Page 27 of Between Regrets and Promises (Between Us Trilogy #2)

“He has a history of abuse. When he was a teenager, he stabbed another kid, who lived, but it was a close call. He got out of it by claiming self-defense. He resisted arrest and assaulted a police officer. Was put on probation, then spent some time in juvie for another assault charge. But the records were sealed because of his age at the time of the incident. There was also a domestic abuse call about four years ago, but my guess is the woman left or he beat her into silence because there hasn’t been anything since. ”

“Fuck,” I say, running my fingers through my hair, knowing I need to fill Liam in as soon as possible. “Motherfucker,” I repeat over and over.

“Also…” Jerad continues. “He doesn’t work at the prison. I knew that as soon as I realized he had a criminal history because he’d never be eligible. Still, I checked, and there’s no record of him ever working for the state.”

I blow out a long breath. “Yeah, I called, and they told me they didn’t know who I was talking about. Shit, shit, shit.”

“What’re you gonna do, Mason? I can tell you’re up to something when you ask for favors like this.”

I stare at the whitewashed wall. “Not sure yet. This is bad, and she won’t believe me without proof.”

“Let me say this. I think people can change. He was young when the first shit happened, but the domestic abuse is from adulthood, which means his behavior has only escalated. So I think whatever you’re planning, you need to be careful and watch your back.”

“I will.” My mind is running a million miles per hour as I think back to the first night I met the bastard.

He was a master of disguise, maintaining a facade in Sophie’s presence.

After another warning from Jerad, I end the call and text Liam everything that I learned.

He’s just as pissed off as I am, and we’re determined to figure out Weston’s secrets together.

For Sophie. For her safety. Because we don’t give a damn whether she likes it or not.

After I eat some questionable leftovers, I shower and try to sleep. At four in the morning, my bedroom door swings open, and a wide-awake Liam stands in my doorway.

“Get the fuck up. It’s time to go,” he tells me, flicking on the light.

“Have you slept?” I ask, running my hand over my face, my eyes trying to adjust to the brightness.

“No, I don’t have time for that. My flight ran late as usual.

But if Weston’s working the early shift, we need to be in their neighborhood now,” Liam explains.

Considering he’s a bounty hunter, he’s experienced in doing this sort of thing, so I couldn’t have chosen a better person to help with this.

He’s literally experienced in stalking people.

I get dressed, and by the time I put on my shoes, Liam’s already brewed a pot of coffee.

He hands me a to-go cup and sips out of his.

His truck’s still running, and as soon I climb inside, he speeds across town.

Every turn we take, I try to memorize where we are.

I’ve not been invited to Weston’s, and I’m almost certain Liam hasn’t either, but I don’t ask how he knows where they live.

Once we’re in a normal-looking neighborhood, Liam turns off the truck lights, then we sit and wait.

“It’s that house right there.” He points in the distance. Sophie’s car parked next to the bastard’s. Liam pulls out a pair of binoculars and puts them to his face. “Here he comes.”

My jaw locks the moment I see Weston.

“He’s wearing some kind of uniform. Why would he go through all the trouble to lie?” Liam asks.

As the car backs out of the driveway, Liam waits a moment before turning on his lights and following. We maintain a distance, but we’re close enough to keep up with him.

“Where the fuck is he going?” I ask, confused because we’re on the other side of town. We’ve been following him for nearly thirty minutes, and I’m almost concerned he realizes we’re behind him because of the way he’s braking and randomly speeding up.

“I don’t know, but he’s driving erratically like he’s drunk or something.” Liam grabs the steering wheel with white knuckles but trails far away enough not to look suspicious.

Glancing around, I realize we’re in the industrial district. We’re on the opposite side of the city, not even close to the prison at all. The car pulls into a warehouse. Liam slows at the end of the street and turns off his lights. We wait until Weston gets out of the car and walks inside.

“This is weird as fuck,” I whisper.

Liam watches the building like it might disappear as I research the address of what the hell this place is.

I ask Liam for his binoculars and barely make out a sign that says something about storage.

Going back to my phone, I add the word to my search and eventually come across a listing for a security guard position that was posted a year ago.

“It’s a storage warehouse,” I tell Liam. “He’s a goddamn security guard.”

Liam glances at me. “If he’s lied about this, what else is he hiding?”

“That’s what concerns me the most,” I admit. What’s his motivation for lying? Frustration and annoyance take over when Weston steps outside. When I get out of the truck and slam the door, Liam calls out my name and follows me.

“Mason, you’re gonna blow our cover.”

“I don’t give a fuck,” I hiss.

“Alrighty, I guess we’re doing this.” Liam cracks his knuckles. “Gonna fuck him up then?”

I snort. “Well, no. But I have a few words for him.”

When Liam and I round the corner, Weston glances up from his phone and narrows his eyes when he sees us. Normal people would say something, but Weston isn’t normal. He instantly balls his hands into fists.

“What the fuck do you want?” he asks.

Liam takes the lead and pushes Weston with all his strength, knocking him off balance.

Weston stumbles back, losing his footing, and I can smell the alcohol permeating from him.

The motherfucker is drunk, so that means he either started early or woke up still trashed from the night before.

As Weston picks himself up from the ground, Liam places his foot on his chest, knocking him back down.

It’s not fair because Liam is double Weston’s size, and he could easily squish him like a bug.

“Now, we have a few things we need to discuss,” Liam tells him.

I move closer and recognition finally flashes across Weston’s face. “Wait. I know you two fucks. Sophie’s friends, right?”

Liam adds more pressure, keeping him pinned on the ground. “Exactly. Her friends . Now, explain to us why everyone thinks you’re a correctional officer when you’re nothing more than a fuckin’ security guard?”

In a split second, Liam loses his balance as Weston struggles against him and is then standing on his feet.

He marches closer, getting into our faces.

“I’m gonna call the cops on you both for assault and get you arrested.

You have no fucking business following me here.

” He pulls a Taser from his belt and points it at Liam, who rushes him and fights for it, ripping it from his hand.

With adrenaline pumping, I take a few steps forward, then bring my fist back and connect with Weston’s jaw.

He falls to the ground, and I go to him, fist dawn, but Liam holds me back before I can connect with his face again, which is probably for the best since I’m two seconds from destroying him.

Anger and frustration, my old friends, encourage me as Weston glares with rage in his eyes.

Just like at New Year’s, he flips a switch as if he’s emulating human behavior, and the motherfucker smiles.

“You’re such a goddamn pussy.” He spits out blood.

“This isn’t over,” I grit. “You touch her, hurt a single hair on her head, and you’ll be seeing us both again.” It’s not a threat, it’s a promise, and I’m not sure he realizes I’m not joking.

Weston lets out a laugh. “You have no idea who you’re fuckin’ messing with. And if you tell her anything about this, trust me when I say she’ll be the one to pay.”

I see red, but Liam grabs me and pulls me away before I can do anything else.

“If anything happens to her, you’ll be fucking sorry,” I shout.

Liam’s stronger than me, and although I’m heated, leaving is for the best. The last thing I need is an assault charge.

“So that went over well,” Liam tells me as we get in his truck. “Fantastic.”

All I can think about is what he said. “Do you think he’ll hurt her?” I shake my hand, knowing it’s going to sting even more in a couple of hours.

Cranking the truck, Liam releases a sharp breath. “He better not, but I’m not sure what he’s capable of. Did you see the look in his eyes?”

“What look?”

“Exactly. It was like nothing was there. No emotion. Like he doesn’t have a soul or something.”

I nod. “Yeah. He seems off. Sophie isn’t safe. I’m convinced. We need to warn her, Liam.”

We ride in silence, both lost in our thoughts.

“You hungry?” he eventually asks.

I look at the time on my phone and see it’s barely past five. “Sure.”

Before going home, we stop at a twenty-four-hour diner. We order coffee and the daily breakfast special. I’m half-tempted to call Sophie right now and tell her she needs to leave Weston, but it’s as if Liam can read my thoughts because he shakes his head.

“Sophie isn’t gonna listen to us. You know that, right?” He sips his coffee, peering over the rim of the cup.

“Maybe she’ll listen to me.” I’d like to think she’d be reasonable, but after her reaction at Hunter and Lennon’s proposal, I’m not sure. Things have been awkward between us since then. More awkward than normal.

Roaring laughter rips through the quiet diner. “Doubtful. You’re the last person on the planet Sophie is gonna listen to.”

I arch an eyebrow at him. “You’re not a tad dramatic.”

Liam shrugs. “No, just realistic. She’s pissed at you. She’s been pissed at you.”

“For what? I didn’t do shit. I’ve always had her best interests in mind.”

I want to smack the shit-eating grin off his face. “Does she know that, though?”