“Hello?” he answers after the first ring.
I open my mouth, but only a sob comes out.
“Pepper?” His tone changes from cheery to concerned.
“Hey … it’s me.” I sniff and try to control the urge to sob again.
“What’s going on?” I hear him shuffle before a door shuts.
“Are you home right now?”
“Yeah, we’re here. Do you need me to come get you?”
“No, I’m fine. I’m headed to your house.”
“Okay, Pep. Be careful.”
“Love you, cuz,” I say and hang up.
Throwing my phone on the seat, I glance back at the apartment, where a flicker in one of the windows catches my attention before I convince myself it was just a shadow. Ben doesn’t care, or he wouldn’t have done this.
Breakups suck.
I pull into Mason’s driveway, and the front door flies open. My heart warms, knowing that he was watching for me. He stalks to the car and is standing beside my door before I can even open it. He takes one look at my tear-streaked face and flings the door open, pulling me out of the seat and into a hug. I wrap my arms around him, hiccuping.
“Where is he?”
“Who?” I ask, playing dumb.
“Fuckin’ Ben. He did this. I know it.”
I don’t answer him, and he growls.
“Don’t worry about it. It’s over.” I pull back, looking at him before walking to my trunk and opening it.
Mason pulls my bag out and wraps an arm around my shoulders.
“I’ll kill him,” he promises.
I grin through my tears. “I’ll let you.”
I wrap my arm around his middle, and we walk to the front door.
Ben
I sit, frozen on the couch, as the front door slams behind Pepper. I ache to jump up and run after her, but I can’t. Not just because of my ankle, but also because I have to keep her safe. She can’t be here in case those guys come back. Who knows what they might try? Men like that aren’t law-abiding citizens. They have no respect for anything other than their leader. It showed in how one of them used Pepper against me.
Yeah, I’m a dick for what I did, but I can only hope that Pepper won’t hate me after all of this once I explain. I should have let her decide for herself, but I’m being selfish, not wanting to worry about her as well as Mark during all of this.
Part of me wants to call the department, let them know I heard from Mark. I’m just scared that contacting authorities will end up with him dead, and I don’t want that on my conscience. If I can just get the money, I’m going to talk some sense into Mark and try to convince him to get help.
When this is all said and done, I might just have to kill Mark myself. He’s a shithead.
Now that phase one of my awful master plan has been initiated, it’s time for phase two, which is named I Have No Fuckin’ Clue Where I’m Going to Get Thirty Grand in a Week.
Fuck. My. Life.
28 Pepper
“I hate him,” I hear Mason say loudly. “All she does is fuckin’ sit in her room and cry when she’s not at school or work. Hell, she probably cries the whole time there too.”
I do not.
“Shh. She will hear you.” Jules’s voice is softer, but it’s too late. I can hear every word.
“I don’t care. I’m going to punch his fuckin’ ugly face the next time I see him. He’d better thank his dumbass self that he’s on medical leave right now,” Mason growls, and I hear footsteps as he walks back and forth, his voice getting louder as he gets closer to my room and then fainter as he walks away.
“No one is punching anyone. It’s a breakup. It sucks, but Pepper will be okay, and she doesn’t need you ranting and raving like a lunatic.”
I smile at the image her words produce in my mind.
I push my door open. The soft creak alerts Mason and Jules that I’m on the move, and they go quiet.
“It’s okay. I can hear you. Talk as much as you want,” I say, walking into the kitchen where they stand.
“I told you,” Jules hisses to Mason, and he shrugs, not looking apologetic in the least. “How are you, Pepper?” Jules asks.
“I’ve been better. But I’ve moved from shock into anger. I think I’ll stay in this stage of grief for a while.” I pull open the fridge and hunt around for my leftover sandwich from yesterday.
“Good. Anger. I like it.” Mason grins at me, and I can’t help but return it. “Want to key his truck? Put sugar in his gas tank? Slash three of his tires?”
“Why does all your retribution center around his truck?” I cock my hip against the counter as I open the baggie containing my food.
“Do you not know us men at all? Our love for our vehicles eclipses all else.” He catches the frown on Jules’s face. “Except for you and Ginny, of course. Number one in my life.”
He plants a kiss on her forehead, and I make a gagging face.
“Get a room,” I say, taking a bite.
“Speaking of rooms, what are we going to do about your living situation?”
I groan as I sink into a chair at the kitchen table.
“I don’t know. Can I live here indefinitely?” I say, with a laugh. “Just kidding. Don’t want to cramp your style.”
“You can stay if you need to,” Mason says.
“I’ve already been searching for some apartments. Going to look at one tomorrow after school.”
“Want me to go with you?” Jules looks up from feeding baby Ginny.
“If you want to. I wouldn’t mind the company,” I say with a smile.
I’m thankful for my family for being so generous to take me in for a while. I haven’t told my parents I’m homeless at the moment.
“Are you eating a sandwich for breakfast?” Mason raises one eyebrow and turns his mouth up in a disgusted look.
“Yep.” I give a nod. “It’s never
