He gives me a hug. "I'll text you when I'm coming back. Let me know if you need anything."
"I will. Bye."
When he's gone, my mom wraps her arm around mine and starts walking down the hall. "Danny seems nice."
"He is."
"You haven't mentioned him before, have you?"
"I have, but you probably don't remember. I don't know him that well. I just see him at school."
"He seems to care about you."
"Because he cares about Dean." I sniffle. "And Dean cares about me. Danny's looking out for me because Dean can't right now. That's how it works here. People look out for each other. It's not like back home."
She doesn't respond as we continue down the hall. When we get to the end, she pulls me over to a bench to sit down.
"I need to know what's going on here," she says.
"What do you mean?"
"Who did this to him? Do you know?"
I don't answer.
"If you don't tell me, I'm sure the police will. So what's it going to be? You, or should I call the police?"
I swallow and look down at the ground. "It was his dad. He did this."
"Dean's father," she confirms. "You're saying he attacked his own son?"
"Yes," I whisper, tears forming again.
"Why would his father do that to his own son?"
"Because he's violent. He's...he's a criminal."
"What do you mean he's a criminal?" she asks in a cautious tone.
I look at her. "Don't tell Dad this. I don't want him knowing any of this. He'll overreact and tell me I can't see Dean anymore."
"I'm starting to think the same thing," she says, her brows furrowed.
"Just forget it," I say, getting up. "I knew I shouldn't have told you."
"Too late." She takes my hand and pulls me back beside her. "Are you saying Dean's father has served time?"
"He still is. He's in prison. But he escaped. And showed up at Dean's house this morning."
"Oh, Brook," she says with a sigh. "Why would you get involved in something like this?"
"I didn't know. When I met Dean, I didn't know his dad was in prison, and then he told me but he said his dad had three more years there. I didn't think Dean was in danger."
"It's not just him, it's you." She turns me toward her, her hands on my shoulders. "By being with Dean, you're putting yourself in danger. This man could come after you to hurt Dean. Does he know about you?"
"No. I mean, not unless Jake told him."
"Who?"
