Chapter 56

Nikolai POV

Mason and I are watching Zuri, since King went upstairs to comfort Alyssa. After watching her break down in Gray’s office and not being able to do anything, it’s only fair that he be the one to do it.

Knowing him, though, he’s probably fucking her by now. There’s no doubt in my mind that she’s losing herself in him, using his body to cope with what happened today.

I walk back into the living room with Zuri’s bottle to find her curled in Mason’s lap, her eyes focused on the book he’s reading aloud. She looks fascinated, her tiny hands patting the pages like she can actually follow along with him.

“What nightmare-inducing book are we reading today?” I tease, plopping down on the couch.

Mason barely glances up. “The Green Mile,” he replies. “I brought a few non-horror books for her...figured they were more appropriate.”

So, this is something he planned for? And there’s a gentleness in the way he handles Zuri, like he cares about he