Professor Cline: Redeemed (Professor #2) (8 page)

Mason

I arrived at The Deli Shop twenty minutes later. My heart was pounding in my chest, and the thought of leaving and going home crossed my mind as I pushed open the door.

I was nervous. I’d never spoken a word about the things I’d done and I didn’t plan on telling Victor, but anything I said could be detrimental to me.

Tony was behind the counter, and I gave him a small smile and nod before looking around.

I spotted Victor immediately. Men in suits didn’t frequent The Deli, and there was no missing his head full of grey hair. His thumbs typed away on his phone as I approached.

“Afternoon,” I greeted him, taking a seat across from him.

He glanced up and met my gaze with a smile, placing his phone down next to the coffee mug that was half-empty.

“Mason, my boy, how have you been? It’s been a long time.”

I chuckled. “Yes, it has.” I folded my hands together and placed them on the table. “How was court?”

“Eh, you don’t want to hear about my day in court, son. Tell me what’s on your mind.”

I was trying to deflect and gradually bring the topic up, but I should have known better. He wasn’t one to beat around the bush.

Lifting a hand, I ran it across my forehead, then looked up to meet Victor’s gaze as I let out an encouraging breath.

“First, I need to know that whatever is said here will stay between us, unless discussed otherwise.”

If my whole idea went downhill, I needed to know he wouldn’t say anything to John. And even though it was a high possibility, I had to take my chances. I made the decision to change. It was almost like cleansing my soul.

“Of course.”

“You and John have known each other for a long time. You’re friends; you’d have to be in order to go in as partners, right?”

“‘Friends’ is a loose term when describing the two of us,” he stated after taking a sip from his mug. “When things first started out, when you were younger, yeah, I’d say we were friends. But now, I’d just say we are partners. He’s the one who keeps the company in the green every year.”

I nodded at his words.

“Yeah, but how involved are you with the things he does?”

I didn’t want to just blurt it all out because I had no idea what he knew or even if he knew anything at all. When I was younger, it was drilled into my head to keep my mouth shut. Even though I was older and had control over my own life, it still made me nervous.

With everything I’d seen, this had to be the hardest thing I’d done.

“He runs his side and I run mine. It’s the way it’s always been. Why? What are you getting at?”

I took a deep breath and saw movement out of the corner of my eye. I turned to find Tony on his way over with a smile on his face. I shook my head slightly, wordlessly asking him not to come over, and he nodded in response.

“John isn’t a good man,” I stated as I turned back to meet Victor’s gaze. “Did you know Mom was going to leave him?” I asked. He shook his head and I looked down at my hands. “The night she died, I heard them fighting. She said she couldn’t be with him after knowing what he was doing.”

I glanced up to him again. “At the time, nothing they were arguing about meant anything to me. The only thing that registered was the fact that she was leaving. I didn’t want her to leave without me. I didn’t want to stay with John. That’s when I ran for her, knocking her down the stairs and causing her death.”

Victor frowned, and the images of that night flooded my mind. I looked down at the table and stared as memory after memory assaulted me. “It was the worst day of my life and probably will be until the day I die, but that’s not the only thing that happened. I learned a new side to John,” I stated as I leaned back in my chair. “He called someone after she’d fallen, while I was sobbing hysterically on the landing, and told the person it was done.” I could see the mask of confusion on Victor’s face.

“That it was done, as in she was dead?” he asked, unbelieving.

I nodded. “He said, and I quote, ‘I didn’t have to do it. Mason did it for me.’ Then he told me she wasn’t really my mother and I shouldn’t be so sad about it.”

Victor squeezed his eyes shut and shook his head. “I’m not understanding exactly what you’re trying to tell me, Mason.”

I held up my hand in a gesture to get him to listen. “I know, just let me get this out.” He nodded and I continued. “I’ve never forgotten the words he spoke to me that day, and I never knew what my mother had found until my seventeenth birthday.”

I wiped my hand across my forehead again as Victor sat up straighter in his seat. I leaned forward, rested my elbows on the table and finally told him.

“John is involved in human trafficking,” I said quietly.

Victor scrunched up his face and looked at me as if he’d just eaten a lemon. “That’s just ridiculous.”

I’d prepared myself for that type of reaction.

I simply nodded at his reply. “It
does
sound ridiculous, but I’m also almost ninety-nine percent positive he’s dealing the money through the company.”

And there it was. That slight tilt of his head as he took in my words, like he could almost see how that was possible.

Victor sat back in his chair and pulled at his waistband. “I’m not exactly sure what to say to your allegations. You
do
realize you’re accusing John with money laundering and human trafficking, both of which are very serious offenses if convicted.”

I nodded. “Yes, I know.”

“And how do you know he’s involved in human trafficking? I’m a defense attorney, son. I need some hard evidence.”

I knew what he was getting at, but I didn’t have anything. “I’m the evidence. Look,” I said, letting out a sigh. “I know this sounds farfetched and I don’t have the evidence to back anything up, but that’s why I’m—”

“What happened to you when you were seventeen?” he asked, cutting me off.

I frowned. “What?”

“You said you didn’t know what you’re mother was talking about until you were seventeen. How did you find out? That’s the hard evidence I’d need.”

I was quiet for a moment as flashes of Sophia lying tied to the bed ran through my mind. I still, to this day, felt disgusted with the way I behaved as she writhed in pain on the bed. It was as if something unlocked itself from my mind that day, and I didn’t want to talk about it, but I had to give him something.

I picked at my nails and stared at the table as I spoke, remembering every step I took that day.

“He presented me with a girl,” I confessed, softly. “She was beautiful, every seventeen-year-old’s fantasy. At first, I thought she was a prostitute or something, but I knew something was off. She was tied to the bed, blindfolded, and drugged. He had her naked and ready for me, like some kind of fucking present.” I looked up to meet his gaze and he was staring at me intently. “It was all a test. What he called my initiation.”

He stared at me quietly; I presumed he was letting my words sink in so he could think them over. Then he sat back in his seat and let out a heavy sigh.

“This is a lot to take in. And you’re telling me he’s been doing this for years.” He cleared his throat and shook his head. “I’ve known John for a long time. He doesn’t seem like the kind of man to do any of this.”

“I know what many people
think
of him, but nobody
knows
him. Not like I do. All I’m asking is for you to look at the numbers. He also just started working with a new account firm Thomas & Stanley. You both run the business, but like you said, he keeps it in the green. He’s the one who hires people for the company, I know that just from talking to him, but did you ever think to trump his decision-making? Why do you think he’s wanted most of the control for so many years? I may be wrong, but I highly doubt it.”

“And if I have someone look over the numbers and you turn out to be right, what are you getting out of it?”

“Peace of mind. Revenge. A new beginning. Take your pick. That man fucked up my life.”

For the first time in a long time, I felt like a weight had been lifted from my shoulders. I’d held everything in, and the possibility of John finally getting what was coming to him made me feel slightly elated.

Victor lifted his arm and looked down at his watch. “All right, son. I need to get going.”

“Do you think you’ll do something with what I’ve told you?”

He let out a sigh. “You’ve given me a lot to think about, I’ll say that much. But as of right now, I just need to let all of it sink in. I’ll give you a call before I do anything and give you a heads-up.”

I nodded in response. The relief I was expecting didn’t take over as I watched him walk out the door. I felt on edge and anxious for the next days to come. I knew he was a man of his word and he took confidentiality seriously, so I wasn’t worried that he would say anything to John. But the unknowing factor was going to plague my mind until I heard from him again.

Victor was an honest man, and I knew he loved his firm. He wouldn’t want anything like money laundering or human trafficking to give him a bad name. And even though he was skeptical, I knew he wasn’t the kind of man to assume I was wrong. He’d want to know for sure, and that’s what I was counting on.

I was alone for five minutes before Tony made his way over to me again, a smile no longer tugging at his lips.

“You all right?” he asked with concern.

I nodded. “Yeah. I’m all right.”

“That looked intense,” he stated as he nodded over to the vacant chair.

I shook my head and shrugged. “Just business.”

He narrowed his eyes at me for a moment and I knew he had thoughts flowing through his mind, even questions he wanted to ask me, but I knew he wouldn’t. I’d never done business in his place before. It wasn’t my style. This place held too many good memories for me to taint it, but it was the only location I knew was safe from prying eyes.

“Can I get you anything? You want the usual?”

“Yeah, that’d be great,” I answered with a small smile.

“
Bueno
,” he said. “I’ll have it sent right out.

He walked off, and I turned my head toward the window and closed my eyes. Victor’s actions after our meeting were my only chance of making things right, and I just had to try my best not to dwell on it. I did what I’d set out to do, and I needed to move past it and wait for the pin to drop.

My phone buzzed in my pocket, so I reached in and pulled it out, smirking as I looked at the name and number displayed on the screen.

My day just got a whole lot better.

“Good afternoon, Ms. Blake,” I answered.

“Hi.”

The sound of her voice instantly washed everything away, as if I’d been waiting to hear it all day. It wasn’t something that happened often, but I could definitely get used to it.

“Hi,” I answered back as my food was delivered and placed in front of me.

“Um…so…I was wondering if you’d like to get together tonight.”

I cleared my throat and took a sip of the water that arrived with my food. This was the first time in a very long time that someone had asked me out.

“I know I kind of just blurted it out there, but you said the other night that we were past friends, and I agree. I’d like for us to get to know each other better. That’s if you still want to, of course.”

I was quiet as I thought of what to say. I was impressed that she picked up the phone and called me, taking the chance that I might actually say no. I was always the one who did the initiating, but I did leave the ball in her court Monday night. And at the moment, I was all too willing for some company.

“I’ll have Carlos pick you up at seven.”

“Um…wait. Where am I going?”

I smirked. “He’ll bring you to me, princess. I’ll see you soon.”

I ended the call and began to eat my sandwich. The meeting with Victor didn’t go exactly the way I’d wanted it to, but my night sure the hell would.

Emmalynn

I sat in the living room and stared at the clock. I’d gotten ready an hour early and was trying to patiently wait for Carlos to arrive.

My conversation with Victoria earlier in the day really put things in perspective for me. I
did
want to try things with Mason. I was never one to back down from a challenge, but I’d learned after being in a relationship with Tim that love causes blindness.

Not that I was in love with Mason, but I could see myself eventually getting there, and that’s what scared me.

There was so much I didn’t know, so much I wanted to find out. If I was going to be a good defense attorney then I needed to learn to ask the hard questions. I needed to drop the fear of being rejected and go for it. He was the one who sought me out, so I needed to go with the flow.

Calling him earlier wasn’t easy for me. The butterflies in my stomach were almost too much to bear. If anyone had seen me pacing around the apartment like I was, I would have been completely embarrassed. By the time I’d finally dialed his number, I’d gotten myself so worked up that I almost ended the call. That was when I heard his husky, gravelly voice. Any anxiety I’d harbored over calling him disappeared. Just the sound of his voice over the phone put me at ease. He was sexy and admirable in person, but his voice? He could make panties melt.

I hadn’t expected him to be so forthcoming and agree to see me, but I was glad that he took over the conversation. I had no idea what to expect, but that’s what made it exciting.

A knock sounded on the door and I leapt up to answer it. Carlos stood on the other side, dressed in a navy suit and silver tie.

“Good evening, ma’am. Are you ready?”

I grabbed my bag off the table by the door and gave him a small nod.

We made our way through the city, and I realized Carlos was taking me in the same direction as Mason’s house. I wasn’t sure why, but I half-expected to be taken to his apartment.

Memories of my last night at his house flashed in my mind and I tried to tamp them down, but they were front and center. Almost like a warning beacon telling me to be careful.

“Are you taking me to Mason’s house?” I asked Carlos.

“Yes, ma’am.”

I looked out the window and fiddled with the slit of my maxi dress. I wasn’t one to wear long dresses, but it was new and comfortable. The thought that it gave easy access for Mason only crossed my mind around a million times, but that wasn’t the reason I wore it. Or at least, that’s what I kept telling myself.

We pulled up to Mason’s colonial brick house thirty minutes later, and I smiled at Carlos as he opened my door.

The night was about starting something new. I wasn’t going to let my nerves get the best of me; instead, I’d see where the night took me.

After walking up the steps, I rang the doorbell and glanced behind me at the sound of Carlos driving away.

The door creaked open and I turned to see Mason standing there in a white button down shirt, with the sleeves rolled up, and jeans. I smiled brightly and continued my perusal. He was so damn gorgeous.

I looked up to meet his gaze and slight smirk.

My cheeks heated.

“Do you approve?” he asked as his eyes drifted down my body and back up.

I bit my lip and laughed, diverting my eyes to the ground.

“No more blushing, princess,” he stated, calling me out. Which only made me blush more. “Come in, dinner is waiting.”

I looked up to see him standing to the side, waiting for me to walk through. Excitement coursed through me at his words. Not too long before, he’d told me dinner wasn’t something we’d be doing again. However, I was being invited into his home to eat, and I couldn’t contain the smile that displayed on my face.

I stepped over the threshold and my nose was assaulted with the smells of rosemary and garlic.

“Did you cook?” I asked, glancing back at him as he closed the door.

He smiled down at me as he stepped in close, placing a hand on my lower back to guide me past his office and sitting room.

“I can cook, but I didn’t tonight,” he stated, subtly

We walked through a foyer and past a few closed doors until we finally entered his kitchen. It was beautiful, something you’d see in magazines and nothing like I’d ever seen in person.

“Wow, this is beautiful.”

It looked as if it was as big as Mel’s apartment. The cabinets had a dark finish, the appliances were stainless steel and the island in the middle could seat at least eight people.

I tore my eyes away from every culinary student’s dream and looked at Mason. He had a bright smile on his face, which shocked me every time I saw it because it was so rare. It changed his look so much, and in a very good way.

“I had the kitchen redone when I moved in.”

“And you cook in here?” I asked, unbelieving.

He laughed. “From time to time, yes. But I do have a cook who comes twice a week to prepare meals for me. Ah, and there she is.”

I turned to see a short, Spanish woman walk into the kitchen through a side entrance. She looked up wide-eyed and immediately apologized.

“I’m so sorry, Mr. Cline. I didn’t mean to interrupt.”

He raised his hand, shooing her apology away.

“Don’t worry, Lexi, please. We’ll be dining on the lanai. If you’d please bring the meal out when it’s ready.”

She nodded. “Of course. Ten minutes, sir.”

Mason gave Lexi a small nod and reached out for me. I walked toward him and he again placed his hand on my lower back.

Feeling the heat of his hand through the fabric of my dress sent tingles between my legs. I was surprised at how quickly I became aroused. It wasn’t that I didn’t think I’d get turned on when I was with him, because let’s face it, it was impossible not to. However, I didn’t expect to be turned on so quickly after everything that’d happened.

Guiding me to the side of the kitchen, we walked through a pair of French doors and out onto a patio that ran the length of the house. It was beautiful and looked like something I’d find in a
Homes and Garden
magazine.

The cool night air blew through the opened screen sections, and three dim lamps were turned on around the space.

Leaving me to stand where I was, Mason walked over to a rectangular, marble-looking table and pulled off the top middle section, revealing a small fire pit. Then he reached into his pants pocket and pulled out a box of matches, striking one and tossing it over the coals. It immediately burst into flame, and I stared on in awe.

“Your home is so beautiful, Mason,” I told him as he walked toward me. He reached a hand up and caressed my cheek before leaning down to kiss my forehead.

“Let’s eat.”

He walked away from me and toward a dark-finished, wicker table set. Pulling out a chair, he gestured for me to sit.

I left the warmth of the fire pit and walked toward the chair, keeping my eyes diverted, and took a seat.

“You seem nervous,” Mason stated bluntly.

I looked at him, eyebrows pinched, and opened my mouth to begin a protest of how untrue his statement was, but I stopped myself. “I’m not entirely nervous. I’m more unsure as to what to expect for the night.”

I turned my head toward the French doors to see Lexi walking out with two glasses and a bottle of wine. She set them down by Mason and I watched her quickly walk off.

“Nothing will happen that you don’t
want
to happen.”

I looked at him to see a slight smirk, and I bit my lip to hold back my laugh. That’s what I was worried about. What
didn’t
I want to happen?

“Do I make you uncomfortable?” he asked as he poured us both a glass of red wine.

I knew the meaning of his question. After the last time I was there, he expected me to be frightened of him because of the actions he’d displayed, but I wasn’t. If anything, it intrigued me. I had so many questions going through my mind that I knew I couldn’t ask, especially questions about his cutting. I’d tried that before at the fountain, and he’d only denied what was so blatantly obvious.

“No, you don’t make me uncomfortable. I just…” I didn’t know how to put into words how I felt. “I’m kind of out of my element. What we’ve started…” I gestured between the both of us. “I’ve never done this. I told you that from the beginning. In my mind, I’m going backwards. We’ve already been intimate, but I still don’t know you.”

He gazed at me thoughtfully. “What is it you’d like to know?”

Just then, Lexi walked in carrying two dishes. I had to give it to her for being discreet. She never even made eye contact with me.

“I hope you like filet mignon,” he stated as Lexi set the plates in front of us. “If not, I can have something else—”

“No, no. This is perfect.” The filet was covered in a mushroom cream sauce with asparagus and squash on the side. “It’s been a long time since I’ve had a good steak.”

Mason nodded toward Lexi as he took a sip of his wine. She turned without another word and walked out the French doors, closing them behind her. I guessed that meant she’d no longer be serving us for the night.

“Did you grow up with servants?”

He picked up his napkin and laid it in his lap before picking up his knife and fork.

“Servants? No. A cook? Yes.” He began cutting into his steak, so I took that as a cue to pick up my utensils. “When I was little, my mother took care of the home, but she was a horrible cook. The phrase ‘you can’t even boil water’ was something we used lightly around her.” He chuckled. “She loved to bake, though. She made the most amazing pies.”

I could see the light in his eyes as he talked about his mother. It was one of those occasions that his demeanor completely changed.

“Well, I’m sure I’m not as good as she was, but I love to bake, as well.” I took a sip of my wine and placed it down before I looked up to meet his gaze.

He smiled at me. “Then maybe you’ll bake something for me one day.”

“Maybe I will.”

My gaze drifted down to his lips and I looked at them longingly as his tongue darted out to wet them. They were full and kissable, lips I missed kissing, but I didn’t need to have those images in my mind. I averted my eyes and began to eat.

We ate in silence for a moment before Mason asked me a question.

“May I ask why you wanted to become a lawyer?”

I finished chewing my food and took a drink of my wine.

“Of course,” I stated, clearing my throat and wiping my mouth with my napkin. “It’s always been something I’d wanted to do. I remember going to lunch one Saturday with my parents when I was little and seeing a group of men and two women dressed in business suits. I was fascinated. It wasn’t the kind of attire I ever saw my parents wear, so I immediately started asking questions.” I laughed and shook my head. “I was very inquisitive when I was young.”

“And you’ve changed?” he asked with a smirk.

I smiled. “Not quite.” I took a sip of my wine and continued. “Anyway, my dad told me they were lawyers and that those people helped bad guys go to jail and innocent people stay out. Of course, he might have also mentioned that lawyers make a lot of money, too, and that if I wanted to be successful when I grew up, being a lawyer was a great occupation to choose.”

“Is that why your sister is a lawyer, too?”

I drank the rest of my wine and set the glass down, so Mason picked up the bottle and poured more into it.

“No.” I sighed. “That’s a whole other story. One I’d rather not discuss.” It wasn’t my place to tell Mason about a guy who attacked and sexually assaulted Melanie only to get off on the charges brought against him. She was never the same after that and vowed to make the world a better place. “I
will
say that her deciding to become a lawyer only solidified my want, as well.”

He studied me as he lifted his glass to his lips, and I couldn’t help but stare at them again. With the wine kicking in and my body already heated, words just flowed out of my mouth.

“You have great lips.” My eyes widened in surprise. I bit my lip and bowed my head, holding back the smile that was trying to form. “What I meant was…” My mind was blank on how to explain my embarrassing action.

I glanced up to see Mason smiling.

What the hell is wrong with me?

My face flamed as I looked at him, but it could have very well been all the wine I’d drank making my face feel hot.

Mason lifted a napkin to his mouth then placed it on the table before pushing back his chair. He stood up and walked over to me, outstretching his hand.

“Dance with me?”

I stared at him blankly. “Uhh.” I turned and scanned the room, looking for a radio of some kind, but didn’t see anything. Did he want to dance with no music? Would that be such a bad thing? The sexual tension was already at its highest peak, so it couldn’t get any more frustrating.

I grabbed my glass of wine and took two healthy gulps before latching on to his hand.