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“Hey, Parker, I need you to be a big boy about this. Jack is very sick and I need to look after him, just like I would with you if you were sick. And Rae will make sure that you have lots of fun on the ride.”
“Where are we going?”
“To a new home,” I smiled at him. “You’ll love it there.”
“Will Jack be there?”
I swallowed hard, thinking of Jack in the other room, how he could die at any moment. “Of course,” I said, lying to my son for the first time. “But we need to get going now.”
“Can I stay in my jammies?”
“Like I would ask you to change,” I said in mock shock. “Those are so cozy. I think you should stay in them forever.”
He giggled, covering his mouth. “Mama, I can’t wear these to school.”
“You’re right. What was I thinking? Come on.”
He tossed off the covers and crashed into my arms, squeezing his tiny arms around my neck. I prayed this wouldn’t be the last time that I saw him, that Rae could keep him safe for me.
We hurried around the room, getting ready to go. Parker went to the bathroom while I checked on Jack. He was still running a fever, but I wasn’t sure the shaking had anything to do with his reaction to the surgery.
“Are we ready?”
I looked back at Johnny. “You said they gave him something. Do you know what it was?”
“No, but he had a hit of heroin before we went after Parker.”
“He what?” I asked in exasperation.
He didn’t even flinch at my tone. The look he shot me said to back off. “He was determined to get your kid back. I got him what he needed to get through it.”
That did shed a little more light on the situation. “I need something to keep him calm on the ride. If he’s in too much pain, the trip could kill him.”
“He was very adamant. No drugs.”
“But he’s your friend,” I argued. “Do you really want him in pain?”
“No,” he bit out. “But he didn’t want the drugs to begin with. He was clean until Rafe forced those drugs into his system. He’d rather die than take anything else, and I’m going to respect his wishes.”
“He could die without them,” I pointed out.
His eyes flicked to his friend. “Then so be it.”
It was insanity. I didn’t understand how they could allow their friend to travel so far and be in so much pain. And the withdrawal from drugs would only make it worse. I could kill Rafe for doing this to him.
“Where is he?”
“Rafe? Long gone. Left the moment you finished up with Jack.”
“He didn’t even bother to stay and find out if he would live?”
“That’s not the way Rafe operates. Besides, I have a feeling Rafe was trying to get out ahead of the fact that Baz was killed and find a way to give us an opportunity to get away.”
“How nice of him,” I said spitefully.
“He has his moments,” Johnny muttered. “Get your son. Jason and I will load him in the SUV.”
I nodded and headed back to my son, who was now playing with Rae. All it took was one look from Rae, and I knew she would protect my son, no matter the cost. That was all I needed to know.
