Page 77 of Back On Ice

“Can I get you some food, and we can go back to my hotel?” I ask hopefully, continuing to run my fingers through her hair.

“Mmmm. As long as you keep doing that.”

A soft chuckle leaves me. “I promise. Whatever comes next, we’ll face it together. It’s you and me, Soph.”

Once we’re back in my hotel room, snuggled on the bed after eating some breakfast, I feel like I need to tell her what happened on graduation night. “About that night…”

“Which one?” she asks sleepily.

“The night of Tom’s accident.” I admit, and feel her head shift so she could look at me. She must see the pain on my face because she tries to sit up, but I keep my arms around her so she stays in place.

“You don’t have to talk about it. I don’t know what happened, but now that I know how your dad was…”

I shake my head. “No, I need to get this out. It’s good if you know exactly what we’re dealing with.” I let out a shaky exhale. “Dad and I were in the locker room at the rink. He had me running extra drills, even after practice had ended so we were the only two there. He was berating me, listing off all my mistakes, and I glanced at your text about missing me at graduation.”

My eyes shut tight and I swallow, remembering the way my heart dropped when I never got an answer from him.

“Then your phone call came through, and I tried to answer it. Dad… doesn’t like when he feels like I’m ignoring him. He snatched the phone from me, and… well, the situation ended with him beating the absolute shit out of me.” She stiffens underneath me, and I run my hands soothingly up her back, even though the memories are making me angry as fuck. “After he decided I had enough, he threatened to do twice the damage to Mom if I picked up the phone again. Andthat’swhen I realized just how much power he held over me. I didn’t hear your voicemail, or find out about the accident until the next day. So I texted Tom, explaining everything but begged him not to tell you. I knew that if he did, you would try to get involved and help me, and I couldn’t risk that. The only way to keep you safe was to keep you out.”

“Carter…” When she says my name, it’s full of compassion and regret. Regret for me, and the situation Dad had me in. “You did the right thing. You were only eighteen, what more could you have done? You kept me safe, and while I’m so thankful for that… no more running. I can’t lose you, I don’t know if I… ifwewould survive it.”

“You’re the only one who’s ever had my heart, Soph. And this time, not even the devil himself could make me walk away. Remember, it’s you and me. And that little bean growing inside you.”

As we drift off to sleep together, I try to prepare my mind for tomorrow. Going to the police station, telling them everything I know. Anything to keep my family safe.

That’s what Sophie, and the life she’s growing are. My family.

If anyone ever threatens my family again… let’s just say Dad is lucky I’m not going to risk jail time to give him what he deserves.

After what he’s done to Mom, to me, and by extension, to Sophie, he deserves the worst kind of torture that I would happily give him if it didn’t mean ripping my family apart.

Tomorrow… it’s the first step in ensuring that none of us will ever have to live in fear again.

Chapter Thirty Two

CARTER

Dad’s goingto know what we’re doing.

That’s all I can think as I grasp Sophie’s hand across the center console while we drive to the police station. Each car we pass, my eyes dart to the driver, wondering if it’s Dad, come to make good on his promise early.

Sophie squeezes my hand. “It’s going to work out.” She nods her head confidently. “It has to be.” The last bit is quieter, like it’s more to herself than to me.

The box of documents from Mom sits in the backseat, the seat belt buckled around it to keep it in place. When I’m not staring down oncoming cars, my eyes dart to the rearview mirror to make sure it’s still there. Like it will randomly disappear and along with it, our chance of taking down Dad.

Nodding, I squeeze her hand back. “I know.” Everything will be okay as long as I have her by my side.

By the time we pull up to the police station, my nerves have settled, and Sophie’s hand in mine serves as an anchor, keepingme grounded in reality. We walk into the station hand-in-hand, the box of evidence tucked under my free arm.

There’s a uniformed officer behind the front desk, rifling through some papers when we come in. He looks up at us, his features forming a curious expression as he takes in the box under my arm.

“You folks need some assistance?” the officer asks as we approach. I place the box on the counter, and pat the top. “I have some information about Jeremy Williams I thought you all might be interested in.”

His eyes widen, and he looks back and forth between me and the box before asking, “You’re Carter Williams, right?”

My smile is grim. “Guilty.”

He nods. “I’ll be right back.”

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