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“Hurt Donny. I won’t let him hurt my brother.”
My heart ached, and Jade’s eyes glistened. We’d known for a while that Dale had taken the brunt of the abuse to spare his younger brother. They’d even made a suicide pact with each other, one Donny had nearly brought to fruition.
“Dale, the bad men have been caught,” Jade said. “Is it possible you imagined it? Maybe saw someone else who looked like someone you remember?”
He shook his head.
“Are you sure?”
“Jade…” I began.
She nodded. “I’m sorry, honey. I just want to protect you. I don’t want you to be scared. Daddy and I will never let anyone harm you. I promise.”
It was a hefty promise to make but one she and Talon would keep no matter the cost.
“Has anyone called the police?” I asked.
Robbin shrugged. “I don’t know. The school didn’t say.”
“I’ll take care of it.”
“Marj,” Jade said, “he may not be ready to talk to the police.”
“You’ve got to try, Dale,” I said. “If you think this man might want to hurt you or your brother, the police need to know.” I quickly made the call. “They’re sending someone over here.”
Dale’s skin had gone white.
“You have to try to talk to the police, honey.” Jade held his hand.
The boy nodded.
I checked my watch. We had an hour before our meeting with Colin. Plenty of time for Dale to talk to the police. But then what? Would he go back to school? If he couldn’t, Jade and I would need to stay with him.
No matter. Dale was the priority. Colin would have to wait.
Chapter Thirty–Six
Bryce
Because one of them, Bryce, is you.
I remained calm, at least on the outside. Inside, my guts were churning like cream into butter. No way would I let this moron know that.
I was innocent. Completely innocent.
“Really? And who is the other?”
Ted’s face stayed noncommittal. “Jonah Steel.”
Joe. My best friend, Joe. Joe, who this idiot had already tried to frame and blackmail for what my father had done to Colin.
My guts continued their tumbling as anger took hold. I was determined to keep my cool. I had no reason to believe anything this asshole said.
“Why would they be investigating the two of us? We’re innocent.”
“I believe you are,” Ted said.
“There’s no belief required. It’s a damned fact.” Keep cool, Bryce. Keep fucking cool.
