Page 59 of Between Regrets and Promises (Between Us Trilogy #2)

“Mason!” She yells my name, and it nearly cripples me. “It’s a trap! Stay away. Please !” She lets out a blood-curdling scream after a loud slapping sound echoes.

“Stupid bitch.” I can hear Dalton’s voice in the background, and my blood boils.

“Soph!” I shout.

“Hiiiii,” Dalton singsongs. “Mason. I’m gonna have so much fun playing with your girlfriend before I kill her. Probably as much fun as you had when you killed my brother. Let’s play a little game, shall we…?”

Hearing her hysterics and sobs in the background nearly brings me to my knees. “Don’t you dare touch her!”

“I’ve already told you once before, we’re not playing by your rules. You’re not in control here. I am ,” he spits out. “My game is very simple. Every time you don’t listen, Sophie gets hurt. It’s up to you…” he taunts, and I see red.

“When I find you, I’m gonna make sure you?—”

The call ends before I can finish my sentence. I slam my fist into the wall and let out a deep groan. Instantly, my knuckles throb, and I want to find him and beat the fuck out of him. I’m so livid and don’t know what to do as my world spirals out of control.

Dalton

Mmm…she tastes as good as she looks. I’m almost sad she won’t be around long for me to play with her little pussy longer.

My fingers fly over the screen as I hold my breath, afraid I’ll scream and otherwise lose my shit.

Mason

Stay away from her. I mean it…

Dalton

I can’t help myself…spreading her blood around and licking it off her is just too good. Fuck, she likes it too. She’s a kinky whore.

Mason

What the fuck do you want?

I grit my teeth so hard, the shooting pain is a welcome distraction while I try to sort my thoughts.

Dalton

Aren’t you paying attention, asshole? You get to watch me torture her, and knowing you’ll never find her in time to save her will be the cherry on top.

Killing her will be revenge for killing someone I loved.

Then you’ll be next because justice will be served.

But I might make her suffer for a while…

it’ll be fun watching your reaction as I describe your girlfriend’s last moments breathing.

Perhaps I’ll have her mouth around my cock first. I’ll take some pics for you.

Liam stands in the kitchen, watching me as I lose my fucking mind. “What is it?”

With shaky hands, I hand him the phone with the messages on the screen. I’m shaking so hard, and my heart races so fast it threatens to give out.

This sick asshole has my entire world and could literally end it all.

Needing to chill out, I go into the bathroom, glancing at an unrecognizable version of myself, and turn on the water.

I splash my face, trying to get control.

Nearly ten minutes pass before I walk back into the kitchen where Liam is and grab my phone from him.

“You okay?” he asks.

Before I can speak, there’s a knock on the door. When I open it, I find Hunter with concern in his eyes.

“Explain,” he orders, pushing past me.

Liam meets us in the living room, and I start from the beginning when I found out who Caleb was and give him all the details of what’s happening. His facial expressions go from shocked to upset to raging pissed.

“So you have no idea where she could be?” Hunter asks, pacing the room. I can see the pulse in his neck erratically beating and know it mirrors my own.

My nostrils flare when I think about how that asshole could’ve taken her anywhere. “Not a clue. Not until we get a location from Jerad.” Pulling my phone from my pocket, I open the text messages I’ve received from Sophie’s phone and show Hunter.

“That motherfucker,” he barks after reading the thread. “He’s stolen my fucking sister!”

I appreciate how protective he is of Sophie too. He’s marrying her sister and has known her as long as I have. When I glance back at the picture of her tied to the chair, it makes me sick to my goddamn stomach. Her lips are busted, and her face is already bruising. When I find him, he’s a dead man.

“You can see why we can’t tell Lennon or Maddie right now,” I say so he doesn’t message them.

When Jerad calls, I put it on speaker.

“I’ve got some info,” he says.

“Tell me.”

“Okay, so I was able to track her number, and it looks like she’s on the north side of town. It’s picking up at the cell tower over by Glenwood Meadows. So she’s got to be in that area.”

“Glenwood Meadows?” Liam confirms, and I nod. He heads out the door, and Hunter and I follow him.

Jerad continues. “If you need backup or want me to put out an alert, please call me, Mason. I don’t want you getting into any more trouble or, hell, hurt. It’s the last thing you need right now. You need?—”

“I got it,” I interrupt. “If I need anything else, I’ll let you know,” I tell him. “And thank you, man. I appreciate your help. I’ll keep you updated.” I end the call before jumping into the truck.

Liam speeds out of the driveway, and my phone vibrates again with picture after picture of Sophie crying and screaming.

His fucking sick messages have tears threatening to fall because I can’t comprehend what she must be going through or how she’s feeling.

I’d give up everything to get her back, even my own life.

The images burn in my mind, but I force myself to look at them. I want the anger to fuel my every move, and I plan to make him pay for this. He’ll be sorry he ever went near her, and I don’t give a fuck about the consequences.

Mason

Hurt her and see what happens…I’ll be your worst nightmare.

He sends a text back with a cut down the length of Sophie’s arm. Blood is everywhere. It doesn’t look deep, but that doesn’t mean he won’t go deeper next time he feels like proving a point.

Dalton

You’re not very smart, are you? This is a game, fucker. And you’re losing.

“He’s cut her,” I wail, my heart lodging into my throat as I gasp for air. Liam steps on the gas, and we’re practically flying down the highway.

“Where are we going?” Hunter asks.

“Weston’s house. He lives close to Glenwood Meadows. That bastard probably took her there,” I reply, kicking myself for not thinking to go there earlier, considering he’s probably been staying there.

In no time at all, we’re pulling onto the street.

The last time I was here was when I helped Sophie pack up her shit and move her to my house.

The inside was a wreck from the fight they had before the wedding reception.

The same day the gun went off and killed him.

The same day he could’ve murdered Sophie.

Dalton had gotten away with killing his wife, so couldn’t he do the same?

I’m sure that’s exactly what Weston thought too.

“We should go in through the back,” Liam orders. “Don’t want to look suspicious and get the cops called on us by the neighbors before we get the chance to grab her.”

Liam leads the way, and Hunter and I follow as he walks around the side of the house. Liam pulls out his gun, then places his back against the brick, and whispers, “Everything sounds quiet, doesn’t it?”

“That doesn’t mean anything. He had her mouth duct-taped,” I remind him.

Seconds later, he lifts his leg and kicks the back door in with the heel of his boot.

“Damn, dude,” Hunter says, impressed, but Liam’s built for shit like this.

Liam keeps his arms stretched out as he points the gun in front of us and walks inside, then clears the room before walking into the kitchen.

On the counter, we see Sophie’s phone with a piece of paper.

My heart fucking sinks when I read the note.

You think I’m that fucking stupid to let you track her number? If so, then you’re the idiot. Say goodbye to your little girlfriend, killer. See you soon, motherfucker. You’re next.

I gasp for air, but it doesn’t help. I lose my balance and lean against the counter, nearly falling to my knees. Liam and Hunter read the note.

“This is all part of his game,” Hunter says as another photo comes through my text.

Dalton has Sophie’s hair wrapped around his fist with a knife to her throat, and I try to choke out words, but nothing comes out.

“He’s gonna kill her,” Hunter whispers.

“Not if we find and kill him first,” Liam retorts as he helps me stand, and we rush out of the house.

“Are you sure we shouldn’t call the cops now? If he’s gonna kill her either way…” Hunter says with concern written all over his face.

“The moment he hears or sees them, he won’t think twice about killing her on the spot.

At least we can appease him while we look for her and shoot him first when we find them,” Liam says.

I want to believe we’ll get there before something terrible happens to her, but with every second that passes, I fear the worst.