Chapter 16 #2
And it broke even further when I noticed bruises on his little arms.
I swallowed my rage that anyone would put their hands on a child.
Then, when I got myself under control, I asked, “Can I tell you a secret?”
His little eyes widened then he nodded.
“I was in foster care for a few years,” I told him.
His little eyes got even wider, then he asked, “You were?”
I nodded.
Then I said, “How about I take you to where you’re staying and make a couple of calls. Would that be okay?”
At his nod, I held out my hand, and he took it.
I led him to my SUV, then I opened the back door.
I saw the way he was holding his bag, then I asked, “If it’s okay with you, I’ll take the bag, while you climb in, then I’ll hand it back. Okay?”
He bit his lip, eyed me up and down, then slowly he held the bag out to me.
I smiled as I took the bag.
And the moment he was in the seat, I said, “Seatbelt.”
After he had it clicked, I handed him the bag.
A small smile graced his face as he took it.
I closed the door, rounded the SUV, and climbed in.
I started it when I heard something move in the bag, then, tentatively, I heard, “Ms. Cassie?”
I looked over my shoulder at him and smiled, “Yeah, Mr. Krispin.”
He giggled softly.
“Can I eat this?” he asked as he held up one of the candy bars.
At my wink and nod, he opened it.
And as I stared at him in my rear-view mirror, taking in his dark hair, hazel eyes, little nose, and that small grin, I decided.
Then I further decided, as he asked, “Do you want a piece?”
I smiled, “Thank you, honey, but how about you eat it for me, and keep it safe in your belly.”
He giggled at that.
He told me where to turn, and I did.
And the moment I reached the outskirts of town, to a broken-down home, I had to bite back a growl.
I didn’t hesitate in what I did next.
Nor did I hesitate when I saw a man standing on the porch, in tighty-whities, scratching his junk with a bottle of Jim Beam in his other hand.
I pulled out my phone and called Misty.
She answered on the third ring.
“Hey, sweetheart. Everything okay?”
I growled, “No. It. Isn’t. Who’s the social worker for the town?”
When she gave me a name, I hung up on her.
I would apologize later.
Then I googled the name, found the number, and pressed dial.
It rang and rang and rang until finally a woman who sounded harried answered the phone, “This is Leslie, how can I help you?”
“Who in their right mind would allow a child to be fostered in a broken-down home with a drunk?” I snapped.
“Um, excuse me.” She said.
“You heard me. I just picked up a little boy whose clothes don’t fit him, he’s dirty, bruised, there are holes in his shoes, and he was hungry, so he tried to steal from Hanovers.”
The woman sighed, “I know. Okay. I know. But we don’t have that many fosters, and Krispin is a special case.”
“What do you mean?” I asked.
“He’s nonverbal,” she said.
I laughed, “That’s a bunch of horseshit. He talked to me. Told me where to take him. Even told me his name. He’s polite and sweet. Maybe he was nonverbal because the system fucked him over.”
Then I hung up on her.
Then I heard Krispin giggle.
I looked over my shoulder at him, and he giggled even more.
I sighed, then I pulled up the local sheriff’s department, spoke to them, and waited.
Three hours later, missed calls from Alec and texts, as well as from Garrick, I pulled in front of our house.
I sat there for a moment and seethed.
Then I climbed out of my SUV, walked up the steps, and into the house.
Apparently, I missed all the vehicles because everyone was there.
Tatum sighed, “Thank god. We had to literally sit on Alec to stop him from coming to look for you.”
I nodded, then headed to Alec and dropped to my knees in front of him.
His wave-like colored eyes drilled into mine, when he rasped out, “You’re okay?”
I nodded, “Pissed the hell off, but I’m okay.”
He nodded, then he closed his eyes, swallowed, and whispered, “Please, don’t ever do that to me again.”
At my nod, he winked, then he asked, “Now who am I hunting down?”
I growled her name, “Leslie Winthorp.”
Then I looked at Misty, “I’m sorry for hanging up on you.”
Then I looked back at Alec, “I need you to stop me from kidnapping a child.”
Alec nodded, “Tell me.”
So, I did.
I told him about what happened at Hanovers.
Told him about the little boy.
Told him everything.
Even the bruises and clothes, and shoes.
Alec looked into my eyes, then he reached for his phone, then he looked at Bronson, “Who was your realtor?”
Bronson said his name, then Alec made a call.
Then he hung up and made another call, “Tyron? Yeah, I’m alright.”
He chuckled, “Yeah, she’s good. She’s pissed, though.”
He listened, then he laughed, “Not at me, fucker. At the stupid system.”
Then he told him about Krispin and said, “I need a judge.”
An hour later, Alec’s phone rang. He answered, “Talk to me.”
He listened.
Then he said, “Thanks. Email?”
He nodded, then he hung up, then he looked at Garrick, “Help me stand?”
I lifted a brow as Garrick moved.
Garrick helped Alec to his feet and took his crutch he was using to get around.
Then he winked, “Got an emergency order. He’s ours until we see a judge. Adoption, if Krispin wants it, is being processed.”
I threw my arms around Alec’s neck and then sobbed.
An hour later, we were pulling up in front of that godawful house.
While we were doing this, Misty, Tatum, Harlee, Everly, Lila, Madalyn, Melanie, Talia, and Bronson were at the store buying Krispin the essentials.
Dom’s SUV pulled up behind us with Carter, Ethan, and Garrick.
Then I climbed out, rounded the hood, and watched as Alec climbed out.
Then he closed the door, and the moment he saw the house, he glared.
Chief Klein also met us with freaking Leslie.
He narrowed his eyes at her, and she shrank.
In the hour it took us to get here, Tyron had been hard at work.
Leslie’s sister was the foster mother, and they both worked the system and split the checks.
As long as they gave Jessica, Leslie’s sister’s husband’s name, alcohol, he didn’t give a shit.
I wanted to throat punch them.
We followed the Chief to the front porch steps, and we waited.
I saw Krispin’s little head peak out through a window.
And then through a small hole in the window, I heard him say, clear as day, “They have a padlock on the door.”
I saw red.
I ignored everyone and raced inside.
Garrick followed me in, and then I saw the steps and climbed them.
And when I saw a padlock on a door, I said, “Those motherfuckers.”
You know that saying that nothing compares to a mama bear’s rage?
Well, it’s true.
I stalked to the door and then brought a foot up and kicked it.
Then I kicked it again as hard as I could.
Then I kicked it again and heard a crack.
The moment the door swung open, and I saw Krispin and the room he was in, I had to clench my fists.
He had a blanket on the floor.
A fucking blanket, and a dirty-looking bucket with a black bag in it.
I swallowed.
Trying to rein in my temper.
It was hard, but I did it.
Then I smiled at Krispin and held out my hand.
He ran to it and clutched it in his little hands.
That was when I knew he wasn’t four; he just looked like it.
Then with Garrick at our backs, we walked down the hall, down the steps, and out the front door.
I locked eyes with Alec and said, “He had a blanket and a fucking bucket.”
I watched it.
That cold fury settle over Alec, and I watched his right hand twitch.
I knew that if he had a gun, he would have shot them both.
I would have lied through my teeth with an alibi for him.
Then I walked around the assholes and led Krispin to Alec.
Alec smiled at him, and then carefully, he leaned the crutch against my SUV and slowly lowered to the ground.
Wincing as he did so.
Oh, this man.
I looked down at Krispin and bent, then I said, “Krispin? This is my husband, Alec.”
Krispin looked into my eyes, then he looked at Alec, and slowly, he offered his free hand to Alec.
Alec smirked, “Good man.” Then he shook his little hand.
“Can I ask you something, Krispin?” Alec asked.
Krispin nodded.
“Do you believe in fate?” Alec asked.
Krispin’s little brow scrunched, then softly, he asked, “What’s that?”
Alec winked, “Fate is what you call something that was meant to be.” Alec said.
Krispin shrugged.
Alec nodded, “Well, fate led Cassie to me. And fate brought me to her. And I think that fate led you to us. What do you think?”
Krispin nodded, then he was quiet for a beat, then softly he asked, “What now?”
I smiled, “Well, if it’s okay with you. Alec placed a call. And we got paperwork that says you get to come stay with us. And a judge on standby once the paperwork is approved for you to become ours. Would that be okay?”
Krispin was quiet.
Too quiet.
Alec nodded, then he winked at me, and Garrick was there to help him stand.
Then I looked at Krispin, “That’s Alec’s brother, and the second-best man you’ll ever meet.”
Krispin nodded.
Then I watched as Leslie and her sister were taken away in handcuffs.
Then I bent and looked down at Krispin and asked, “Want to come home with me and Alec?”
He swallowed, tears formed in his little eyes, then he looked at Alec, then up at me, and he nodded.
I smiled as I reached forward and hugged him, “I got you, little man. I got you.”
An hour later, we were in our home.
Krispin was eyeing everything.
Then the girls came into the house with bags and bags and bags.
Bronson lifted his chin, “Come help me with the furniture?”
The men filed out to do so.
I had just finished introducing Krispin to everyone and showing him to his new room when I came back out with Krispin.
I didn’t know that Garrick had recorded me kicking in the door and was showing everyone.
“Serves them right, assholes,” Misty grumbled under her breath.
I led Krispin over to the couch and sat down.
Krispin was eyeing Alec’s crutch, then he softly asked, “What happened?”
Alec leaned forward and looked him in his little hazel eyes and said, “I was hurt by some bad men. But my friends got me out.”
Krispin nodded, then he asked, “And the bad men?”
Alec smirked, “They can’t hurt anyone ever again.”
I stood, then headed to the bedroom to help the women get his room ready.
And ten minutes later, when I heard Krispin’s little giggles, my heart started pounding.
Oh. My. Stars.
***
I had just tucked the covers around Krispin’s little body when he asked, “Ms. Cassie?”
I smiled, “Yeah, baby?”
“Would you and Alec become my mom and dad?”
I nodded, “Yes. But only if that’s what you want.”
Then he nodded, “and I would stay with you?”
I nodded, “Yes. You would stay with us until you were eighteen, then Alec and I would support whatever decision you wanted to make. You would be ours."
Then he bit his lip and asked, "Do you have any other children?”
I shook my head, “No. I can’t have children.”
He nodded, “Sorry.”
I smiled, “It’s okay. Because I found you.” I said, then tapped him on his little nose and watched him smile.
Then bent my neck and pressed a kiss on his forehead, and said, “Good night, baby. If you need us, we are right down the hall. Okay?”
He nodded, then cuddled up under his blankets.
On a mattress.
With a pillow.
As I exited his room and turned off the light, I smiled when I saw where Alec was sitting.
He had moved a chair to the hallway right outside Krispin’s door.
“You going to be there awhile?” I asked.
He nodded, “As long as he needs me here.”
I smiled, then I said, “I love you.”
He winked, “Love you, too.”
Then I kissed him softly.