Fractured Sky (Tattered & Torn #5)(44)

“You did the best you could, given where you were at and what you could handle. You need to give yourself a little grace. But you can think about what the next right step is now. Focus on that, not whatever comes after it.”

Shiloh’s fingers tapped out a beat against her thighs. “You’ve got a lot of Zen wisdom. You know that?”

I chuckled. “It’s all the time I spend with the horses.”

She grinned.

My phone buzzed in my pocket, and I pulled it out. I tapped on my camera app. At the sight of Aidan’s truck, I hit the button to open the gate. “Aidan and Elliott are here.”

“Oh! The cookies.” She took off running for the guest cabin.

I couldn’t help the smile that played on my lips as I followed behind her. She’d gone overboard last night, baking at least three dozen. If we ate all of them, we’d be sick for sure.

I lifted my hand in a wave as Aidan drove by to park near the barn. By the time I reached the guest cabin, Shiloh had reemerged with sandwiches, drinks, and cookies on a tray and a bag of chips under her arm.

My gaze caught on Elliott as the boys walked towards us. His head was downcast, and he barely reacted as Kai ran up to him with a happy bark. A pit formed in my stomach as Aidan wrapped an arm around his brother’s shoulders.

“Hey,” Aidan greeted, adjusting the bill of his ballcap.

I flashed a grin in hello.

“I’ve got a world of goodies today. Even made M&M cookies,” Shiloh said.

Not even a flicker from Elliott at that.

That pit in my stomach became a boulder.

“That’s really kind of you,” Aidan said.

As he stepped forward, I caught sight of his face. His eye was swollen and ringed in purple. I froze, everything in me going wired. “What happened?”

Aidan swallowed hard. “I was stupid. The gate was stuck. I yanked too hard and got clocked in the face.”

I struggled to keep my voice even, calm in the face of the fury coursing through me. “Aidan. Truth. What happened?”

Elliott sniffled. Shiloh was by his side in a flash, dropping to her knees and wrapping her arm around the little boy. There was no glimmer of apprehension at the touch, only the desire to comfort.

Elliott burrowed into her. “I’m sorry! It’s my fault. I dropped my milk. Dad was so mad, and Aidan got in his way. I’m sorry.”

Shiloh held him to her chest, rocking back and forth. “It’s not your fault. None of this is your fault.”

“She’s right, E. I’m fine. No big thing,” Aidan said.

I’d wanted to kill my stepfather so many times. But I’d never felt the call to violence more than in this moment. “He’s not going to hurt you again.”

Aidan’s head snapped in my direction. “There’s nothing you can do. One more year, and I’m free. I can file for custody of Elliott. I just need a job and an apartment.”

His words shredded my chest, everything becoming clear. I knew now why he’d been so desperate for a job and why he’d told Shiloh that he wanted to get his GED.

Shiloh kept rocking Elliott. “We’re going to get you some help now. My brother’s the sheriff—”

“No!” Aidan shouted. “They could break up Elliott and me.”

“Trust me,” she begged, “we won’t let that happen. But we can’t let you keep getting hurt. I’d never be able to live with myself.”

Panic ran wild through Elliott’s eyes as he gripped Shiloh harder. “Promise they won’t split us up.”

“You have my word,” Shiloh said. “I’ll make sure of it.”

It was a risky promise. Child Protective Services didn’t always control where openings were available in foster homes. But being in a smaller community, there might be more flexibility.

Elliott sniffed. “Please, A. I don’t want to live with him anymore.”

Grief swirled in Aidan’s eyes, but he nodded slowly. “I’ll talk to your brother.”

“Thank you.” Shiloh lifted her gaze to me. “Can I call him now?”

I moved my head in a jerky nod and hoped it wasn’t the biggest mistake I’d ever made.





20





SHILOH





Hayes pulled to a stop in front of the guest cabin and climbed out of his SUV. Ramsey went rigid. I felt the tension coming off him in waves as he stepped closer to Aidan. Everything about his stance said: protective. He wouldn’t let anything else happen to Aidan.

The movement made my chest constrict. Even though rough around the edges, goodness oozed from him. I wanted to wrap my arms around him, too. To build a barrier between the world and these boys. Between the world and Ramsey. They’d all been hurt too much.

Elliott pressed deeper against my side, burrowing his face into my stomach. Kai sat protectively in front of us. I rubbed a hand up and down Elliott’s arm. “Guys, this is my brother, Hayes. He’s going to help.”

They both stayed quiet, but Aidan eyed Hayes carefully. He was clearly looking for some sign of whether or not to trust him, and I hoped Hayes would give it to him.

Hayes kept his expression relaxed, but I saw his attention catch on Aidan’s black eye. “Hey, Aidan. Elliott. I hear you’re friends with my little sister.”