I Ran From My Psycho Step-brother Straight Into The Alpha's Lap novel Chapter 40

**When Night Grows Softer Hope Returns To Lead Us by Asa Rowan Finn**

Sophie took a deep breath, her mind racing as she recounted the various haunts of her brother, those familiar places where he could easily lose track of time. “He often hangs out at the old arcade, or sometimes at the coffee shop on Maple Street,” she listed, her voice steady but her heart pounding.

“Thank you for that,” Torin replied, his tone serious. “But before you go, there’s something crucial I need to discuss with you. If he’s not at any of those places, it’s highly likely he’s trying to find you. I need you to be incredibly cautious, Sophie. Always be aware of your surroundings. Don’t venture anywhere without the guys. Make sure they go outside first or step out of the car before you do. They’re highly trained, and they will protect you from anything that may come your way, but you have to allow them to do their jobs, alright?”

Sophie nodded, instinctively, before realizing he couldn’t see her. “Okay,” she murmured, her voice barely above a whisper.

“I’m not telling you this to instill fear,” Torin continued, his tone softening slightly. “I just want you to be prepared and safe. Kyle is picking up a phone for you today, one that has all our numbers saved in it. If you ever feel uneasy or if something seems off, you need to call us immediately. Understood?”

“Okay,” she repeated, her heart beginning to race again as a wave of anxiety washed over her.

“Everything will be fine, I promise you that. Just stick close to the guys,” Torin reassured her, his voice steady and calm.

“I will,” she replied, her voice trembling slightly. “Just… be careful out there, okay?”

“I will,” he promised, his voice firm.

“Hey, Torin,” she said suddenly, her mind racing as she remembered something important. “I was wondering…” she hesitated, gathering her courage. “You remember my friend Amy and her little girl, Olivia?”

There was a moment of silence on the line, and Sophie felt her heart race. “What is it, Sophie?” Torin prompted, his voice breaking through her thoughts.

“Do you think it would be possible for them to stay with me at my house until they get back on their feet?” she rushed through her question, her heart pounding in her chest.

“I’ve already taken care of it,” he replied, a hint of relief in his voice.

“What do you mean?” Sophie asked, her curiosity piqued.

“I got them settled into a small apartment and helped Amy arrange childcare for Olivia,” Torin explained, his tone matter-of-fact yet warm.

Sophie was momentarily speechless, her heart swelling with gratitude. “I… I had no idea. Thank you. Thank you so much for doing that. You have no idea how much that means to me,” she said, her voice filled with emotion.

“I’m glad to help. Just be safe, Sophie,” he said, and she could sense that their conversation was drawing to a close.

With a mix of disbelief and joy, Sophie passed the phone to Kyle, who engaged in a brief conversation with Torin. As she stood there, her mind raced with thoughts of how Torin’s kindness had brightened her day. She felt like she was floating on air, eager to check in with Amy and see how everything was going.

Madison, ever the enthusiastic friend, suggested they grab dinner before heading home. After enjoying a hearty meal at a local burger joint, they finally made their way back. Sophie and Madison busied themselves unpacking her new clothes, the excitement of the day still buzzing in the air.

“Thank you so much for today,” Sophie said sincerely, her heart full of gratitude. “There’s no way I could have managed all of that on my own.”

“Of course,” Madison replied with a grin. “What are friends for? Besides, I love spending someone else’s money,” she added with a playful wink. Sophie couldn’t help but smile at her friend’s lightheartedness.

“I’m sorry we didn’t get to your training today. I promise we’ll make up for it tomorrow,” Sophie said, feeling a mix of guilt and determination.

After they finished organizing, Sophie prepared for bed, slipping into the softest flannel pants and a long-sleeved sleep shirt. She picked up her new phone from the end table, a sense of wonder washing over her as she crawled under the covers.

It was hard to believe that Torin had gifted her such a luxurious phone—the latest iPhone model, no less. She knew those weren’t cheap, and a wave of confusion washed over her. Why was he doing all this? He clearly had the means, but surely there were more pressing matters he could attend to than spending money on her.

Madison laughed, guiding her to a punching bag. “Eventually, you’ll train without the gloves, but for now, we’ll start with them on.”

For the next hour, Madison pushed Sophie to her limits, guiding her through a rigorous routine of punches and kicks against the bag. Then came the jogging, jump rope, push-ups, sit-ups, pull-ups, and more. By the end of their session, Sophie felt utterly spent, her muscles screaming in protest, while Madison appeared as energetic as ever.

“Wow, you weren’t kidding. You’ve been doing this for a long time,” Sophie said in awe, her admiration evident.

Madison smiled, a sense of pride in her voice. “Yeah, it’s a passion of mine. Come on, let’s grab some supper. Make sure to take a hot shower tonight and maybe some pain reliever. You’re going to be sore tomorrow.”

Madison wasn’t joking. The next day, Sophie woke up feeling as if she had been hit by a truck. A hot shower helped ease some of the stiffness, and she managed to get through her day at work. Later, she met Madison downstairs for round two of their training.

The days flew by in a whirlwind of activity. Sophie would spend her days working at the shop, then come home to train with Madison for a few hours, followed by a quick dinner before collapsing into bed, only to repeat the cycle the next day.

Despite the exhaustion, Sophie felt invigorated. She could sense her strength growing, both physically and mentally. Work was thriving as well; customers were flocking to the shop, eager to try her famous cinnamon rolls, which were selling out faster than ever.

Sophie found herself enjoying the creative process, with customers even getting involved in suggesting new drinks and voting on their favorites.

Kevin, a familiar face from the shop, seemed to be stopping by more often. Each time he came in, he would strike up a conversation, but Sophie was usually too busy to engage. Finally, he mustered the courage to ask for her number. During a brief lull, she quickly jotted it down on a napkin and handed it to him.

“Thanks,” he said, a grin spreading across his face. “I’ll call you.”

Sophie smiled back, feeling a flutter of excitement, but she didn’t expect much to come of it. Little did she know, she was about to be pleasantly surprised.