“What happened?” Lennon asks as we make our way to them. The look on their faces isn’t like anything I’ve ever seen before. Police fill the parking lot and yellow caution tape is being drawn. I look around—trying to spot Weston, trying to find Mason, and trying to put all the pieces together—but nothing is making sense.
The only thing that pulls me away from my panic is Liam. “Your boyfriend,” he snaps, his jaw twitching with anger.
Everything happens in a blur. I hear Lennon say something about Mason going to jail. Weston’s name is said. Then something about a fight.
“Where’s Weston? Is he getting arrested too?” Glancing around, I’m worried as hell even though jail might be good for him. It would give him a chance to sober up and me the opportunity to pack my stuff and leave him for good.
I continue searching for him through the crowd. I turn and ask Lennon, “Do you see Weston?”
“Maybe they’re cleaning him up in one of the ambulances,” she suggests, trying to calm my growing hysteria.
“No.” Hunter’s voice rings in my ear as he steps closer to me. “Soph, he’s…” He sucks in a deep breath. “They tried to resuscitate him, but…”
“What?” I hear my voice along with Maddie’s.
Everything goes black as I hold on to Lennon like a life preserver. Before he can continue, an officer walks up and tells the guys they better get Mason a good lawyer, and when Lennon asks for what, I nearly drop to my knees when I hear the word murder.
I’m gasping for breath and cling to Lennon in horror at the realization of what happened, still trying to understand the few details I’ve been given, but nothing makes sense. I sit on the sidewalk, placing my head between my knees, and wish I’d wake up from this nightmare. I never wanted anything horrible to happen to Weston; I just wanted to escape him, and knowing Mason’s responsible tears me apart.
Liam comes to me and helps me up, being as gentle as he can while shock soars through me. I can’t help but feel like this is all my fault. Every bit of it.
He takes me into the reception hall and sits me down on one of the chairs against the wall, then falls to his knees in front of me.
“You look like shit, Soph,” he tells me with a small smile. Looking over my face, he notices my black eye but doesn’t mention it.
“I know. I feel like shit too.” My head is beginning to pound, and I feel like I’m slowly falling into the darkness, a place I don’t want to be mentally. I begin to shake, the adrenaline wearing off as my body tries to process everything that’s happened today.
“Listen.” His voice is completely calm, and I know he’s treading lightly. “Weston had a gun. Did you know he brought one?”
My eyes widen at the realization. What?
Weston had a gun. The realization has bile rising up my throat, and I have to stop myself from throwing up. “No,” I finally say. “I had no idea he even had a gun.” I’m not that surprised, though, but I don’t say that aloud.
Tears fall, blurring my vision. With all the threats Weston threw my way today, does that mean I was his original target? Was he planning to kill me after the reception after he told me to be on my best behavior? My mind spirals out of the control, and Liam places his hand on my knee. I honestly believe he might’ve tried.
“What about Mason? This is all my fault.” I cover my face, not able to look at Liam.
“It’s not your fault, but the officers will need statements from everyone, and I think you need to talk to them and be truthful.” He glances at my eye again; the makeup doesn’t even fool him. Placing his thumb under my chin, he moves my face where he can get a better look at it. Gently grabbing my arms, he inspects the bruises left there too. Liam is pissed, that much I know.
“You have to be honest about the abuse, about how he’s treated you and what he’s said to you. All of it. I don’t know everything that’s happened, but I’ve dealt with some really bad people, Soph. I’ve seen women who’ve been abused by men just like Weston, and unfortunately, it didn’t end well for them. I’ve had to track down murderers, psychopaths, drug dealers, you name it, and I have no doubt Weston would’ve continued hurting you. Now is the time to come clean with the police and not sugarcoat it or lie like you’ve done to the people who love and care for you. I know it won’t be easy, but it’s for your benefit, and honestly, it’s for Mason’s too.”