I stepped out the car, my feet crumbling against the gravel beneath my feet. My heart thudded in the prison of my ribcage. My palms were sweaty and I balled them into fists at my sides, ready to defend myself if it was needed.
I took a few steps towards him and the men in suits standing in a group behind him. All their expressions were the same, fixed in the same smug half-smile, eyes gleaming with the satisfaction that I had walked into their trap. I was trapped, cornered, surrounded. There was nowhere left to run.
Mason stood in front of his men, smiling wickedly, his chocolate brown hair tousled on his head as he ran his hand through it. His eyes were brown and they stared at me as I studied him, waiting for him to move. The silence was deadly and it lay like a thick layer of dust.
"I believe we haven't formally met" His voice was sly, and he continued to grin in the way that made me feel sick. He laughed shakily and took a step towards me. He laughed again and shook his head at me.
"I know who you are. I don't need you to introduce yourself" I said abruptly, not knowing what else to say. "What do you want, Mason?" I muttered.
"You know why I'm here, Harty boy, you know the consequences." He grinned and took yet another step towards me. "You know…"
"I know. I don't have your money. I haven't got it yet, honestly!" I stammered.
"Joe, you know the consequences" he laughed and took one more step towards me so we were face to face. I felt his breath on my face as he spoke again, "Oh Joe, when will you learn," his voice was just a whisper now.
He ruffled my hair and laughed. "Boys, if you will," he smirked.
Three of the men, Luther, Logan and Ryan, charged at me, practically rugby tackling me to the floor. I slashed my fists into them, scratching and clawing myself free from their grasp. I jumped from the floor, and legged it to my car. I put the key in hurriedly and reversed nearly into the men that were on the floor.
My heartbeat rang in my ears, I wiped the sweat from my forehead and tightened my grasp on the steering wheel as if it was my only support.
I knew I was free, for now, but it was only a matter of time until they came after me yet again.