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It took me a full fifteen seconds to understand what he was trying to tell me. Before I could even think about what I was saying, I breathed, “You’re a prost-”
“Escort,” Isaac cut in. His chin lifted just a little, like he was daring me to say anything else. When I didn’t, he said, “Trey said I could pawn the violin – it wasn’t expensive enough to set off any alarm bells like the one I took from your apartment for him.”
“Why didn’t you do it?”
“Because I’m not a thief.” He tilted his head and said, “Yeah, okay, I guess I stole that really fancy violin, but I already told you-”
“I believe you,” I interjected. “Trey is a very convincing guy. I should know that better than anyone.”
“Hey,” Isaac said, and I looked up, not even realizing I’d dropped my eyes. “I make a living off being able to read guys and what they want. He had me snowed almost from the start.”
I nodded. “Thank you,” I murmured. “For sending that tape to the cops…for making it in the first place. For bringing my violin back.”
Isaac shrugged and let his fingers card through Newt’s hair. “Guys like that shouldn’t always get to win, you know?”
At that, we both fell into a contemplative silence for a moment.
“Do you want any more?” I asked as I nodded at the lasagna.
He shook his head. “So, um, the guy upstairs, he’s your boyfriend?”
I nodded. “This is his place.”
“The whole thing? Like all the animals and stuff?”
“Yeah, he rescues and rehabilitates them.”
“And his” – Isaac motioned to his own throat – “is that…is he okay?”
“He had surgery a few days back to deal with some complications from a car accident, but he’ll be okay.”
Isaac nodded. “What about the brick wall that was with you guys?”
“The what?” I asked.
“The guy who looked like he’d run out of villagers to crush.”
I smiled when I realized he was talking about Maddox. “Maddox, Dallas’s brother,” I said.
“Did his mama name him Mad ‘cause that’s what he is?” Newt asked tiredly. His eyes had opened at some point and he was watching me, but he hadn’t moved from his brother’s side.
“It’s Maddox, buddy,” Isaac corrected.
“He was mean. He kept looking at you funny,” Newt murmured.
Isaac’s hand settled on his brother’s back. “Remember what I said about what other people think about us?”
Newt nodded. “They’re just scared ‘cause they don’t like themselves much.”
“Right,” Isaac said. “Buddy, do you want to eat something before we get going?”
Newt shook his head. Isaac carefully lifted him and climbed to his feet.
“Can I ask where you’re headed?” I asked as I stood.
“New York.”
“Do you have family there or something?”
“We’re gonna get lost again,” Newt whispered.
Isaac’s eyes darted to meet mine, but he just shook his head. “He’s tired,” he mumbled. “I’m really sorry about what happened to your wolf – I hope you get him back.”
“Loki was nice,” Newt said softly, then his head lolled on Isaac’s shoulder and I knew the little boy was out again. I stepped in Isaac’s path to stop him.
“Isaac, do you guys need a place to stay for a couple of days? Or even just the night?”
“What? No,” Isaac said quickly.
Too quickly.
“It’s late and the roads are sure to be covered in a few inches of snow by now. The plows don’t get to the back roads sometimes for a couple of days. The closest hotel is in Pelican Bay and it’s too cold to sleep in your car.”
Isaac hesitated for a moment, then murmured, “We’ll be fine.”
“Please, Isaac, I’ll worry about both of you if I know you’re out there. Just stay for the night. The weather should clear by tomorrow.”
The young man shifted back and forth on his feet, clearly torn. It wasn’t until Newt snuggled closer against him that he finally nodded. “Okay, yeah. Thanks.”
I nodded, but didn’t make a big deal out of him agreeing. I could tell he was already on edge about the whole thing. I led Isaac upstairs and showed him one of the guest rooms. There weren’t any sheets on the mattress, but I quickly found some in the closet near the guest bathroom and got the bed fixed up. The room smelled a little stale, but it wasn’t too bad.
“Let me know if you need anything, okay?”
“Yeah. I, uh, need to go grab our stuff from the car.”
I nodded. “I can stay with Newt if you want.”
Isaac hesitated, then nodded. “I’ll just be a couple minutes.”
It ended up being closer to ten, and I was about to go outside and look for the young man after an unreasonable fear settled in my belly that he’d ditched his little brother. But I’d just as quickly dismissed the thought since I could tell how much Isaac loved the boy.
“Everything okay?” I asked when Isaac reappeared, a small duffle bag in hand. He looked flushed and he was breathing hard.
