Page 6 of A Sugary Life

An alarm blared, cutting him off. His gaze snapped toward the mouth of the hallway. A stampede of bodies ran past.

“What’s going on?”

Shay practically bounced in place with a need to run. At Phoenix’s question, Shay focused on him with growing desperation.

Rodney, another guard, spotted them and yelled, “State police just arrived with a batch of kids they found in a moving van.”

Shay never looked away from Phoenix.

Phoenix’s expression turned hard. He gave Shay a sharp nod. “Let’s go.”

Shay grabbed his hand, and they sprinted after the rest of the group. They never knew what the situation would be. The police had an agreement with Zander. Trafficked kids came to him, and no arrests were made. Instead, those men were also brought to Zander. No trafficking made the news, keeping local politicians looking as if they ran a clean town. Zander did all the dirty work, and the problem disappeared. Every unexpected arrival could be anything.

They skidded into the hospital wing and froze. Men in white coats moved from child to child. Guards blocked doors and gathered around the interrogation room. Phoenix bumped shoulders with him and nodded toward a set of boys. The bigger of the two kept his arm around the smaller one. His face was set in a hard line while the smaller one cried. They shared a look. That had been them. They had stood where these boys did in the exact position with Shay protecting Phoenix. It was time for them to do what Pytor and Yaro had done for them. They moved the pair’s way and went down on their knees.

Phoenix was the first to dive in. “What are your names?”

The bigger of the two held tighter to the smaller one. Neither of them spoke.

Shay tried next. “I’m Shay. This is Phoenix. We were here just like you two a long time ago.”

Phoenix nodded. “Shay has always been bigger than me. He’s always done his best to protect me.”

The protector’s gaze moved between them. He didn’t soften, but he did speak. “You’re still here together.”

Shay pasted on a bright smile. “Hell yeah. Best friends forever.” He held up his fist. It was the arm on which he wore his friendship bracelet.

Phoenix took the hint and did the same. They bumped wrists, and Phoenix took over.

“The people here are here to help. I know it doesn’t feel like it right now. It didn’t feel like it to us either, but you’re with the good guys now. No one will hurt you here. I promise.”

The boy nodded. He wiped his nose on the dirty T-shirt he wore. “I’m Graham. This is Tobie.”

One of the volunteer doctors appeared. “Let’s get you guys checked out.”

Graham somehow tucked Tobie even tighter into his hold. “We go together.” His voice was hard.

Shay’s throat swelled. He remembered having the same conversations. Shay still felt exactly as he had that day when he looked at the pair. Protecting Phoenix had been the only thing holding him together. While Phoenix might have felt safer with Shay, Phoenix was actually the one saving him. Without that purpose, he wouldn’t have made it.

The doctor gave him a kind smile. “Of course.”

Graham’s gaze focused on Shay again. He looked scared for the first time. “Will you go with us?”

Phoenix and Shay stood.

Phoenix answered for them. “You got it. We won’t leave your side.”

Shay looked Phoenix’s way, and pride filled his chest. While he had done this before and understood the mental toll of reliving their journey, Phoenix hadn’t even hesitated to jump right in. The boys walked ahead of them. Shay took Phoenix’s hand and squeezed. He didn’t let go and Phoenix didn’t pull away.

They exchanged a look, and Shay broke. “I love you.”

A sweet smile touched Phoenix’s lips. “I love you too.”

Something inside Shay soothed that he hadn’t even realized had been in a knot since Phoenix left. It had been five long years since Phoenix had said those words to him. Shay would never let him take them back.

Chapter Four

By the time they made it back to their rooms, it was too late to go to dinner. They were also mentally and physically drained. Running on fumes, Phoenix followed Shay to his bedroom. In silence, they ate their cupcakes before falling across Shay’s bed and passing out. They didn’t even speak. The night had been too heavy.