“And I’ll send it to April too.”
With that, I hung up only to dial April next. It took her longer to answer, and as I almost expected her not to answer since it was late at night or early morning, whatever time she answered.
“I was just about to call you myself,” April greeted. In the background, I could hear crying.
“What’s wrong?”
“Do you still have room for someone?”
Glancing quickly at the boy in my back seat, my heart sank. “Yeah.”
“If I can get him to come with me,” she mused.
“What is it?”
“Dakota.”
At his name, my heart fell to my feet.
Fuck.
“What happened? I’ll come to get him.”
“I’ll explain later. But he’s not…doing well here.”
“Be there in ten.” I wasn’t that far away, being on the shitty side of town already.
“Of course you know where he is.” She wasn’t surprised, or at least hid it.
“I have someone with me. You’ll have to find a spot for him.”
“He’s not staying here. I’ll see what I can do.” With that, she excused herself and ended the call.
Tonight was not going as I expected at all. What the hell happened to easy undercover work? After this mission, I was out. I couldn’t do this shit anymore.
The kid was still out cold as I parked and shut the car off in front of the house. Dakota was meant to be safe at.
April was there, waiting and almost to my car before I got out.
“Do I want to know?” She asked, tilting her head to the back seat. Even though she couldn’t see through the dark windows, she knew what was back there.
“I got a name.” I shrugged, eager to get to the house to check on my boy. I gave the name to her and told her Collin was working on it. “He’ll have the info sent to you in a matter of hours.”
“Will that one back there be okay for a few?”
“He’s drugged, apparently. I haven’t gotten a good look, so…” I assumed he’d be okay for the moment.
“I hate leaving him, but come on.”
I locked my car. The kid in the back wouldn’t get far if he woke up. His hands and legs were bound. The most he’d do is scream.
“Talk to me.” I followed April into the house, anxiety bubbling through my veins. I willed the cop part of me to think clearly, even though my mind screamed at me to do anything other than that.
I wanted to barge in, grab my boy, and take him far, far away.
“I don’t know all the details. Dakota was attacked by another housemate. Mr. Meyer broke it up, but...” she stopped, swallowing loudly. She put a hand on my arm as we entered the house. I stopped at her touch.
“I don’t think he’s safe anywhere. He needs you.”
