Stepping back, I looked him over, noting that he was in one piece. I hadn’t killed him. I hadn’t allowed him to get injured. He was safe.
Sucking in a breath, I marched away before I did something really stupid. I wasn’t sure what that would be, but right now, I was teetering on the edge of making someone pay.
And I had a feeling it would be his parents.
29
MICHAEL
I watchedmy wife stalk away, saw the fury in her eyes as she held it together. This kid had no idea the fierce warrior he had in my wife. She was a force to be reckoned with on the best of days, but add in some pregnancy hormones, and she was bound to go to the ends of the earth to make sure he was okay.
“You and I need to talk,” I said, my tone brooking no arguments.
Glancing at Mav, he tipped his hat and walked away, giving me space with the kid. Sawyer strode over to Mav, probably to fill him in on the details.
Wes shoved his hands in his pockets, giving me the typical teenage look that said he didn’t want to hear anything I had to say, and anything that came out of my mouth would quickly be forgotten.
“Do you want to tell me why you ran out of the hospital?”
In typical teenage fashion, the kid ignored me.
“See, I have this theory that you overheard what I was saying to Blake, and I think you ran because of it.”
He shook his head. “Whatever.”
“Listen, you and I need to get a few things straight.”
“There’s not a damn thing?—”
“You’re gonna shut up and listen,” I snapped.
For the first time, his eyes met mine, and they were steaming with hatred. But there was also something else in them. Something that told me I might actually have a shot of getting through to this kid.
“There is nothing I care about more than my family. I would do anything for them.”
“Yeah,” he snorted.
As he turned away, I clapped a hand on his shoulder, forcing him to look at me. “That includes you.”
“I’m not your family,” he hissed. “Stop trying to make me one of you.”
“You’re living with me. That makes you mine to protect.”
“Just fucking stop!” he shouted, stepping away from me. “I don’t know why you’re doing this, but you need to leave me the fuck alone.”
“Watch your tone,” I said, my voice taking on a lethal edge.
“Why are you doing this?” he yelled. “Why can’t you just leave me the hell alone?”
“Because someone has to look out for you. Maybe you don’t like it. Hell, maybe you don’t like me, but I’m not walking away!”
“You will,” he snapped. “Just like everyone else. I’m not stupid. You see me as a charity case for your wife. But she’s your real family. I heard you. Do you think I’m stupid? The only reason you’re doing this is because she’s pregnant, but you don’t really give a shit. No one does!”
“I do!” I shouted, storming forward. “I do fucking care!” I wrapped my arms around his body, pulling him in for a hug that I was sure he desperately needed. He fought me, his fists pounding against me as he struggled to get away, but I wasn’t leaving.
Not if it took a year. Not if it took five. This kid had been left on his own for far too long, and now he didn’t trust anyone. Not even me.
“I know you don’t believe me,” I whispered. “I know you don’t trust anyone, but we’re not going anywhere, and I will do whatever I have to, whatever it takes to prove I’m not fucking going anywhere.”
