A V E R Y
'What the actual fuck? Are you kidding, Mason?' If anyone saw me now, they'd laugh their heads off. I looked like a character from a children's comic; all wide eyes and flushed cheeks.

'I know, it sounds crazy, but I swear, we've checked this over and over. It's true, love.' Mason's voice was concerned on the other end.

I didn't care about the stupid flash drive for a second.

'I need to see you,' I murmured, scanning the training room for anyone else. They'd all left, and as usual, Eric left me the keys with a quick ruffle of my hair.

'When?'

'Now.'

'Okay. Come to the house. Want me to pick you up?'

I sighed, relieved. 'No, I have Sienna's car. See you there. Oh, and Mason?'

'Yes, love?'

I bit my lip. 'Thank you. You know, for everything.'

'The pleasure's all mine,' he replied, his tone soft. Intimate.

I hung up and walked the short distance to the car park. The drive to the house in the woods was a quick one, and I spent it thinking of all the things I would say to Mason when I saw him.

It had been too damn long since I saw him, anyway.

Billie Eilish sang softly in the car, her low voice filling up the quiet.

I couldn't believe it. We finally knew what the Damnation were looking for. All we had to do was locate the damn flash drive before they did. God, if it got into the wrong hands... no words could express how bad the damage would be.

That little flash drive, nicknamed 'GRAVITY', was like a search engine for anyone on the planet. It recorded every call, every text, every photo. Everything you searched.

And worse, it could be used to track people. GRAVITY could find a face from CCTV cameras all over the world. It used the cameras on people's phones, the mirrors on a car, the fucking windows of a building.

So yeah. Pretty serious shit.

If the DM had it in their hands, we'd all be dead. Every single one of us that they'd met. All of our families could be taken, held for ransom.

I parked just outside the woods and got out of the car. The woods were the same as ever, and if I didn't know better, I'd think the place was a jungle and that there was nothing behind it.

I began walking towards the house and pulled out my phone. Maddie picked up straight away and I filled her in about GRAVITY during the walk to Mason's house. She promised to go to Damien as soon so she could to tell him the update.

The house was as beautiful as ever, blending in and standing out in the environment all at once.

I saw Mason through the window before he saw me. The sight of him made me smile.

Jesus Christ. Get a fucking grip.

As the door opened, I didn't wait for Mason to say anything as he appeared, smiling. I just launched across the threshold and hugged him, pressing my face into his chest. His familiar cologne surrounded me and we stayed like that for a bit. Mason didn't say a word or complaint. He stood at the door with me in his arms, rubbing my back.

Occasionally he'd kiss the top of my head and stroke a hand over my hair. It didn't hurt that his chest was muscly too.

It only added to the lo- gratitude I had for him.

'You okay, love?' he asked when I pulled away.

'Yeah,' I replied, smiling up at him. 'I just needed to see you.'

Mason grinned, those beautiful dimples appearing. He ushered me in, closing the door behind him with a soft pop.

When he turged around again, I barely had the time to blink before he was cupping ny face gently in his hands, his fingers caressing my cheekbone, my jaw, my temple.

'I'm going to kiss you now, love. I'd be rather grateful if you let me.'

I didn't say word. Instead, I leaned forward and placed my lips on his. Immediately he responded by pulling me closer and running hus tongue over the seam of my lips. I opened for him with a sharp gasp, because damn, boy could get me breathless with just one kiss.

A PG-13 one at that.

I knew it was wrong to compare, but I couldn't help it. Mason was so different from all of the other guys I'd been with before.

For starters, he'd lasted longer.

But it was just the way he behaved. Simple things like kisses on my forehead, hugs when I needed them. Mason knew me so well that he would wordlessly comfort me if I was in sad or angry.

He understood me.

We pulled back at the same time, both of us flushed. Our lips were swollen.

'Come on, love.'

Mason held my hand and we walked through to the living room. The huge TV was on. Recognising the movie playing, I turned to Mason and smirked.

'Fast and Furious?' I laughed.

He chuckled, a grin on his perfectly sculpted face. 'I live for Vin Diesel and Paul Walker.'

I grinned. He was definitely my kind of boy.

Sitting down on the sofa next to him, I leaned on his shoulder. He watched me, a smirk now playing on his lips.

After a while, we were both engrossed in the movie, and I realised that during the hour that Fast and Furious had kept us captivated, my hand had found its way to Mason's.

He was tracing circles on my palm with one hand, and with the other-

Fucking hell.

He was running the other hand through my hair. My eyes closed and I leaned further into that hand. I almost purred at the joint sensation.

Boy's good with his hands. Although, I already knew that. Nice to see he was making it obvious.

The movie ended and Mason shifted a little beside me. Wait, no under me.

I was lying with my chest on his, our legs tangled in the blanket Mason had gotten from upstairs.

'Shit, did I give you pins and needles?' I asked, embarrassed. How heavy was I?

Mason grinned. He flexed his muscles and yes, I took a moment to appreciate them, because beauty was meant to be appreciated. 'My chest is a little numb and my arms has pins and needles, but I'm fine.'

'Sorry.'

'Don't worry about it. Anything for you, love.' Mason's voice softened and his eyes warmed.

Pecking him on the cheek, I thought to myself, he is the best man I have ever met and there is a possibility that I am falling in love with him.

The realisation didn't shock me as much as I thought it would have done. After all, I was not one of those naïve girls in all the books I'd read who never realised that they liked the guy or that the guy liked them until it became so obvious my little sisters could've pointed it out.

So yeah. I liked Mason. Maybe even loved him.

So what?

It won't last. You know that. He's a Damnation and you're a Salvation. Unless you can think of a bright idea, a way that that particular fact can be overruled... You're pretty much fucked in the long run.

My conscience, as annoying as it was, was right.

Mason held one of my hands in his lap, smoothing them, drawing patterns over my palm. He was waiting for me to start talking. He knew I needed someone to listen and he was going to be that someone.

'I don't know what I'm doing, Mason. I honestly don't. Half the time I think I've got my life ob track, and the rest of the time I keep thinking by about how all this lying is going to catch up with me.'

He watched my face, listening intently.

'I'm lying to my sisters. They don't know I work with Damien against the bad guys. Hell, if they knew I could pick up a gun and fire it with perfect precision, they'd blame themselves for my actions. I can kill a man in hundreds of ways and that is not something to be proud of.'

'It isn't, but you look damn sexy while doing it.' Slightly morbid, but I knew he meant to keep my spirits up.

'And I don't know what I want from life. I honestly don't. Working with Damien has been my job for so long, that I completely absorbed myself in it. I forgot to go out and live like a normal teenager.'

Mason squeezed my hands gently. 'What are some things you've always wanted to do?' H asked, whipping out his phone and beginning to type.

I thought carefully. 'Well, I've always wanted to go to put a lock on that bridge, you know, with someone. In Amsterdam or Paris. It's stupid-'

'Hey, it's not stupid, love. I'm putting it down.' he said, typing away on his phone. 'What else?'

We talked about my bucket list for another fifteen minutes. Things like swimming with dolphins and meeting my favourite authors went on there, as well as learning Italian or Spanish, because they were sent languages.

If anyone spoke a foreign language to me, I'd probably swoon.

Or have a heart attack if Mason spoke them.

'The mile high club?'

'Yeah, why not.' Mason replied, laughing at my bemused expression. 'You gotta do it at least once.'

Snorting, I waved a hand at his phone. 'Put it on there.'

After a few more minutes, I went to the kitchen to get a drink. Mason followed after me a few seconds later, and I poured a glass of juice for him too.

'Damien said there was another mission on Thursday.' That was two days from now. 'Apparently, there are some vital papers being transferred from your dad to a big client. Someone in Russia, I think.'

A muscle feathered in Mason's jaw. 'Well. Father's up to his usual tricks. And Avery... it's not just papers being transferred. There are military grade weapons... And girls.'

I nearly stopped breathing. Fucking pricks coming and trafficking those girls against their will, holding them hostage. Those poor souls.

I'd avenge them. That I swore to myelf.

I'd been in a similar position myself a few years back and I sure as hell was going to try and stop it happening to anyone else.

Mason's hand curled a little, almost as if he'd seen that kernel of darkness in my eyes. As if he wanted to reach out and hold me until the darkness subsided.

'Come with me.'

Mason looked surprised. 'On the mission?'

I nodded. Placing my glass in the sink, I stepped in front of him and loose my arms around his neck. 'Come with me? Everyone will be in disguise anyway, so no one will be able to tell who you are. Unless you-'

He placed a finger on my lips to stop my rambling. 'I'll come.'

'Really?' I had half expected him to say no.

'If it matters to you, then yes, I'll be there. And anyway, I'd like to do anything to stop my father and his cronies.'

I leaned forward onto his chest and nodded. He held me in his arms again.

'You know what you were saying about your sisters? I think there will come a time where you will tell them. Whether that is because you are forced to or because you want to, the time will inevitably come.'

I nodded. I knew this. I had needed someone to tell me this out loud, though.

'I want you there. When I tell them.' I whispered.

Mason simply kissed my head again.

'Always, love.'

***

I'm back! And better than ever. I have so much in store for you...

The secrets will come out someday, whether Avery likes it or not... What did you guys think of the chapter? I tried to put in cute moments with the two of them as I wrote. And I fangirled a little, I won't lie.

Remember, comment, vote, promote and SHARE!

Love you guys,

-M