Free Homerun (Pro-U Book 4) by Ali Parker

me if something happens. I'm serious as a heart attack, Layla." He whipped around and gave me a stern look.
    "Okay." I climbed out of the jeep and jogged toward the house, drying my tears and trying to think through what I could do to keep him in the truck and my dad in the house. Having either of them come face to face while my dad was drunk was a tragedy waiting to happen.
    The sound of something breaking caused me to jog up the stairs and walk into the house without being stealthy at all.
    "Layla?" my mom cried out as she curled up tightly on the couch.
    "Daddy?" I lifted my hands as my father moved back from the couch and turned to face me.
    "What is she doing here? Did you call her? Did you think she could protect you?" He turned to face me, and whoever he was... he wasn't the man that raised me, the one that picked me up when I fell and tucked me into bed. The monster in front of me barely looked like my dad.
    "You need to calm down, Dad. Let me get you something to eat and we can talk about softball. The season starts up this next week. Are you planning on coming to my games?" I took a step toward the kitchen as he took a step toward me.
    Fear raced through me as I glanced down to see a thick strip of leather in his hand. "Who called you? Tell me now."
    "No one called me." I took a step back as he took another step toward me. The snarl that came out of him made my blood run cold. "Where's my dad?"
    "Layla, go. Get out of here. I told you to call the cops, not to come-" She screamed loudly as he turned and jerked his wrist, causing the whip to snap out and pop her in the legs.
    "Dad!" I moved toward him, not thinking.
    He turned and flicked his wrist, sending the belt toward me, but someone grabbed me from behind and pulled me out of the way.
    "Oh, fuck no you didn't, Mr. Roberts." Jayce moved around me and grabbed the belt as my father popped it again.
    I watched in horror as he punched my father twice in the face and took him down to the ground.
    "I knew something was up." Jayce glanced up at me. "Call the cops. Now."
    "No. Don't. Please." My mom scrambled off the couch, her nightgown torn and showing the top of her bruised breasts.
    "Mom?" I moved toward her, helping her back on the coach as bile rose up in my throat.
    "Call the cops, Layla." Jayce pressed his forearm down on my father's throat as he thrashed beneath him.
    "Please don't. Please." My mom gripped my shirt tightly, crying through her swollen eyes as she begged me. "Just put him in bed and take all of the liquor. He'll be okay in the morning."
    "Momma," I murmured, lost to the pain of indecision. To listen to Jayce would be the right thing to do, but I knew what it would mean for my mom. Maybe I could take her in, beg Jayce to let her stay with us until things settled down.
    "Please, Layla. Please." She pulled at my shirt. "Please. We'll get him some help. We can start with helping him."
    I glanced up at Jayce as a sob left me. "I don't know what to do."
    "Call the goddamn cops. Now." He was furious. The anger burned across his face and scared me. Was he capable of turning into a monster at a moment’s notice too?
    "I can't," I whispered and stood up, picking up my mom and walking her back to the bedroom. I got her in bed and kissed her forehead. "We'll get him some help. Get some rest and go see your friend, Milly, tomorrow, Mom. She can help with your wounds."
    "Okay, baby. I will. I promise."
    I pulled the covers up to her throat and walked from the room as she cried softly behind me. I locked the door from the inside and closed it.
    Jayce was standing by the door with one hand on his hip, the other pressed to his forehead. He turned as I walked toward him.
    "Why the fuck didn't you call the cops?"
    "You don't understand." I glanced down at my father's lifeless figure and walked out of the house toward my jeep. "Find another way home. I don't need this from you."
    "No. Get in the jeep. I'm just worked up."
    "So is he." I turned and crossed my arms