Page 26 of Between Regrets and Promises (Between Us Trilogy #2)

MASON

ONE MONTH EARLIER

It’s gotten to a point where I can’t stop thinking about Sophie.

Every morning when I wake up and every night before I go to sleep, she’s on my mind.

I’m worried as fuck, and Liam is too because she’s avoiding us.

Me, I understand, but him? They were good friends and hung out all the time, but it slowed down the moment she started dating Weston and then abruptly stopped when she moved in with him.

As I’m sitting at my desk eating another shitty microwave meal, I decide I’m not going to let this sit. I can’t seem to shake the bad feeling I have about this guy.

Now that I’m playing secretary at the DA’s office until a forensics position opens in the fall when Jack retires, it’ll make getting information much easier.

Just being Michael Holt’s son gives me an advantage.

Though I curse it most of the time, this time it comes in handy.

Considering Sophie could be in more danger than any of us realizes, I’m not afraid to use it to get what I need.

As I walk across the building to Jerad’s office, I shoot a text to Liam and ask him to call me when he goes on break.

I’ve known Jerad since my first internship right after college.

Back then, he was a nobody here, but now he oversees an entire department of criminal investigators and has access to information I can’t get on my own.

I have no doubt he’ll help me, but I can’t just pick up the phone or shoot off an email with this request. It’ll probably require an explanation of sorts, which I’m ready to give.

There’s a lot of risk asking for an off-the-record background check, but I don’t think I’ll be able to sleep at night if I don’t find out everything I can about this prick.

When I step inside Jerad’s office, he’s busy flipping through a folder of images while eating lunch. When I glance down, I see a horrific crime scene, and I can’t believe he’s able to chew his food while looking at it.

“Dude…” I groan. “You’re fucking weird.”

He shrugs. “To what do I owe the pleasure?”

I take a seat in front of him. “I have a big favor to ask.”

“Daddy couldn’t help?” He smirks, already knowing about my relationship with my father. It wasn’t something I could keep secret years ago when I assisted him in the department. Instead of talking shit, I keep my comments to myself about that, but he sure knows how to press my buttons, as most do.

“No. I don’t want him involved in my business,” I reply curtly.

This causes Jerad to let out a hearty laugh. “Your business is your father’s business, Holt. You already know this. Why do you think you’re here in the big DA’s office doing bitch work?”

I should’ve known he’d give me a hard time. Although I don’t see him that often, this is typical. “You done yet?” I arch a brow, seemingly bored with his antics.

“Eh. I could probably keep going.” He chuckles. “But I’ll spare you. What’s going on? Must be serious if you need my help.”

I sit on the edge of my seat. “You still have access to run in-depth off-record background checks, right? Or can easily get them?”

“Yes,” he draws out, eyeing me curiously.

“I’m concerned my friend is dating a dangerous man, and I need to get some info about him. Can you help?”

He pops an eyebrow. “Might cost ya.”

“Oh, shut the hell up.” I stand, ready to walk out because I won’t beg.

“Sit. You know I don’t like all those dramatics. What is with the Holt family always making a damn scene?”

I sit back down, relieved since I didn’t have a plan B.

“You better remember me when you’re sitting on your father’s throne, okay? What’s the dickhead’s name?” Jerad asks.

The last question causes me to laugh. “Weston Westbrook.”

He narrows his eyes. “Is he a fuckin’ cartoon?”

I snort. “He looks as ridiculous as his name sounds too. Has one of those haircuts I had when I was five.”

Jerad grins. “You must have a thing for this girl.”

I can’t deny it. “I’m worried about her.

She’s showing all the signs of abuse, and the way this guy acts…

I can’t place it. He has that overbearing narcissist vibe to him, and I swear he’s manipulating her emotionally.

I’m seeing the signs: avoidance, seclusion, denial, and excusing the behavior.

The last time I saw her, she looked terrible.

Stressed, worried, upset. The woman who stood in front of me wasn’t the woman I’ve known for years, and I’m concerned about what he’s capable of doing. What he’s already done.”

Jerad lets out a calm breath. “I’ll take care of it. He’s from Sacramento?”

“Honestly, I don’t know much about him other than he lives here and has a correctional officer job or something.”

“Did you search the system for him? See if he’s really a correctional officer? He’d work for the state, and we’d have records on file.”

My eyes go wide. “No. I didn’t even think about it.”

Jerad shakes his head. “And you want to investigate crime scenes.”

“I want to do forensics. It’s different,” I remind him, nearly jumping out of my seat to go back to my desk to search for Weston’s name in the public directory.

“I’ll keep you updated with what I find. Also, don’t tell anyone. I don’t want to risk anything by helping you stalk this guy. Got it?”

I nod. “I owe you big time. Thank you.”

“Should have something for you by tomorrow, maybe earlier,” he tells me as I make my way out of the room.

Once I’m back at my desk, I go to the public directory where all the state employees are listed and search for Weston’s name, but nothing comes up.

I try to convince myself that something is wrong, or I’m not searching the correct place, so I call the prison and ask for him.

If he answers, I’ll hang up. I’m put on hold, and when the woman comes back on the line, she seems annoyed.

“No one by that name works here.”

I sit silent for a moment. “Sorry, I must’ve called the wrong place. Thanks.”

I hang up, my mind reeling. He doesn’t work at the county jail because I know every person there.

But if he doesn’t work at the prison, that means he’s a fucking liar, and who knows what else he’s lying about.

I’m seething and seeing red, but thankfully, my cell ringing pulls me away.

When I see it’s Liam, I pick up the phone and walk to a secluded place where I can have some privacy.

“What do you need?”

“Before you tell me to mind my own damn business, I’ve been doing some digging on Weston.”

“Mason…” Liam warns.

“He doesn’t work at the prison,” I blurt before Liam can say another word.

“What?”

“He’s not in the state directory. He’s not a correctional officer.”

“Goddammit. We need to follow him,” Liam suggests. “We need to learn as much as we can about this bastard before we confront him.”

I snort. “And all this time, I thought you were gonna tell me to let it rest.”

“It’s obvious there’s an issue. I’ll be home late tonight, but I’m off tomorrow. I think Sophie said he leaves early in the morning. We can follow him and see where the fuck he’s going.” I’m happy Liam is suggesting this because I would’ve otherwise.

“You know where they live?” I ask.

“I know everything .”

Snarky asshole.

“Okay, it’s a plan then.” I let out a breath, and we make plans for tomorrow morning before ending the call.

I can’t seem to focus on anything for the rest of the day. My mind is in overdrive as I think about Sophie and Weston and what she must be going through. She’d never tell us. On the way home, I call Maddie and am shocked when she picks up after the first ring.

“Hello, loverboy,” she purrs, which only makes me laugh.

“You’re ridiculous,” I blurt. “But I do have some questions for you. And you can’t say shit to Lennon or Sophie.”

“You think I’m not good at keeping secrets or something?”

“I know how you are with your sisters, but this is serious, Mads. Real serious.”

“Okay, what is it?”

“What can you tell me about Weston?” I ask, pulling into the driveway. The call stays silent as I walk inside the house and grab a bottle of water. “Maddie?”

“Yeah, sorry. You kinda blindsided me. I don’t know much about him, honestly, other than he doesn’t want Sophie to hang around anyone but him.

She’s cut off Lennon and me, which is fucked up if you ask me.

We only get her attention when Weston isn’t around.

” I can tell she doesn’t like him very much either, which says a lot.

Out of the three of them, she’s the most outgoing and easiest to get along with.

“I’m worried about her, Mason,” she says.

I release a deep breath. “Trust me, I am too.”

“What’re you up to?”

“I’m doing some research. Something isn’t right about her boyfriend, and I’m worried as fuck that he’s not who he says he is.”

“Good.” She sighs. “Thank you. I’ve had a bad feeling about him for a while, but she avoids talking about him. I’ve asked her to join me for lunch so many times over the past month, and she’s given me an excuse every single time. Honestly, I miss my sister and the way things used to be.”

“I know. Thanks, Mads. Please don’t tell anyone we talked about this.” I look at my phone and see I’m getting another call from Jerad. “Gotta let you go. I’ll keep you updated. If you think of anything, even if it’s something weird or awkward, please let me know, okay?”

“No problem.”

Part of me feels relieved to know it’s not just Liam and me who are concerned. I’m not acting out in jealousy, so to hell with anyone who claims it as so.

I flip over to the other line, hoping he’s still there. “Hey.”

“Damn. Took you long enough.” Seriousness coats his tone. “So. I did some digging, pulled some strings, and got the info much quicker than I thought I would.”

My heart is racing, and it feels as if time stands still as I wait for him to tell me what the fuck he found.