Protecting Zoey

Chapter 19: Despair

Mason let out a deep sigh, he winced in pain and gripped his side again as Garrett looked at him with concern. Mason leaned back against the bench letting his head fall back and close his eyes.

"What the hell am I going to do now?" Mason asked opening his eyes and looking up at the sky.

"I don't know, but we'll figure it out." Garrett said trying to sound reassuring even though he had no idea what they could do.

Mason shook his head and looked back at Garrett before dropping his head into his hands.

"There's nothing that can be done now," Mason said sighing into his hands. "I've lost Linda, Natalie and now Zoey."

Garrett put his hand on Mason's shoulder, unsure of what else he could do in this situation. Mason had always been the stronger of the two as they were growing up, reassuring Garrett, and helping him through his problems. He wasn't sure what to do now that the roles were reversed.

Mason finally dropped his hands and looked at Garrett pleadingly. "What am I supposed to do now?"

"I wish I could tell you that everything was going to end up fine," Garrett finally said having a hard time maintaining eye contact with Mason before finally looking directly at him. "But we'll figure it out together, you've always got Millie and I. No matter what happens."

"Millie," Mason said distantly as he looked down. "Another thing we have to take care of, did she tell you everything?"

"Yes," Garrett replied with the anger now showing heavily in his face. "We'll deal with that too, but right now you need to rest."

"We're in this together man, no one has to face this stuff alone anymore." Garrett said firmly grasping ahold of his arm.

Mason was about to push back on the futility of the situation when he heard footsteps approaching. He turned and saw Brianna walking quickly towards them with a determined look on her face.

"Brianna, what are you doing here?" Mason asked surprised.

"I came to help." Brianna said simply. "Considering how you look and what just happened, I think you could use it."

"Help with what exactly?" Garrett asked confused.

"With finding a way to stop Harrison." Brianna said matter-of-factly before looking back to Mason. "I know he just fired you and it isn't for the reason that you think."

Mason and Garrett exchanged a look before Mason spoke up, "Care to explain what's going on?"

"Not here, not tonight." She said looking up and down the walking path. "I'll be at your place first thing in the morning, we can talk there."

Without another word, she turned and walked away leaving Mason and Garrett to stare after her in their shared confusion.

"What was that all about?" Garrett asked looking back at Mason. "Who was she?"

"One of Zoey's friends," Mason said as he tried to push himself off the bench. "Apparently she knows a lot more about everything than I thought, or she's involved in something."

Garrett stood and grabbed ahold of Mason helping him to his feet. "You need to get home and get some rest man; you still have three broken ribs whether you want to believe it or not."

"Oh, I believe it," Mason said bracing his side again as they started walking out of the park. "I can feel it every time I move or breathe."

"I can only imagine." Garrett said shaking his head as they made their way out of the park. "Let's get you back to the house and at least sitting down properly."