Todos los capítulos de My Best friend's Brother : Capítulo 11 - Capítulo 20

I stayed in the pool house for three days.Three days of Mason's security team circling the property like vultures. Three days of jumping at every sound. Three days of telling myself I wasn't waiting for him to knock on my door.He didn't.I saw him from the window sometimes. Walking from his Mercedes to the main house. Phone pressed to his ear. Jaw tight. He never looked toward the pool house. Never acknowledged I existed.I told myself I didn't care. I was lying.On the fourth morning, I couldn't take it anymore.I needed air. Real air. Not the recycled stuff from the pool house AC. I needed to feel like a person again, not a prisoner.I slipped out the side door before the security team could stop me. Walked past the pool. Past the main house. Past the gates.The neighborhood was quiet. Expensive. The kind of place where people paid for privacy.I walked until my legs ached. Until my lungs burned. Until I couldn't remember why I'd come back here in the first place.Then I turned ar

Mason pulled away first. His forehead pressed against mine. Both of us breathing hard. His hands still cupped my face like I was something precious.Then he stepped back."Go," he said."What?""Go back to your room. Lock the door. I'll have security drive you to work tomorrow."I stared at him. "That's it?""That's it." His voice was flat. "This doesn't change anything.""Mason—""Go, Lucy."He walked away before I could respond.I stood in the dark foyer, lips still burning, and watched him disappear up the stairs.The next morning, I woke up to a knock on the door.Not Mason. One of his security guys. A man named Derek who looked like he'd never smiled in his life."Mr. Chen said I'm to drive you to work," he said."Mr. Chen?""Mason Chen."Right. Because of course he'd send someone else. Of course he wouldn't come himself. I grabbed my bag and followed Derek to the car.The bookstore felt like a lifeline. Mrs. Patel greeted me with a warm smile and a cup of tea. "You look tired, L

The next morning, I woke up feeling lighter than I had in weeks. Mason had ended things with Vanessa. He'd said he wanted me. He'd promised to try.I smiled at the ceiling like an idiot.Derek drove me to work.The bookstore felt different today. Brighter. The sun was actually shining through the windows. Mrs. Patel was humming behind the register.Ethan was already there, shelving books in the romance section. "Someone's in a good mood," he said when I walked in."What makes you say that?""You're smiling." He tilted his head. "You never smile.""I smile.""Not like that." He grinned. "That's a 'I got laid last night' smile."My face went hot. "Ethan!""Okay, okay." He held up his hands. "I'm just saying. It's nice to see you happy."I grabbed a stack of books and started shelving. He didn't push. Just worked beside me in comfortable silence.At lunch, my phone buzzed.Mason: How's your day?I smiled. He never texted me during the day.Lucy: Good. How's yours?Mason: Boring. I miss y

We set the trap that night.Mason's security team surrounded the warehouse on 5th. Four men. Two cars. Cameras on every corner.I wasn't supposed to be there.But I'd insisted."I'm the bait," I told Mason. "If I'm not there, he won't show.""I don't care. You're staying here.""No.""Lucy—""I'm not going to let you do this alone." I met his eyes. "We're in this together. Remember?"He stared at me for a long moment. Then he swore under his breath."Fine. But you stay behind me. You don't move. You don't speak. You don't even breathe.""Deal."The warehouse was cold. Dark. Empty. I stood in the center of the room, heart pounding, waiting.Mason was hidden behind a stack of crates. His security team was scattered throughout the building.I tried to breathe. Tried to stay calm.Then I heard footsteps. "Lucy."Vincent's voice. Smooth. Confident.I turned. He was standing in the doorway. Dark jacket. Hood down. His face was exactly like the photo Mason had shown me. Hard eyes. Cruel smil

The invitation came on a Thursday. A real invitation. Cream-colored paper. Gold embossed lettering. Hand-delivered to the bookstore while I was at lunch.I found it on the counter when I got back. My name written across the front in elegant script.Inside was a single line.You're invited to the Russo Gallery Opening. Friday, 8 PM. I'll be waiting.I felt sick.I called Mason immediately."He sent me an invitation," I said. "To a gallery opening. He's not hiding anymore.""Don't go.""I'm not going to.""Good.""But—""Lucy. Don't."I took a breath. "I'm not going. But this changes things. He's not just lurking anymore. He's putting himself out there. He wants to be seen.""I know." His voice was tight. "I'll have someone there. Watching.""Okay."We hung up. I stared at the invitation.Vincent was escalating. And this time, he wasn't hiding.Sloane called later. "Liam showed me the invitation," she said. "Did you tell Mason?""Yes. And he said I shouldn't go""Good." She paused. "But