I lifted my eyebrows in defiance.

“Please sit there and wait for me. But before you consider walking out that front door alone, use that brain in your head to think about J.R.’s threat and how easy it would be for him to send someone to get you.”

Shaking my head, I walked over to the bar and sat on a stool.

Jed pointed a finger at the bartender. “Keep an eye on her. If she leaves, you get your ass back to Skeeter’s office to tell me.”

The bartender swallowed hard, his face pale. “Yes, sir.” His gaze followed Jed as he disappeared into the back. “Can I get you something?” he finally asked me.

“Water,” I said, pulling out my phone.

He looked worried about what I might do with the phone, but he grabbed a glass and filled it with ice.

I considered sending Mason a text, but I was certain this fell under the acceptable phone calls when you’re taking a break category.

Mason answered before the second ring. “Rose, are you okay?”

At least he didn’t think this was a pathetic attempt to garner his attention. “I’m fine, but I received a phone call about ten minutes ago that I think you should know about.”

“Was it from Joe?”

“No. But it was a Simmons.”

“J.R.? How’d he get his hands on a phone?”

“I have no idea, but he called to tell me he’s coming for me. And you.”

“Where are you?” His voice was tight.

I hesitated, but I’d sworn there would be no more secrets or lies between us. “At Skeeter’s pool hall. I came here to ask him to call Jed off for tonight.”

“So Jed’s still pulling surveillance?” I was surprised by how relieved he sounded.

“Yeah.”

“We need to cancel dinner in Magnolia. It’s not safe.”

That was no surprise, but I was still disappointed. “Yeah, I suspect you’re right.” I hesitated. No secrets. “There’s something else you need to know.”

“Okay . . .”

“When J.R. threatened to kill me, he said he was going to make Skeeter watch before he killed him, too.”

He didn’t speak for several seconds. “I see.”

“It’s probably because Skeeter helped arrange the whole thing.”

“Rose. Don’t.” His harsh tone made me wince. “We both know that’s not why.”

I couldn’t deal with Mason’s jealousy right now. “Jed doesn’t think I should tell Joe. He says Skeeter’s men can offer me better protection.”

He was silent for several seconds. “There’s no denying that the Fenton County Sheriff’s Department isn’t great at protecting people. I agree that Jed and his associates are better equipped to keep you safe from Simmons. Which means we can’t tell Joe. And once again, I’m in a precarious situation.” He sounded professional at first, as if he were talking about a case, but he was openly furious by the time he finished.

“Why are you getting so angry with me?” I demanded. “You’re the one who called Skeeter in the first place!”

“But you’re the one who put us both in this situation!”

I gasped. While he was right, he sounded so angry, so bitter that I knew in my heart he would never forgive me. I sucked in a breath and forced myself to sound strong. “Then let me make this easy for you, Mason. We’re over.”

“What are you talking about?”

“Exactly what it sounds like. You have someone watching you, right? The sheriff’s department?”

He sounded confused. “Yes, but that—”

“So the only person whose safety you’re concerned about right now is mine, right? And that’s why you were forced to do something you didn’t want to do—legally and morally—by calling Skeeter and asking him to protect me. Am I right?”

“Rose, you can’t pigeonhole it like that. You have to—”

“True or false,” I said, surprised at my cold tone. “The only reason you called Skeeter Malcolm was because of my safety.”

“Rose,” he said. “There was no way I could sit back—”

“True or false?”

“True.” I heard the defeat in his voice, and it took everything in me not to cry.

“So the only reason you’re still entangled in the underworld is because of me.” I paused. “True or false?”

“Rose.” The pain in his voice brought tears to my eyes.

“Answer the question.”

“Rose.”

“I need you to answer, Mason. Just answer the damn question.”

“True.” In all my life, I’d never heard so much defeat in one word.

I took several breaths, trying to keep myself together. I had bigger issues to deal with than my silly love life. “Given everything goin’ on right now, I think you should wait to get your things.”

“Rose. Don’t do this.”

“Don’t do what? Advance the time table on the inevitable?” I choked out the last words. “You and I both know how stubborn you are. I broke us. We might try to put us back together, but we’ll never be the same.”

He didn’t answer.

“I love you, Mason”—my voice cracked from my tears,— “and I’m so sorry.”

“Rose, please, sweetheart.” He sounded so broken, I could hardly stand it.“Just think this through. Don’t make such an important decision at a time like this.”

I suddenly had a newfound respect for Neely Kate’s decision. Somehow I’d landed myself in the same place. “You know I’m right.” I could do this. I would survive this. But I had to set him free. I leaned forward, resting my forehead on my hand. “From this moment on, I am no longer your responsibility. I will no longer call you with information or requests, unless they are completely legal in nature.”

“Rose!” he pleaded, panicked.

“I have only myself to blame for this. I know that, but I can’t undo it. I wish you a happy life, Mason,” I sobbed. “I want you to be happy.”

“Rose! Sweetheart. Please, just listen to me! We can—”

But I hung up and held the phone to my chest, knowing I’d done the right thing.

Even if it had ripped my heart to shreds.