“I just know how you are with your sisters, but this is serious, Mads. Real serious.”
“Okay, what is it?” she asks.
“What can you tell me about Weston?” I ask as I pull into the driveway. The phone goes silent as I walk inside the house and immediately go to the fridge for a bottle of water. “Maddie?”
“Yeah, sorry. Just kinda blindsided me. I don’t know much about him, honestly, other than the fact he doesn’t want Sophie to hang around anyone but him. She has even cut off Lennon and me, which is fucked up if you ask me. We only get her attention when Weston isn’t around.” I can tell she doesn’t like him very much either, which says a lot. Out of the three of them, she’s the most outgoing and easiest to get along with.
“I’m really worried about her, Mason,” she says.
I let out a deep breath. “Trust me, I am too.”
“What are you up to, Mason?” She’s smarter than any of us really gives her credit for.
“I’m just doing some research. Something isn’t right about her boyfriend, and I’m worried as fuck that he’s not who he says he is.”
“Good.” I can tell she’s smiling. “Thank you. I’ve had a bad feeling about him for a while, but she avoids talking about him. I’ve asked her to join me for lunch so many times over the past month, and she’s given me an excuse every single time. Honestly, I just miss my sister and the way things used to be.”
“I know. Thanks, Mads. Please don’t tell anyone we talked about this.” I look at my phone and see I’m getting another call from Jerad. “Gotta let you go. I’ll keep you updated. If you think of anything, even if it’s something weird or awkward, please let me know, okay?”
“No problem.”
Part of me feels relieved to know it’s not just Liam and me who are concerned. I’m not acting out in jealousy, so to hell with anyone who claims it as so.
I flip over to the other line, hoping he’s still there. “Hey.”
“Damn. Took you long enough.” Seriousness coats his tone. “So. I did some digging, pulled some strings, and got the info much quicker than I thought I would.”
My heart is racing, and it feels as if time stands still as I wait for him to tell me what the fuck he found.
“Looks like he has a history of abuse. When he was a teenager, he stabbed another kid, who lived, but apparently, it was a close call. He got out of it by claiming self-defense. He resisted arrest and assaulted a police officer. Was put on probation, then spent some time in juvie for another assault charge. But the records were sealed because of his age at the time of the incident. There was also a domestic abuse call about four years ago, but my guess is the woman left or he beat her into silence because there hasn’t been anything since.”
“Fuck,” I say, running my fingers through my hair, knowing I need to fill Liam in as soon as possible. “Motherfucker,” I repeat over and over.
“Also…” Jerad continues. “He doesn’t work at the prison. I knew that as soon as I realized he had a criminal history because he’d never be eligible. Still, I checked, and there’s no record of him ever working for the state.”
I blow out a long breath. “Yeah, I called, and they told me they didn’t know who I was talking about. Shit, shit, shit.”
“What are you gonna do, Mason? I know you’re up to something when you ask for favors like this.”
I stare at the whitewashed wall. “I don’t know yet. This is bad, and I’m not sure my friend will believe me without some kind of proof.”
“Let me say this. I think people can change. He was young when the first shit happened, but the domestic abuse is from adulthood, which means his behavior has only escalated. So I think whatever you’re planning, you need to be careful and watch your back.”
“I know.” My mind is running a million miles per hour as I think back to the first night I met the bastard. He was a master of disguise, maintaining a façade in Sophie’s presence. After another warning from Jerad, I end the call and immediately text Liam everything that I learned. He’s just as pissed off as I am, and we’re determined to figure out Weston’s secrets together.
For Sophie. For her safety. Because we don’t give a damn whether she likes it or not.
After I eat some questionable leftovers, I shower and try to sleep. At four in the morning, my bedroom door swings open, and a wide-awake Liam stands in my doorway.
“Get the fuck up. It’s time to go,” he tells me, flicking on the light.