“Release the bag,” Bram orders gently. “Hold it to your mouth and breathe in and out.”
Nacho joins us and begins speaking to him in Spanish, repeating Bram’s words. Telling him we are good people who have been taking care of Ant. Telling him Charlie and Erik are the ones who saved Ant.
Javier’s ragged breaths fill the night air as he slowly regains control. Finally, he raises his eyes to Erik and Charlie.
“You saved him from them?”
They share a look. “Yes,” Charlie says quietly. “I found him in a hotel room. Erik was the getaway driver. Our friends made sure the man paid.”
Javier’s face crumples. “You saved him from sex traffickers?”
Charlie carefully neutralizes his expression as he nods. Ant admits that one of the hardest things to overcome is the judgment he sees from people when they find out what happened to him. Like he’s damaged. Unrecoverable. In some ways, that’s more damaging to his recovery than what actually happened to him.
Javier, however, is not judging Ant. Instead, he dissolves into racking sobs, and we worry he might hyperventilate again. After a moment of hesitation, Ant pushes past us and quietly sits next to Javier, reaching for his hand.
Erik rocks forward, but Charlie stills him with a soothing hand to his chest, dispelling some of the tension. “Ant, if you’d like, we’ll do a full background check on him. We’ll verify he’s who he says he is. Until then, he can stay in the main house.”
Erik, unmoved by Javier’s display of emotion, tightens his jaw. “No. He stays with me in the trailer.”
Erik is still in the mobile home Charlie bought as a temporary house when this whole place went up in flames. Charlie rebuilt the main house pretty quickly, and the idea was that Erik would eventually build a home for himself on the property. They’ve been blowing and going so fast, though, he hasn’t had a chance to think about it.
It’s pretty nice as far as mobile homes go, but I don’t think his offer is as generous as it sounds. I’m pretty sure he means to keep an eye on this man who has put forth some kind of claim on Ant.
“I would like that,” Ant replies. “A lot.” Turning his attention to me, he asks, “Do you think it would be okay if I give him a hug?”
A collective inhale is followed by a round of shared glances. Of all of us here, I’m the one who works most closely with Ant on a regular basis. He’s made a ton of progress in accepting physical affection, but offering a hug to a stranger? Not only does that show progress, it tells me that Ant believes this man.
For what it’s worth, so do I.
Erik’s chest rises sharply, and I hold up my hands, turning to Javier. “Can Erik pat you down?”
I keep thebefore he loses his fucking mindto myself.
Javier stands, his posture broken as he holds his arms out. Erik’s insultingly thorough pat down is just shy of a body cavity search.
“Open your mouth.”
I share a look with Charlie, but Javier opens his mouth without complaint.
“No weapons on your person,” Erik finally says, narrowing his eyes. “Am I going to find any in your truck?”
“Yes. I have knives in the glove compartment and a gun,” Javier answers quietly, his eyes never leaving Ant’s.
“Mind if we take those for now?” Charlie asks, moving toward the truck.
“Keep them.”
Ant’s eyes meet mine, a question in his expression. Believing is not the same as trusting, and Ant is looking for reassurance. I take Ant’s unsaid question to heart and consider Javier closely.
Save for a truly gifted psychopath, it is hard to fake real grief. Something’s always off about the intensity or the way they’ll look for confirmation that their tears are working. Javier’s broken composure tells me more than what Charlie and Erik will find in their background check.
He’s devastated. Horrified and devastated.
I turn back to Ant and dip my chin.
Slowly he walks up to the man, getting a full look at him. Javier stands silently and lets himself be observed, anxiety marking his features. Ant reaches out, his arms tentative before he wraps them around Javier’s waist, resting his forehead on the man’s chest. Javier hesitates, equally tentative, then carefully wraps his long arms around Ant.
They stand there, holding each other, swaying silently under the bright Texas stars as emotion quietly overtakes them. Ant’s narrow shoulders rise and fall as his quiet sobs fill the night air.
