Page 63 of Fallen Hero

Game time. Exit Calista Ventura, enter Zara Hawthorne.

My glaze slid to Fallon. His brow raised in question. I shook my head and answered the woman. “Yes. May I ask who’s calling?”

“This is Mr. Bakir’s secretary. He’s asked I inform you dinner tonight will be at CÉ LA VI at nine. Do you know the Sky View hotel?”

“Indeed, I do.”

As a matter of fact, I could see the buildings from my bedroom’s balcony.

“Tower Two. Level fifty-four,” she went on to explain. “Do you need a car sent to retrieve you?”

I caught sight of Mason making his way down the hallway toward the gym—toward me.

After last night’s latest mental break, whereupon I thought it was a good idea to kiss the man, I’d successfully avoided him all day. Now I was stuck, with no avenue to escape.

“No, thank you. But if you could, please inform Mr. Bakir I will have my security detail with me. My driver will stay with the car; however, two of my men will escort me to dinner. They will be discreet,” I finished, with my eyes locked on Mason’s in warning.

His responding smirk told me we were in for a rip-roaring fight after I finished my call.

“That won’t be necessary, Miss Hawthorne. Security is provided.”

Mason’s eyes narrowed.

I cleared my throat.

“That’s a lovely offer. However, I’m a woman, as are you, so I think you will understand when I tell you my guards do not leave my side. If there is an issue with my personal detail joining this evening, please let me know within the hour so I can attend to other business.”

“Yes, Miss Hawthorne.”

Fallon disconnected the call and smiled at me. “Damn. Ice Queen Zara Hawthorne in the house. I was staring right at you and yet I was still wondering where our Calli went.”

No sooner did “our Calli” come out of Fallon’s mouth, Mason growled.

“Was that not to your liking, hotshot?”

“Wanna give us a minute, brother?”

Fallon handed me my phone. “Sure. I’ll go get the popcorn ready. If Mommy and Daddy are going to fight, I need a snack.”

“Please don’t ever call me Mommy again,” I begged.

“You sure? I looked up that website you mentioned.” The man wagged his brows . . . actually wiggled them while he smiled.

I couldn’t remember what website I’d mentioned, and I wasn’t going to dig my current hole deeper, not that I had the chance before Mason growled again.

Oh boy.

Fallon started down the hall, and it was on the tip of my tongue to beg him to come back. Mason didn’t look happy. After a full sweep of my body, he looked unhappier. I glanced down to see why he was frowning. Gym shorts and a sports bra and one boxing glove still on, the other under my armpit. Admittedly, that was gross. I was sweaty and shouldn’t be shoving things in my armpit to hold them, but it didn’t explain the frown.

“What’s wrong now?”

“You’re avoiding me.”

I took a step back. Which was the wrong thing to do. That gave Mason room to walk in and shut the door.

Trapped in a room with Mason.

This was different. This wasn’t our balcony. Our cone of silence didn’t extend to the gym. Anything I said here could and would be used against me.