Page 123 of Between Regrets and Promises

Dalton

Tsk, tsk. We’re not playing by your rules, Mason. This time…justice WILL be served. It’s either gonna be you or her. And if you call the police, your father, or any of your little bitch friends, she’ll be dead before you even find her. Your choice.

I’m sick to my stomach as I hand my phone to Liam. His eyes widen as I try to get a hold of myself.

“What the fuck do I do?” I ask, panting as we walk to the truck.

The wheels are turning in Liam’s head, and I can see he’s thinking of every possible scenario.

“He disabled her location sharing,” he says, sliding his thumb over the screen.

“Motherfucker.” After Sophie moved in, we shared locations with her as a precaution. Knowing Weston’s family might come after me for a wrongful homicide charge, we decided it was better to be safe than sorry since we all worked long hours. Considering what Liam does for a living, we’ve had ours shared with each other for years. He pretends to be tough as nails, but that doesn’t mean I don’t worry about the types of criminals he has to be around.

“Call Jerad. See if he can track her phone number to a cell tower and or even get a specific address since it’s on. If he canpinpoint her location, maybe we can find his car since we know what he drives.”

A million different thoughts stream through my mind, and all I can do is hope Sophie isn’t hurt and is staying strong. Though, by the photo, I know he intends to break her down physically and mentally while fucking with me. He’s a goddamn psycho.

I call Jerad and explain the messages and pictures and what I need from him as we climb inside the truck. Liam instantly starts it, and we begin driving away.

“You’ll have to give me some time, but I can get my guy on it ASAP. You gonna tell your dad or call the cops? Report a kidnapping? You have his license plate number? We could have people all over the city looking for this sick fucker.”

Letting out a smothered breath, I ball my hand into a fist, wishing I could drive it straight into Dalton’s face. “I can’t. He’s threatened to kill her, and after knowing about his wife, I believe him. I can’t get my dad or the police involved, so I have to take matters into my own hands. But so help me God, if I find him and he’s hurt her…”

“Mason,” he warns. “Don’t do anything stupid. I’ll call you when I find out more info. Give me an hour.”

“An hour? A fucking hour? She could be dead by then. That’s too long, Jerad.”

He sighs. “It’s all I can do. Tracing shit takes time, and I have to go back to the office. It’s not like I can do this from my goddamn cell phone.”

“Okay, I’m sorry. But every second she’s gone is another second she’s in danger.”

“I get it, but you need to calm down. I get you’re worried, but I can’t snap my fingers and make it happen.”

Even in situations such as this, Jerad remains calm and collected. He’s doing the best he can, but I’m frustrated as fuck.The stress of Sophie being with Weston’s brother is already wearing me down and this nightmare just began.

Jerad ends the call with a promise to get back with me as soon as he knows something. As we speed down the highway, my mind spirals. Though I want the whole damn city looking for her, I don’t second-guess Dalton’s threats, just as I didn’t doubt Weston had that gun to kill Sophie. Dalton will kill her without a second thought. They’re both psychotics with zero compassion. Dalton’s already gotten away with murder once—hell, maybe more for all anyone knows.

The thought of him touching Sophie sickens me, especially since I doubt she went wherever he took her willingly. She’s a fighter.

Liam drives across town, and we’re soon pulling into the driveway of the house. I look at him in confusion because we need to keep looking for her.

“There’s no reason for us to aimlessly roam the city searching for her when we have no idea where she is. We should wait for Jerad to call and at least give us a location. Continue to interact with Dalton so he doesn’t turn off her phone.”

I release a frustrated breath and nod as we walk into the house. “You’re right,” I admit, trying to find the strength to keep texting him. Before I can finish my thought, another message comes in.

Dalton

Wondering if I should fuck her before I kill her. See what all the fuss is about. What do you think?

A picture comes through of Sophie still restrained to the chair, and he’s pushed her dress so far up her legs that I can see the lace panties she wore for our date. My jaw clenches so tight,I might break a damn tooth. She’s unconscious, and knowing he can do whatever he wants to her creates a feeling inside me that I’ve never felt before.

She’smine. She’sfucking mine. I don’t want him touching her.

“Motherfucker.” A growl comes from deep in my core. I’m so damn helpless, and he knows it.

“We’re gonna find her,” Liam promises, bending down and opening the duffle bag he threw on the floor earlier. “We’re gonna find her and make him suffer.” It’s clear he means business as he pulls a Glock from the bag and loads it.

“Shit. You have a gun?” My eyes widen, and Liam nods.

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