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She nods, her gaze flickering across my face before settling on the street ahead. "You're right. It's just scary, you know."
"Of course, but he will be fine. If he had seemed hurt in any way, Erin would have told me. And she has a sixth sense about these things."
"Thank you for being here with me," she says softly, her gratitude making my chest constrict.
"Where else would I be?" I reply, my voice barely above a whisper as the car pulls up and we get in. Moments later we're on our way.
Erin wasn't kidding when she said the location was nearby. She's already sent it to the security team, so we get there within moments.
The car pulls up to the curb, and the sight of Damien leaning against the building, his face pale and disoriented, sends a wave of relief through me. Erin is standing next to him, solid as a rock.
We climb out of the car and Maddie rushes to her brother, pulling him into her arms.
"Damien," she breathes, her voice thick with worry. "Are you OK?"
He nods weakly, sagging against her embrace. "I think so."
"Where's Daniel?" I ask.
"His mom came. Erin had her number and called her."
"Thank goodness. In my rush to get here, I completely forgot to inform her."
"I think Daniel is feeling worse than me. Much worse. She took him to the hospital."
I grimace. "I'm sorry to hear that."
"Let's get you in the car," I say, my impatience betraying my concern. I open the door for them, watching as Maddie helps Damien settle into the back seat. His eyes are glassy, unfocused, and it takes everything in me not to unleash my fury over what these older kids have done to him.
"Here," I say, handing him the thermos filled with tea. "Drink this. It should help clear your head."
"Thanks." He uncaps the thermos and takes a tentative sip, grimacing at the taste but continuing to drink, nonetheless.
I turn to Erin. "Thanks. I owe you."
"Only doing my job, boss."
I nod. "This wasn't your shift, though."
A police officer who has been standing nearby with a colleague walks up to me. "Your son?" he asks, nodding at the car.
"No, my friend's," I say.
"All right, we will need her to bring him to the police station first thing tomorrow morning. Normally, we'd do it right away, but the kid's wasted. I just need her to sign a form."
I nod. "Maddie," I call.
She turns around and looks out the car door. "Yes?"
"You just have to come sign something for the police officer."
"All right." Maddie gets out of the car again and walks over. "Officer."
"Hi, ma'am. I'm just going to need you to show me your ID and then sign this for me. You'll have to bring your son to the station tomorrow."
"He's not my son, but I'm his guardian. Our parents died. What police station?"
"The one just down the block, know it?"
