Fuck me, my heart breaks every time he wants to know if he’s safe with someone. I’m ready to burn down buildings and raise hell on whoever hurt this boy.
“Yeah, Noah, Bolt is safe. He’s my baby brother.”
Noah’s eyes widen as he looks at Bolt. He may be the youngest Tin, but he’s the tallest and broadest. “He big. Not a baby.”
I chuckle. “Yeah, bud, he is big. And he’ll make sure you’re safe, okay?”
Noah nods but still eyes Bolt suspiciously. It’ll take time, but Noah will eventually learn that he’s safe with us.
Bolt tilts his chin at me as I leave, telling me without words that he’s got this.
I stop at the nurses’ station to ask the nurse on duty if she’s seen Beau. I’m not surprised when she says she hasn’t.
I search the entire floor, room by room, but find nothing until I get to the storeroom at the end that houses all the cleaning supplies. Beau is cursing and banging on the door, trying to get it open.
I open it and jump out of the way as a wild-eyed, pissed-off Beau barrels out, eyes searching the hallway. “Where the fuck is she?” he growls.
“Who?”
“The fucking nurse who drugged me.”
It’s beginning to make sense now. “We’ve got her tied up in Bee’s room. She tried to take Noah.”
Beau’s nostrils flare when he hears this, and he stagger-stalks down the hallway, the drugs in his system making him unsteady on his feet.
The nurse looks up in surprise when we get to her station, alarm in her eyes when she sees the state of Beau.
“Call Dr Rea Davies,” Beau orders.
She doesn’t hesitate, just nods, which I take to mean she knows the family. Beau staggers and almost goes down.
Gripping his arm, I throw it over my shoulder, telling the nurse, “Better let her know that Beau’s been drugged. We don’t know what with. I’ll take him to Bellamy Davies’ room.”
“Understood,” the nurse says, picking up the phone. “I’ll call her, then I’ll lock down this part of the hallway.”
“Appreciate it. My sister-in-law, Jeanie, will be back soon.”
The nurse nods. “I know Jeanie. I’ll make sure she gets back here.”
“Thanks.”
I help Beau into Bee’s room, and he collapses into the armchair with a groan. “Fuck, I feel like shit.”
“What happened?” Bee demands as soon as she sees Beau.
“The nurse drugged him.” I look around for the nurse and Bolt but don’t see either of them.
“Bolt’s putting her in the bathroom. We don’t need her in here frightening Noah,” Bee explains as Bolt walks back into the room.
“Fuck, Beau. You look like shit, man.”
Beau gives him the finger. “Sorry I let you down, Bells.”
“Don’t be an idiot, Beau,” Bee mutters. “Not your fault.”
They look at each other for a minute. If I were any other man, I’d be jealous, but Bee has spoken about Beau so often that I feel like I know him. They’re best friends, closer than brother and sister. He’s always there for her when she needs him—at least until she had to leave.
Noah peeks out from behind Bee, where he’s curled up.
