Damon (The Protectors #1)(15)
“Male or female?” Damon asked, moving closer. Nicole flinched, hoping Damon's question wouldn't stop Steve from continuing. When Steve looked at Damon she knew that wasn't going to be the case. The kid wanted this off his chest.
“Male, and it wasn't my dad.” Steve leaned his head back and sighed again. “My dad told this person that under no circumstance would he be selling my blood to anyone.”
Nicole gave him a minute of quiet and was surprised to find Damon standing beside her. His arms crossed staring at the boy. “What happened next, son?”
Steve frowned at Damon, but didn't comment on him calling him son. “I heard the other person saying they were making a huge mistake and then I heard my mom scream and all kinds of noises came from the office. I ran, but couldn't get the door open fast enough.”
Nicole laid her hand on the boy's foot. “I'm so sorry, Steve.” Nicole wanted to scream at the injustice of it all.
“God it was awful. Neither one of them was moving. My dad was lying over my mom like he was trying to protect her. My dad wasn't breathing and I tried pulling him off her to see if she was still alive. I slipped in the blood and fell. I got him off of her, but she was dead.” Tears of blood ran down his face. “Even though we had issues, I would never hurt them. They were trying, but I'm just not use to rules and they had so many. I heard them talking last night. My mom was saying they had made a mistake and I thought they were talking about me, but now I don't think they were. God, why did this happen?”
Nicole crawled across the bed and took him into her arms, holding him tight. “I don't know Steve, but we will find who did this.”
He pulled away staring at her in surprise. “You....believe me?”
“Yeah, I do.” Nicole nodded. “And I am going to have you stay here while I go talk to the police. Okay? We will get this worked out, but you are going to have to tell them everything that you told us and hopefully something else will come to you before then.”
“Why are you doing this?” Steve wondered aloud, then smirked. “Oh, yeah, I forgot....it's your job, just like that Chad *.”
Nicole had gotten off the bed and grabbed her bag. “It is my job, but I'm better at my job than Chad, so please don't compare me to him, cause I really like you.” She smiled when he laughed.
“Yeah...okay.” He took the card she handed him.
“Don't hesitate to call me okay.” Nicole turned serious. “I answer my calls and return them always, no matter how big or small the issue. You said you kept calling Chad, but he wouldn't return your calls? Can I ask why you were trying to call him?”
Steve sighed. “At first things were real hard. I mean we just didn't hit it off. They weren't bad or anything, but I just didn't think it was going to work. Then one day me and them went to the zoo and had a blast. After that things started to change for the better. When Chad did his visits he never talked to me, just my parents, and then after the last one I found my mom crying after he left. She wouldn't tell me what happened, but said not to worry about it, things were fine.” Steve shrugged his shoulders. “I don't know. I just didn't like him much.”
Nicole smiled. “Can't blame ya there.”
“I can't go back into the system again.” Steve wiped his cheeks with the back of his hand. “I am going to outlive every parent, if they're human, and I can't do this again.”
“Let's work one thing out at a time.” Nicole replied. “Okay? Now stay here and let me go get things straightened out.”
Steve nodded, then grinned. “Do you really like AC/DC?”
Grabbing she hiked her bag up on her shoulder. “Sure do.” she winked. “I'll take you to see them next time they're in town.”
“Seriously?” The first real smile flashed across the kids face. “Cool.”
“Seriously.” Nicole walked past Damon and touched his arm. “I'll be right back.”
Nicole walked out into the hall and saw only the police and Mitch. Everyone else had been evacuated.
“What happened?” The chief walked to her. “Where is he?”
“Damon is with him.” Nicole turned to Mitch. “He said that he didn't kill them, that someone else was in the house and I believe him.” She continued to explain everything that Steve had told her and Damon.
“We still have to bring him in, Mitch. He did hold a nurse hostage and if she wants to press charges there is nothing I can do about that.” The chief stated, but raised his hand before Nicole could blast him. “But he will be well taken care of.”
“Damn straight he will.” Nicole replied hotly. “I want him transferred under me, Mitch.”
“Now wait a damn minute.” Chad piped in pushing his way toward them. “I am not going to release this case over.”
“He is not a case.” Nicole growled, sounding like Damon. “He is a boy who could not get hold of you when he needed to.”
“Now you listen here you little.....” Chad got in her face grabbing her shirt in his fist before Mitch could stop him.
“Didn't I warn you about this?” Damon stepped between her and Chad knocking his hand away from Nicole. “Steve is no longer anyone's. He is a part of the VC Warriors.”