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“Ms. K.” I whirl around, finding Enzo shoved in the corner. Rage fills me, but Ezra’s hand tightens.
“He won’t move from that spot,” he says in my ear. I take a deep breath.
“Hey, kid,” I say as softly as I can.
“I’m sorry,” he blurts. Tears fill his raw eyes, and I shake my head as I step toward him. “I should’ve—I’m so sorry, Kennedy.”
It’s the first time he’s ever said my name, and it’s like a punch to the gut.
“Baby, stop,” I say. “Come here.” I hold my arms out, but he shakes his head.
“I—I ruined everything. I’m sorry. I’ll leave when I know Ian’s okay. I won’t come back—”
“Lorenzo,” I snap, and his mouth shuts. “You are a part of this family. You’re not going anywhere.” From the corner of my eye, I see Ezra give a firm nod of agreement.
“You’re stuck with us, kid,” Ezra says.
Enzo wraps his arms tighter around himself as he pushes into the corner more. Tears drip freely from his eyes, and it’s like no matter how hard he tries, they won’t stop.
He looks so young, so scared and lost. It’s that moment I remember he’s still a baby—they both are. They’re just boys, no matter how deep their voice gets, or how much they play like grown ups.
They’re just kids.
Ian groans from the bed, and immediately I move toward him. Axel steps back and holds his hand out for Koda. She takes it as she carefully walks across the bed. He grabs her and lifts her off the bed like she weighs nothing. She gives him a look, but he doesn’t look apologetic for manhandling her.
A sob lodges in my throat when I see Ian.
Blood soaks his sheets, and his shirt is ripped open. Bruises have already formed on his arms, chest, and face, but it’s the way his nose juts in different directions, and his bottom lip busted in half, that has me crumpling.
Someone’s arm wraps around my waist before I can fall to the floor. I look up, finding Axel’s golden eyes boring into mine. Something passes between us, an understanding that no one else can fully understand. It’s a pain, a fear, only another parent can understand and sympathize with.
“He’s going to make it,” he says firmly. “He fought back.” Reluctantly, I look toward Ian’s hand. He’s right. His knuckles are busted open and red.
“Of course he did,” I choke. Another arm around my waist and Axel immediately lets go. I don’t have to look to know it’s Ezra.
“He’s a strong kid, baby,” Ez says.
“He needs to be in the hospital,” I say, wiping my face. Everyone glances at each other. “What?”
“We can’t take him to the hospital,” Axel says, and I blink at him.
“Why not?”
Again, silence fills the room. Ezra clears his throat and I turn my gaze to him.
“I killed him,” he says. My mouth opens and closes a few times, my words completely lost. “I killed Enzo’s father. I should’ve kept him alive so I could torture him for the rest of my life.” When he looks at Ian, his face morphs into a bloodthirsty expression I’ve only seen once—at the bar when he was saving me.
“What does that have to do with going to the hospital?” I ask.
“They’ll ask questions,” Axel says. “Questions we won’t have an answer for. Since he’s a minor, they’ll want the cops involved, and—”
“And Ez could go to jail.” I run my hand over my head as I let out a breath.
“I’m sorry,” Ezra says, and I shake my head.
“Why did he do this?” I ask. Silence fills the room again, then Enzo speaks.
“My dad caught us together,” he says quietly. I turn toward him, finding him looking even more terrified than before. His wide eyes frantically flick around the room, taking in the massive men around us.
