Chapter 149 CHAPTER 150

Chapter 149 CHAPTER 150
CHAPTER 150
KNOX
My phone rang while I was walking back to Yael’s dorm after practice. I saw Mina’s name on the screen and answered immediately.

“Hey, Bug. What’s up?”

Her voice was shaking and panicked. “Knox! Dad’s here! He showed up at the safe house. He’s trying to get to Mom. He’s drunk and angry. I locked us in the bedroom but he’s breaking the door. Please come now! Hurry!”

My blood ran cold. “I’m coming. Stay on the phone with me. I’m running to the car right now. Do not open the door. Keep Mom away from him.”

I sprinted across campus, heart pounding in my ears. “Mina, talk to me. Is Mom okay?”

“She’s scared,” Mina cried. “He’s yelling that she took everything from him. He’s saying he’s going to make her pay. Knox, he’s breaking the door. The wood is cracking.”

“I’m almost there,” I said, jumping into my car and starting it with shaking hands. “Stay strong. I’m coming. Tell Mom I’m coming.”

I drove like a madman, breaking every speed limit. The entire way I kept Mina on the phone, listening to her cry and the sound of my father banging on the door.

“Knox, he’s inside!” Mina screamed suddenly. “He got in! He’s coming!”

I slammed on the gas. “Hide! Get Mom behind you! I’m pulling up now!”

I skidded to a stop outside the safe house and burst through the front door. My father was in the living room, red-faced and drunk, advancing on Mom and Mina who were backed into a corner.

“Get the fuck away from them!” I roared.

He turned and sneered at me. “Well, if it isn’t my perfect son. Come to save your worthless mother again?”

I didn’t think. I charged him and slammed my fist into his face. He staggered back but swung at me. I ducked and hit him again, harder this time.

“You piece of shit!” I shouted. “You don’t get to come here and hurt them! You don’t get to touch my family ever again!”

He laughed through the blood on his lip. “Your family? I made you. I made all of this. Your mother is nothing without me.”

I tackled him to the ground and started punching him repeatedly. “You beat her for years! You ruined her life! You’re not my father. You’re nothing to me!”

He tried to fight back, but I was bigger, stronger, and angrier. I kept hitting him until I heard sirens in the distance.

“Knox, stop!” Mina cried. “The police are coming!”

I pulled back, breathing hard, my knuckles bleeding. My father lay on the floor, groaning and bloody.

The door burst open and Aaron rushed in with three of his men. He took one look at the scene and nodded at his guys.

“Restrain him,” Aaron ordered.

His men grabbed my father and pulled him up. He tried to struggle but they held him tight.

Aaron looked at me. “You okay?”

I nodded, still breathing heavily. “Yeah. He came after Mom again. Mina called me in time.”

Aaron’s jaw was tight. “Good. He’s done this time. We have enough to put him away for good.”

The police arrived moments later. Aaron spoke to them quietly, explaining the situation and showing the security footage from the safe house. My father was handcuffed and read his rights. He glared at me the entire time.

“You’ll regret this,” he spat as they dragged him out. “All of you will regret this.”

I stepped forward, voice cold. “The only thing I regret is not doing this sooner. Stay the hell away from my family.”

They took him away. The room fell silent. Mom was shaking. Mina ran to her and hugged her tight.

I walked over and pulled both of them into my arms. “It’s over. He’s gone. He can’t hurt you anymore.”

Mom cried softly against my chest. “Thank you, sweetheart. Thank you for coming so fast.”

Mina looked up at me with tears in her eyes. “You saved us. Again.”

I held them tighter. “I will always come for you. Always.”

Aaron stood a few feet away, watching us. He looked at me and gave a small nod. “Good job, Hale. You did the right thing.”

I met his eyes. “Thanks for coming so fast.”

He shrugged.

The police asked us a few questions and left. When the house finally quieted down, I sat with Mom and Mina on the couch for a long time. We talked about what had happened, about how we felt, about how we were going to move forward now that he was really gone.

“I feel angry,” I admitted. “But I also feel relieved. Like a weight is finally off my chest.”

Mom squeezed my hand. “That’s normal. It will take time. But we’re safe now. Thanks to you.”

Mina leaned her head on my shoulder. “I’m proud of you, big brother. You protected us.”

I stayed with them until they both calmed down and fell asleep on the couch. Then I quietly left the safe house and drove back toward campus. My hands were still shaking from the fight. My knuckles were split and bloody. But for the first time in years, I felt like my mom was truly safe.

When I got to Yael’s dorm, I let myself in quietly. She was waiting for me on the bed, eyes wide with worry.

“Knox,” she said, standing up. “What happened? Are you okay?”

I pulled her into my arms and held her tight. “I’m okay. My dad showed up at the safe house. He tried to hurt Mom. Mina called me in time. I fought him. Aaron came with his men. He’s been arrested. It’s over, Yael. He’s finally going to jail.”

She hugged me back just as tightly. “I’m so sorry you had to go through that. But I’m glad your mom is safe. And I’m glad you’re okay.”

I buried my face in her neck. “I feel angry and relieved at the same time. I wanted to kill him for what he did to her. But now he’s gone. He can’t hurt us anymore.”

Yael rubbed my back gently. “You did the right thing. You protected your family. I’m proud of you.”

We stood there holding each other for a long time. I felt the weight slowly lifting from my chest. My father was finally behind bars. My mom
was safe. And Yael was in my arms.

For the first time in a long time, I felt like I could breathe.