Protecting Zoey

Chapter 9: The Chaperone

The Pikes had a fundraiser that would run from the afternoon into the evening on Friday and Mason would need to stay till late tonight to keep an eye on the girls as Olivia would be staying over. Darren tried everything he could to send one of his men with the Pikes so that Mason wouldn't have to stay late into the evening but was able to at least get him additional pay for the evening since he was the only one Darren trusted to stay with Zoey.

"I know it's a pain," Darren said as he got ready to leave. "But I really appreciate you doing this. Even with my guys watching the house it wouldn't be a good idea to leave Zoey without someone here."

"No problem," Mason said with a shrug. "I'm getting paid well, it's my job in the end and I actually enjoy spending time with the girls anyway."

"Well, still thank you, Mason," Darren stated looking back over at him. "I've been meaning to ask, any word from your dad or Linda yet?"

"Not yet," Mason replied dejectedly. "Dad's still working on the counter filing since it was closed with no ability to appeal. May take another month or two at the rate things are going."

"I'm sorry to hear that man," Darren said as he put his hand on Mason's shoulder. "Hopefully you'll get some good news soon."

Mason nodded to Darren in appreciation as he made his way to the front door.

"The girls are up in Zoey's room and likely will be through the night, something about a new video game," Darren said with a smile before leaving the house with Harrison and Elizabeth.

Mason made his way into the living room and plopped down on the couch turning the TV on for background noise as he leaned his head back to think. His first thoughts as he sat there were on Natalie as they always were. He was worried about her and still hadn't heard anything from her since he got back from Obin. As he sat thinking deeply Olivia poked her head in to see him sitting alone on the couch, instead of walking in she walked back upstairs to see Zoey.

"He's just sitting down there with his eyes closed," Olivia said as she sprawled out on Zoey's bed. "What do you think he's thinking about all the time Zoe?"

"I'm not too sure," Zoey said with a shrug as she put away some clothes. "But whatever it is, it always seems to be bothering him. I assume it's something to do with his daughter or ex-wife, but he doesn't talk about them much."

"Since he's so distracted it should be easy to sneak out, we may not even need to use the window," Olivia said cheerfully as Zoey collapsed on the bed beside her burying her face in the pillows.

"Oh, come on," Olivia sat up and put her hand on Zoey's shoulder. "Don't be like that."

"How did I let you talk me into this?" Zoey asked in a defeated tone as she rolled her head to the side and glared at Olivia. "Why don't we just ask Mason to go with us?"

"Masons supposed to protect you, Zoe," Olivia said as she jumped out of the bed and made her way over to the mirror. "The place we're headed isn't in the nicest area of town, so he definitely isn't going to want you to go."

Olivia checked herself out in the mirror for a minute before continuing. "Especially knowing your parents are paying him to keep you safe."

"Then we shouldn't go right?" Zoey asked with slight hope in her tone as she finally sat up on her bed looking over at Olivia.

"I told you; Jason's been flirting with me all week at school and invited me to his place." Olivia looked back at Zoey. "You don't have to go if you don't want to, it was supposed to just be him and I."

"Ugh," Zoey grunted as she sighed with exasperation. "Like I would let you go do something like this alone, Jason's always been a bit weird, and I don't think it would be a good idea for you to be alone with him."