Page 115 of Safe Place

This must be her mom.

Sophie stiffens beside me. I feel her inch closer. She didn’t expect this.

I know from Nico that this woman reaches out to Sophie occasionally—for money. Thousands at a time. And if she’s here, good. I can put an end to that too.

The room smells like a liquor cabinet gone bad. There are bottles everywhere—counter, table, floor.

She then eyes me. “Who’s this?”

Before Sophie can answer, I step forward. “I’m Sophie’s boyfriend.”

She raises her brows. “Janine,” she says, offering a thin smile.

Then the bathroom door creaks open.

And he steps out—Mark. His face is bruised, and a dark, satisfied part of me is proud that it was my girl who did that to him.

His eyes land on Sophie, and my fists clench before the thought even fully forms.

I don’t give him a chance to speak. I surge forward and drive my fist straight into his jaw.

He stumbles back, crashing into the dresser, a groan tearing from his throat as he tries to stay upright.

I hit him again. Harder.

“Only a weak excuse for a man would ever lay a hand on a woman.” My voice is low, shaking with fury. “Her face. Her arm. And God knows where else.”

Another punch.

“And this—” I snarl, closing the distance, and lay another one on his face. “—this will never be enough for the years of hell you put her through.”

Janine is screaming behind us. “Stop! Stop it! Sophie, make him stop!”

Mark coughs, blood at his lip. “I don’t know what that girl told you, but it’s all lies!”

Then he spits something vile. “The last time I saw her, she was with some blonde boy. Told you, Janine. Your girl’s a slut. She’s been trying to get in my pants since the day you and I got married. Taking advantage of me when I was drunk⁠⁠—”

Rage blinds me. I grab him by the shirt and slam him back against the wall. “What the fuck did you just say, you lying piece of shit?”

Sophie’s voice cuts through the fog. “Micah—please stop. It’s okay. He got the idea.”

Janine turns to her, wild-eyed. “I wanted to give you the benefit of the doubt—but I can’t believe you’d do this to me.”

“Mom!” Sophie says, horrified. “He’s lying⁠⁠—”

Janine’s hand cracks across Sophie’s face. “All these years? You couldn’t find your own? Seems like you’re slutting your way through school just fine. Did you just want what was mine?”

Red floods my vision.

Sophie straightens, eyes burning. “After everything he did to me—and to you—you don’t even ask for my side of the story before blaming me?” Her voice wavers but doesn’t break. “I came here to make sure he never comes near me again. But I’m glad you’re here. So I can tell you that I’m doing the same with you. I’m changing my number, and I never want to hear from either of you again. If you do, I’ll file a restraining order.”

I punch Mark again, harder than before. “This is because I can’t hit a woman,” I snarl, pointing to his wife. Then I shove him to the ground and turn to Sophie, stepping between her and Janine.

“You ever lay a hand on her again,” I growl, “and I swear to God, it’ll be the last thing you do. Both of you.”

I glare at Janine. “Your husband has a record. Strip clubs he used to visit? They’ve got reports. He had a thing for girls the moment they turned eighteen.”

I turn to Mark. “You’re getting your ass back to Illinois. Your parole officer already got a tip. You’re a walking violation.”