I Ran From My Psycho Step-brother Straight Into The Alpha's Lap novel Chapter 24

**Chapter 24**

Sophie cast a glance over her shoulder, her heart sinking as she thought of Torin’s retreating figure. “Uh, I think he’s really angry,” she murmured, her voice barely above a whisper.

“He is,” Liam replied, his tone steady and reassuring. “But not at you,” he emphasized, his gaze fixed on her with a hint of understanding. Sophie raised an eyebrow, skepticism etched across her features, but she chose silence over confrontation.

With a heavy sigh, she relented, “Come on,” Liam urged, his voice warm with encouragement. “You’re on your break. Let’s go grab a bite to eat.”

Sophie turned to him, her brow furrowed. “Didn’t you just devour two cinnamon rolls?”

“That was merely a snack,” he shot back, a playful smirk dancing on his lips.

“Come on,” he insisted, nodding toward the door with an air of determination.

“Um, I’m not so sure I should join you,” Sophie hesitated, uncertainty creeping into her voice.

“You absolutely should,” Liam replied, undeterred by her reluctance. “Let’s go. We’ll meet up with Torin.”

“Oh, no, no. That’s really not a good idea,” Sophie protested, her conviction deepening with every word. “I don’t think he wants me around.”

“Well, that just shows how little you understand,” Liam countered, leaving Sophie even more perplexed.

“Fine,” she conceded, aware that arguing would lead nowhere.

“Okay, grab your coat and let’s get moving,” Liam said, his voice leaving no room for dissent. Sophie opened her mouth to voice another objection, but he cut her off smoothly. “You want Torin to calm down? Wear the coat,” he instructed, a knowing glint in his eye.

With a resigned shake of her head, Sophie turned to retrieve her coat from the back room. “Have fun,” Helen called out cheerfully as Sophie stepped outside. Sophie turned, giving her a small wave. The cool air greeted her like an old friend, and she tightened the belt of her coat around her waist. Admittedly, it felt good to be warm for a change.

As she turned, her eyes caught sight of Torin a short distance down the block, engrossed in a phone call. Beside him stood the familiar figure of his companion, always lurking in the background. “Let’s go,” Liam urged, already striding toward Torin. Sophie fell into step beside him, her heart racing as they approached. The closer they got, the more she could hear Torin barking orders into his phone, his tone sharp and authoritative. She felt a pang of sympathy for the unfortunate soul on the other end of the line.

Reaching into his pocket, Torin produced a bottle of ibuprofen, popping it open with a practiced ease. He shook out two pills into his palm and extended them toward her. “Here,” he said, his voice low and steady.

Sophie blinked in surprise, momentarily taken aback. “Thank you,” she managed to say, accepting the pills from him. She quickly swallowed them down with a sip from the water glass in front of her. As she glanced at Torin, she noticed the concern etched into his features. She offered him a smile, but he didn’t return it; instead, he seemed to frown even deeper, his brow furrowing in thought.

Searching for a distraction, Sophie picked up the menu, and her eyes nearly popped out of her head at the prices listed. Everything was exorbitantly expensive, even for a lunch menu. After skimming through the offerings, she settled on a modest cup of soup—the least costly option available. Between that and the bread on the table, she figured she would manage. Just then, her stomach betrayed her with a loud growl, and she felt her cheeks flush with embarrassment. Liam chuckled from across the table, clearly amused by her predicament.

Torin, noticing her discomfort, picked up the basket of bread and handed it to her. Her face burned even hotter, but she took a roll, hoping that nibbling on it would keep her stomach quiet. She tore off a small piece, glancing around to see that none of the men had even glanced at a menu. Torin was still focused on something on his phone, while Max loomed silently behind them.

“We haven’t been officially introduced yet,” Sophie said, trying to break the ice. “I’m Sophie.”

“I’m Max,” he grunted back, his tone curt and uninviting.

Sophie blinked, surprised by his brusqueness. He was even more intimidating than Torin, which was saying something. She took a sip of her water, attempting to calm her racing heart, but her nerves only intensified. Just then, their waitress arrived, and Sophie’s relief was short-lived as she caught sight of her. The waitress was young, probably just a year or two older than Sophie, and she exuded confidence and beauty. With long, flowing blond hair and a figure that seemed sculpted to perfection, she was the epitome of allure. Her makeup was flawless, and her “assets” were prominently displayed. Sophie swallowed hard, feeling acutely aware of her own plainness in comparison. She truly didn’t belong here among these men in this luxurious restaurant.