Chapter 30

Chapter Thirty

Mason

I'm going to kill him.

Three years ago, after leaving Ainsley with her brothers, I searched for Porter and warned him. If he screwed with her again, I'd kill him. Instead of dragging him out of the house and doing the deed, I march toward Ainse and hold her hand as she relays her relationship with the scumbag. She squeezes my hand harder as she tells them about James.

Every word breaks my heart, and I can't do anything but hold her as she speaks about the most agonizing moment of her life. The day when she drove home, expecting that her parents would protect her and help her heal.

"You were… you never cared," she mumbles, and I catch her right when she's about to crumble and begins to cry.

Gabe takes her into his arms. I let her go, but it pains me to do so. And then Chris growls, "Get the fuck out of our house."

"She twisted my words," Porter claims.

Is he fucking kidding me? She missed the part where he was high all the time and abusing her emotionally. He hid it so well from everyone—even me. I hate myself for not seeing it, but how could I when I'm always traveling.

"Twisted?" Christian is about to punch him.

"Chris, babe." Gabe drags his attention toward his husband and shakes his head.

But Christian ignores his husband. He's fuming. "You dated her while fucking every single girl who crossed your path. I know that for a fact. I caught you several times, but I didn't give a shit because you were single. Why do you think we told you that you weren't good enough for her?"

Before he does something he'll regret, I put myself between them. "He's not worth it. I'll dispose of him."

"After everything we did for you, you hurt our daughter… Forget you ever met us," Chris's low, firm, menacing tone is unusual. "Never cross my path or mention that you know me."

I drag Porter out of the house. As I'm about to punch him, Dad warns me, "Stop. Don't do anything stupid."

"Give me one good reason why I shouldn't fuck up his face and break every bone in his body," I say as I glare at Porter. He's shaking so hard I think he might've peed himself.

"Ainsley." Dad's voice is soft and serene.

"Fine," I say, but I still punch Porter's face with enough force that I hear the crack when his nose breaks. "Get the fuck out of here and never come back. Next time I won't stop."

He jumps in his car and leaves.

"That was…" Dad doesn't finish his sentence, and I don't say a word.

Walking back to the kitchen, I find Gabe holding Ainsley close. "We should take her to one of the bedrooms, maybe call a doctor."

I take her into my arms. "Which bedroom?"

"The room at the end of the hallway," Chris says.

As we go upstairs, I press Ainse close to my chest. "You did good, Supergirl. I'm proud of you. James is too—I'm sure of it."

"I feel like I'm dying all over again."

"You're not, and we're here for you. You did well. They know, and maybe you guys can heal."

When we get to the room, I place her in the middle of the bed. "Don't go," she sniffs. "I wish I had my purse so I could see James's little picture."

I pull out my wallet and take mine out. "Here, you can borrow it."

She sobs even harder, and I hold her until she falls asleep. If I could take her with me and keep her safe from the world, I would. But there's no such thing as a safe place, and maybe what I do becomes more important. I'm trying to create a world where people can live without worrying about people like Porter or worse.