Page 203 of Between Hate and Desire

Sophie looks down with a frown. “He lost his job a couple of days ago.”

“Why?” I ask.

“Showed up to work still drunk from the night before. Instead of going home like his boss instructed, Weston started a fight and was told not to bother coming back at all.”

“Was he drunk when he hit you?” I ask, deciding to check Alison’s diaper while we’re in here.

“Yeah, he’s been drinking for days.” Sophie’s shoulders fall.

“So why was he driving?” Maddie asks, handing me the wipes.

“Because he wouldn’t let me drive. That’s why it took us so long to get here. I was trying to stall, get him to sober up, or I threatened to leave without him. He got mad and wouldn’t let me go, so I said I’d wait for him if he’d stop and drink some coffee,” Sophie says, looking at herself in the mirror. “It looks worse than it is.”

“You can’t honestly keep making excuses for him, Soph. He’s a drunk, and he’s hit and hurt you on more than one occasion,” I tell her firmly. “Please, leave him. I’m scared for you.”

She swallows as if she wants to be brave, but he’s sucked all of the confidence out of her. “I don’t have anywhere else to go,” she explains softly. “I don’t have money to get my own place, and I can’t go back to my old apartment. What am I supposed to do?”

“Stay with us,” I offer. “I’ll get an air mattress, and we’ll make it work while we find you somewhere else to live.”

“It’s not just that,” she mutters. “He won’t let me break up with him and leave.”

“What?” Maddie snaps. “What does that mean?”

Sophie shrugs as if she’s embarrassed. I get Alison redressed and place her on my hip.

“I tried to break up with him a few weeks ago when he slammed me against the wall,” she admits, embarrassed. “He left more bruises on my already bruised arms so they’re super sore now. He told me if I left him, he’d kill me.”

“You need to go to the police,” I demand. “You have physical evidence, Soph. Get a restraining order and start documenting it. Put his ass in jail.”

“I’mscared, Lennon,” she says with tears in her eyes.

Maddie gives her a hug, and I pull them into my arms.

“I know, Soph. We love you and will protect you, okay? Hunter, Mason, and Liam are all on your side too.”

“Just don’t say anything yet, okay? I’d rather move my stuff out when he’s sober, tell him it’s over, then if he doesn’t take it well, we’ll get the cops involved.” Sophie wipes under her eyes, careful to avoid her right eye that’s swollen.

“You aren’t doing it alone, though,” I tell her, and we compromise.

After a few minutes, I decide to change the subject and cheer her up. “So I have some news to share…” My words get cut off by a commotion of people running and police sirens.

“What the hell is that?” Maddie says, racing toward the door.

Sophie and I follow, speed walking behind her. There’s a crowd of people huddled by the exit doors. I spot Hunter and Liam. Their outfits and hair are a mess, and as soon as Hunter makes eye contact with me, his distraught look makes me panic. I’ve never seen him this shaken up before, which says a lot, considering the shit we’ve been through.

“What happened?” I ask, noticing at least a half dozen squad cars. Police officers are instructing people to stay back as they run yellow caution tape around an area.

“Your boyfriend…” Liam snaps at Sophie, his jaw twitching with anger.

“Just tell us what happened!” I shout.

“Oh my God,” Maddie screams, jerking our attention to where she’s looking.

Mason’s in handcuffs, his face full of blood, looking like he just got thrown from a tornado.

“He’s going to jail?” I shriek. “For what? Fighting?”

Mason might not be as big as Hunter and Liam, but he’s fast and strong, especially since he has years of boxing experience.

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