Breathless (Steel Brothers Saga #10)(56)

“Yeah, I get it. But just because he’s been through hell doesn’t negate what he did to you. Remember that.”

She nodded. “I know.”

“You feel like doing something?” I said. “If you’re up for it, we could go into town early. See if Candy has any openings for manis and pedis or something?”

“You know?” Jade stood. “I’ve showered and gotten dressed. Why waste it? Let’s go.”





Jade and I had just sunk our feet into the warm aromatic water at the nail salon when both of our phones buzzed simultaneously with a text.

Jade gasped. “It’s the school. Something’s wrong with Dale.”

I read the same text. “Talon probably got it too.” I pulled my feet out of the water. “Sorry. We have to go. It’s a good thing we’re here in town.”

Jade frantically called the school while I dried off and put my shoes back on. Ten-year-old Dale hardly spoke unless spoken to. If the school was calling, this was important.

“They took him over to Dr. Robbin’s office,” Jade said after ending her call. “They couldn’t tell me much else.”

Luckily, the doctor’s office was only two blocks from the nail salon. The glories of a small town. Rather than get into the car, we walked—very quickly.

“He’s in the back,” the receptionist said as soon as we walked in.

Jade and I hurried back into the exam room, where Dr. Robbin Shaefer was examining Dale.

“Baby!” Jade said. “Are you okay?”

“He was hyperventilating,” Dr. Robbin said. “I got him calmed down, but he nearly passed out at school.”

Dale said nothing.

Dr. Robbin had been a classmate of Joe’s. I’d known her my whole life. She’d taken her dad’s place as our doctor when he retired.

“Dale,” Dr. Robbin said, “the only way to deal with what’s bothering you is to tell us about it.”

Silence.

Jade took his hand. “Please, honey. We’re here to help you. Auntie Marj and I are here, and the doctor is here.”

He shook his head.

“Please, sweetie,” I said. “We want to help you.”

“I saw a man,” he whispered meekly.

“Where?” Jade asked.

“While I was at recess on the playground.”

“Was it someone you recognized?”

He nodded.

“Who was it?”

Silence.

I swallowed. This couldn’t lead to anything good. The Feds had shut down the trafficking ring, but had they caught everyone involved? According to Ted Morse, they were still investigating.

Could someone from Dale’s past be here in Snow Creek?

Why? Coming here made no sense. Why go somewhere someone might recognize you?

“I won’t let him,” Dale said.

“Won’t let him what?” Jade asked.

“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.