Chapter 62

Mason's POV

Theo drops into the chair beside me, still grinning like he’s just gotten away with something brilliant. Nathan exhales again, longer this time, and leans back in his chair with the air of a man who’s already accepted defeat and is just waiting to see how bad the damage will be.

“We need a proper plan,” Nathan says, his voice finally level again, though the tiredness in it lingers. “Not just gate-locking and soft threats. This weekend can’t be another mess. We’re already in this too deep.”

“I agree,” I say, glancing between them. “We need to talk to her. Not accuse, not corner, just… talk. We need to understand if she’s really here because she wants to be, or if someone else is pulling the strings.”

Theo nods and scratches at the edge of his jaw. “We speak to her tonight, over dinner. It’s calmer. She’s