Unforgivable Secrets | One Mistake Away Series Bk 1 [Mob Romance]

Chapter 20 - "Hell. That's What's Up."

Mason's POV:

The second I was on the plane I had my phone out. I sent Audrielle an explanation for my abrupt, rude departure. I was sure she all ready knew or at least had an idea, but I wasn't about to leave her guessing. I didn't need to make another enemy.

Clicking my next number saved on speed-dial, I listened to the continual ringing.

Come on... Come on... I drummed my fingers on the armrest. I wasn't worried about making someone angry. It was a red-eye flight with very few passengers on. Any passengers that were on were either all ready sleeping or listening to something on their ear buds.

"Hey! What's up, boss?" Fletcher's voice was a sweet sound to uphold. My head was pounding from the raw emotion, fear, and lack of drinks. I needed all the easement I could scavenge up.

"Hell. That's what's up." I groaned, trying to ease my sore brain.

"Not what I expected to hear." He quietly commented. "Do you need a sober cab or something? It's pretty late."

"I wish it were that simple, Fletch." I sighed, staring out over a city of lights completely enveloped in darkness. "I think we're going to be caught in the middle of the crosshairs between Ricci and the Irish."

Fletcher's silence wasn't nearly as welcoming as I would have normally predicted. "Fuck."

"Sounds about right." I swallowed, rubbing the back of my neck. I was restless. I wanted to be home. I wanted to be protecting the people I loved or at least cared about.

"Where are you now?" I didn't differentiate the anxiety I felt with the calmness of his question.

"On a plane." My answer was short, simple. I felt like all I'd been doing was explaining or hearing explanations.

"Going home or coming here?" I could hear some loudness in the background die away as he spoke. I figured he was either at a party or a bar and was finding his way away from the liveliness of it.

Scratching my head, I tried not to feel the guilt for choosing. "I'm heading to my parents. You will be my next stop. Call me, Fletch, if anything or anyone seems out of place. We need to hit this head on. I'm going to try to get whatever protection I can for us, but things are going to get ugly."

"Understood. Don't worry about us, Mason. I'll get things handled here. Get your family safe." His words lifted an invisible burden off of my chest. I had needed to hear them. "And, Mason ---"

Finding my voice again, I rubbed exhaustion away from my eyes. "Yeah?"

"You can count on me. I won't let you down."

The words nearly sent me stumbling back into tears. I needed to hear that. I needed to know I could count on someone other than my family. I needed to know I wasn't alone in this. The only thing left was to pray we survived this.

"You're a good man, Fletch. I know we've not always seen eye to eye on things, but you've always stood by me. Thank you." I felt the need to breathe the words out to him. I needed him to know that I appreciated him. I didn't say it nearly enough.

"Don't get all sentimental on me, Mason. I all ready knew you loved me, but I can only take so much, man." His words brought a chuckle out of me. I knew he'd been trying to lighten me up. I was grateful for it.

"Take the appreciation, Fletch. Before you know it I'll be back yelling at you for misplacing a shipment or talking too much." I could only hope that reality would come back to what we knew. It was the normal I could only dream of.

"And Mr. Crabby Pants is back." I could practically feel Fletcher rolling his eyes.

"Your creativity has little to be desired." I commented dryly, thankful for the brief distraction.

Fletcher gasped at my accusation. "You insult me, boss. Why don't you rip my heart out and stomp on it while you're at it too?"

Snorting, I looked back out at the dark sky illuminated only by the lights on the plane. "What the hell would I do with your heart, Fletch?"

"Sell it and make millions." I shook my head, a smile teasing my lips as I waited for him to continue. "On a more serious note, do you want me to reach out to my cartel contacts, boss?"

Part of me wanted to say yes. We did need all the help possible, but on the other hand I wasn't sure I wanted to open up another can of worms. The cartel was unpredictable. Ricci was unpredictable enough and we all ready had him against us. Letting out a deep breath, I pinched the bridge of my nose. "Let's hold off for a little bit, Fletch. Let me think about it and we can go from there. I just don't want to get them involved if we don't have to."

"Understood. Anything else, boss?"

"Just keep your phone close. Okay?" I needed to know I could get a hold of him, or that he could get ahold of me quickly if need be as well. I needed that easement. I didn't know how bad things were going to get; I could only speculate.

"I always have it on me." He paused for a moment. "Except---"

"Except what? There's no reason for exceptions here, Fletch." I lost some of my cool. What could be so important that he wouldn't have his phone on him?

"What if I pick up a girl? I mean, it'd be pretty inconvenient if you called during... well... you know..."

I slapped my forehead. There was the Fletcher I knew. "Damn it, Fletch! Figure it out!"

"Right. Yeah. I'll figure it out. Don't worry about it. Forget I said anything." I could hear him stumbling over his words, trying to retract his statement.

"All ready forgotten." Reassuring him, I tried to think of anything else important.

"Good."

I didn't want to go back to that thought, but picking up women sent up a bunch of warning flags. "Ah, Fletch? I have never wanted to get involved in your personal life, but maybe stick with women you know. I don't know what Ricci has up his sleeve, but... you know... just stick with women you know for now. Okay?"

"This is really awkward for you, isn't it?" The humor danced in his voice. He'd dragged me down to his level.

Pinching the bridge of my nose again, I sighed. "Yes. It is. Goodbye, Fletch."

His laugh made me cringe. "Goodnight, Mason."

Flicking my phone off, I tried to ignore the boy's laugh still reverberating throughout my brain. He had so much maturing left to do. He'd come a ways since I'd hired him, but he still had a lot of growing up left to do. At least he did his job decent. I couldn't complain too much about that. Unless he lost an order, or misplaced it, or aggravated a client. Thankfully he'd gotten better. I'd been on the verge of firing him multiple times, but something kept me holding onto him. He was an important part of my crew. And, in some ways, he reminded me of my brother. I had to keep him safe.