Fragile Calm

Gideon adjusted his cufflink, a gesture of cold finality.

He reminded Brooke, "I accepted Mason as my own to stop Wallace from ever targeting you two, so you could have a safe place here in Ashbourne."

Brooke offered a frantic, pale-faced nod.

"I'm doing this because I remember the six years," he added.

Brooke bit her lip and nodded again.

"I'll keep my word. But don't you dare step out of line,"