29 PAINS AND SHOCK

  ARIEL'S POV   "What are these children doing in my house?" Mason snarled, stepping closer to me.   "This is my house." I raised an eyebrow. "Last time I checked, Andre and I were the ones living here before you came along."   "But he is my brother, and you're just a stranger!" Mason focused his gaze on the little children, giving all of them a death stare. "Now all of you should get the hell out of here!"   "What did you just say?" I threw him an unfriendly look.   "Don't pretend like you didn't hear me."   "Oh, I did." I crossed my arms. "But I just wanted you to repeat that nonsense."   Mason chuckled. "You're talking as if you can do something about it."   "We'll see about that." I generated a fake smile.   "What are you going to do? Beat me up." He mocked. "Come on, Ariel, you know I have the upper hand. You don't want to mess with me." He curled his lips into a sardonic smile.   I fell silent, glaring at him. I knew exactly what he meant. He kept threatening