sworn to protect this house and it's people. We're running out of time. Every minute we waste is an extra moment of hell for Camila. She's no less than my daughter. And even you." He pointed a finger at me, smiling.
Aww, I love you Jakie.
"Okay. But I'm sending her to the safe house in Havana. I won't risk her safety." The Leader proclaimed.
"Thank you, boss." Jake bowed.
"What! No! Please don't send me away." She instinctively fisted Mason's sleeve.
My heart broken into pieces. Why are we all so unfortunate with love?
"Listen to me, Suzie." Mason tried to speak but she pushed him away.
"No!"
"Suzanne!" He held her in place. "You'll be safe there. You wouldn't have to be there forever. Try to understand, please."
She crossed her arms, looking away like a stubborn kid.
"I'll make all the arrangements ASAP. She'll leave immediately." Rafael commanded.
I saw that way her face crumbled painfully but there was nothing she could do.
"Why don't you show her around until then." Oliver said to me.
"Sure." I walked up to her with a smile. "Did you see that garden outside? It's amazing." I held her hand, guiding her outside. "Are you coming, Mase?"
His eyes lit up and he jogged towards us with a goofy grin.
"Oh! I'm sorry I didn't introduce myself. I'm-"
"Kiddo. The annoying stubborn bratty kiddo." Mason stuck his tongue out.
"Shut up, Mason." She punched him in the arm and quickly engulfed me into a hug. I was taken aback at the sudden action.
"It's so nice to finally meet you, Vittoria."
"Same, sweetie. This is all so sudden and I've got no idea how all this happened but I'm so glad and surprised at the same time. I mean how can this dork get such a pretty girlfriend."
"Oh, I.. I'm not his girlfriend." She blushed profusely.
"You're not?" I gasped. "Well, good for you."
"Vittoria Vivienne Andress!" He made a grumpy face and we both laughed at him.
"No but seriously, I'm sorry Suzanne. I know what he did and I was the reason."
She shook her head. "Don't apologize Vittoria. In fact thank you. If it wasn't for you, I'd never have met someone as stupid as him."
"I'm right here!" He complained.
Revenge, Masey, revenge. Muahahh.
"Now, now! I'll leave you two alone for a while. This garden gets all the more romantic at night." I winked and walked inside.
I was still trying to get over the fact that Jake could possibly be Mason's father in law. Haw!
"Jake." I poked him in the arm. "You won't kill Mason right?"
"Why would I do that? I like that boy." He praised him and I almost tumbled down.
Crazy! This is crazy! But I liked it.
"What! What am I seeing? Suzie and Mason?" A just woken up Liam rubbed his eyes to adjust his vision as he saw them out in the garden.
So he knows Suzanne.
"I once had a crush on her." He made a mournful face.
"Liam, darling, you have a crush on every girl. There's nothing we can do about it." I ruffled his hair.
"I suggest you don't flirt with my daughter. Because I for once might spare you but Mason won't."
"I wouldn't dare! That guy scares me." He feigned terror.
Then the moment came. All the lightness vanished into thin air which was now filled with tension. A black SUV stood ready by the stairs to take her away from all the people she loved. This wasn't fair. This whole world wasn't fair.
"Your phone, Suzanne." Jake replaced her phone with a burner phone.
"Dad!" She hugged him, her tears seeing no hint of stopping. "I'll miss you."
"We'll meet soon." He broke a small smile, trying to conceal his pain.
"Bye baby, I'll miss you." Allegra said.
And now she finally turned to Mason. This was going to be very painful. I hate goodbye.
This dork stood there clueless, simply staring at her with so much agony in his eyes. At the end, Suzie had to make the move. She buried her head into his chest while he hesitantly held her tight.
"Mase." His name left her lips as a sigh. She cried and then she cried a little more.
"You got this, Suzie. Just stay strong." He gently caressed her head, holding back his tears.
My heart ached. I knew that pain very well. No one deserved to go through it.
Amidst all the sorrow and goodbye, I felt my hand secured by a warm one, drawing small circles at the back of it. That touch was magical. It took away all the fear of losing someone and replaced it with a promise that we'll unite with the one we love some day.
Suzanne tip toed, tilted her head and pressed her lips against Mason's cheeks, letting them stay there for a while.
I found myself clutching Rafael's hand even more tightly as if I'm the one saying goodbye to him. The thought itself brought tears to my eyes but I blinked them away.
"Bye Mason. We'll meet soon." She smiled, wiping away her tears.
"Bye Suzanne." His voice broke.
She glanced at us one last time and that's when she spotted Liam.
"Oh, hi there. Good morning." She let out a small chuckle.
He waved at her. "Take care, Suzanne."
"Nothing will happen to your father, Suzanne. That's a promise." Rafael assured.
"Thank you, sir. For everything."
"It's my duty to protect my people."
She nodded, slipped into the car and it sped away. She was here a few seconds back and now she's not.
Mason kept staring at the gates with empty eyes like she's come back if he did so.
"Let's get in. It's too cold out here." Oliver's stern voice distorted the silence. I felt his fingers curl around my wrist, tearing my hand apart from Rafael's.
My silly heart felt insecure without his touch but I didn't let my mind wander there.
We were about to get in when we heard the tyres screech as the car with the full speed lurched to a halt.
"Did I just see Suzanne in that car?" Toby asked, confused.
"Long story." I stated. I don't even know that story.
"I once had a crush on her." He said dreamily.
No way!
"Jake is right here!" Rafael grumbled.
"Yeah and even Mason." Liam said timidly.
"What happened to you, Tobo?" I asked worriedly, registering the slight bruises on his face.
"You had to just go and ask about an address, Toby." Rafael scolded. He's an idiot. He scolds when he's worried about someone. Definitely an idiot.
"Yeah I did. This isn't anything related to that. A few men were harassing a boy. And I hadn't beaten the shit out of anyone for a fairly long time." He shrugged.
"We forgot this cute face is a mafia." Alli sighed.
"You guys go ahead, I've to talk to this dork. Bye." I pulled him into the garden, forcing him down on a bench.
"Are you going to interrogate me now?" He asked irritably.
"Why didn't you tell me? How long has this been going on? How did this start? Tell me everything. Tell me! Why are you quiet? Answer me!"
"I will if you let me speak." He screamed.
"Oh! Yeah right." I smiled sheepishly. "Did you kidnap her to threaten Jake? Gosh! Why does every kidnapper fall in love with the hostage? Esztar is batshit."
"Put a break on that mouth. I didn't kidnap her." He literally clamped his hand on my mouth.
"I had an eye on her. I got myself to know everything about her. Then I became friends with her with the motive of staying close enough for Jake to feel threatened about her safety. I'm not proud of what I did. But it had to be done." He whispered the last line in guilt.
"So you lied to her?" That came out a little harshly.
Of course he did.
"That's not cool, Mason."
"I told her everything then. I couldn't continue hurting her like that."
"And that solves everything? You have no right to blame Rafael."
"Don't you dare compare me to that moron." He shot up to his feet. "I stopped it right when I thought fucking feelings have made an entry. I risked her telling the truth to Jake. I risked my only way to connect to you. I have done wrong things but at least I've tried making them right."
It's dangerous how he flips hearing his name. I'm surprised the two of them didn't kill each other already.
"Anyway, we aren't talking about that. What happened then?" I asked.
"She didn't talk to me for two days. Oh, and she called me an ugly duckling." He said, pulling a depressed face while I pressed my lips to stop myself from laughing.
"But she understood. She's a nice girl." His lips curled up.
"You love her, don't you?"
He looked far away as if deliberating over the question.
"No, I don't." He replied after a good five minutes of thinking. "But I really like her."
"Are you sure, Mase?"
"Love is a very strong emotion, kiddo. But I don't need to love her to care about her."
Love! Let's not even get there now. I shouldn't have brought that up.
"I should've been more careful. They hurt Suzanne and I failed to protect her." He let his head drop into his hands.
"Don't be like that now. It wasn't your fault." I rested my head over his shoulder.
"This wasn't the first time she was attacked. I sensed something fishy while I had a watch on her. I suspected someone else keeping tabs on her and those were not for good reasons. You know what took me two weeks to come back to you?"
I pieced it together and got the answer. "You were onto finding the person who was stalking her."
He nodded. "Yes, but then it all stopped. I thought she was safe. Nonetheless, I warned her and instructed her to escape to Mrs White's unoccupied house if any such thing happened."
So that how it all happened.
"I'm sorry I kept you waiting. I don't want you to think that I chose her over you. Even now, you are the one who matters the most to me. You and Alli." He corrected.
"What are you saying, Mase. I'm proud of you if anything. I had everyone here but Suzanne needed you. I can't be so selfish."
"It's just that I.. I love you a lot."
"Aww, you're such a cute dork! Come here." I hugged him right, rocking us side to side.
"Ugh! Go away. Don't annoy me now."
"I will, because you love me."
"Yeah, whatever." He rolled his eyes and picked pulled me up from the bench, earning a yelp from me. "Let's go before you catch a cold."
"Are you sure you're okay?" I asked genuinely.
"Of course I am. Now hurry up. We've got a bastard to catch."
"Game on, Shrouded bitch."
Vittoria: Vote, comment, share to reunite Mason and Suzie
Mason: PLEASE VOTE! PLEASE! PLEASE! PLEASEEEEEEE!!!!!'