Page 179 of Playing Dirty

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“Don’t lose me!” she called over her shoulder.

“I wasn’t planning to.”

I lost her in under a minute.

That was expected.

I stayed near the edge for a moment.

Just watching.

Not participating yet.

That was when I saw him.

Mason.

Not immediately close.

But visible.

Always visible in a way that didn’t make sense in crowds like this.

Jace was beside him, already laughing at something.

Niko nearby.

His group.

His space.

He hadn’t seen me yet.

Or maybe he had.

And just hadn’t reacted.

That second option stayed with me longer than it should’ve.

MASON

She was already there.

Of course she was.

Edge of the rooftop.

Not in the crowd.

Not outside it.

Somewhere in between like she always was when she didn’t want to commit to the space.

Serena was nowhere near her.

Caleb wasn’t here yet either.

That detail shouldn’t have mattered.

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