Page 67 of Between Regrets and Promises

His voice softens. “Soph.”

“Please,” I beg. “I only managed to get bits and pieces, and it doesn’t help that my shock made it hard to comprehend anything. I was so worried about you. It was overwhelming, almost too much to handle at that moment, but I have to know, Mason. I want to hear it from you.”

Mason runs his fingers through his hair and hesitates. He chews on his bottom lip before rubbing his hand over his jaw. “I don’t even know where to start,” he admits, blowing out a breath.

I patiently wait, not forcing him to speak.

“There was an exchange of words, and I didn’t like the way he was talking about you. I followed him outside with Liam and Hunter behind me. All I wanted was for him to know hitting you wasn’t okay. I warned him to stay away from you and what would happen if he touched you again.” He places his hand on my knee. “It’s not okay that he hurt you. The moment I saw you today, I knew he had punched you, and I wanted him to get the hell out. It was clear you were scared.”

I try to swallow down the lump lodged in my throat.

“But I didn’t wantthisto happen. I just wanted him to know we knew and weren’t gonna put up with it. I told him to fight someone his own size and let him get in my face to prove my point. Once he threw the first punch, I knew that was my opening to take him down and hurt him the way he’s hurt you. My fist connected with his face, and I was sure that’d be enough to get him to leave. It should’ve knocked him out, but he barely stumbled and got right back in my face.” Mason glances down at his knuckles, and I notice how cut up they are.

“Then he pulled out the gun…” I whisper, and Mason nods.

“Fully loaded. He held Hunter, Liam, and me at gunpoint. Even shot off some warning rounds to show us he was serious. At that moment, I thought one of us was gonna die. But I wasn’t gonna allow that to happen. I wasn’t gonna let that bastard win. We’d already lost Brandon, and I kept thinking that this couldn’t be the way our lives ended. I thought about you and your sisters. With the gun pointed at us, my adrenaline spiked, and it all happened so fast. I charged toward him, and we fought for the gun. When it went off, I thought I was shot,” he admits.

I release a ragged breath. “He would’ve killed you.”

Mason's eyes meet mine. “He would’ve killedyou, Sophie.”

I nod and tuck my bottom lip into my mouth. My body’s on the verge of shutting down from the emotional roller coaster I’ve ridden today as Weston’s threats from before we left for the reception echo in my head. I could’ve easily been on the receiving end of that gun because of his anger and his need for control and power. I can’t help but think those bullets were meant for me if I had tried to leave.

The revelation of it all confuses me, and I’m not sure how I should feel.

Grateful I’m still alive?

Guilty Weston’s dead?

Mason’s voice pulls me out of my head. “Did you love him?”

My heart races as I look at the man I wish would’ve given me a chance all those years ago. Right now, I don’t have the strength to put up a wall and hide behind it in front of him.

“I did,” I admit. “I loved the man I thought he was, not the man who hit me.”

His expression doesn’t change, but I can see his pulse ticking rapidly in his neck.

“So now what? What’re the next steps?” I ask.

“Now, I go in front of a judge Monday morning and hope my lawyer can save my ass. But I’ll sleep a lot better tonight knowing you’re safe, and that’s all that matters.”

Mason pulls me into another hug, and I inhale his scent. Before he leaves, he tells me good night and turns off the lamp. I close my eyes and try to fall back asleep, thankful my friends are safe. If something would’ve happened to any of them, I’m not sure I would’ve been able to live with myself.

We’re all okay, even if I don’t feel like I am.

But I have to believe that I will be eventually.

CHAPTER SIXTEEN

MASON

Fuck my life.

It’s the first thing on my mind Monday morning when Serena texts me to let me know she’s on her way to pick me up. Thanks to my dad for bailing me out, I didn’t have to spend the past two nights in jail, but knowing he’s going to be in court and give me grief for getting into troubleagain, I’d almost wish I did. It pisses me off that he was able to pull his title to get me in front of a judge this morning. I don’t want special treatment from anyone.

“Looking sharp,” Serena says the moment I get inside her car and buckle up. “Minus the dark circles under your eyes.”

I turn and glare at her.

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