It’s over. It’s been over for two years.
He’s wrong. If it was over, then what the hell has this entire trip
been? The sex. The kiss. The need to hold me. We aren’t done.
Kade told me not to speak to his father about what’s going on,
but I have no idea how else to help him. What will telling Tobias
actually do? Would it just cause him to spiral? Luciella said he’s been
doing really well with his health and behaviour.
Telling him might jeopardise that.
But what else can I do?
Does it make me selfish that I’d risk destroying Kade’s dad’s life
to save his? Do I speak to Aria? Luciella?
I’m lost.
“We need to do something,” I whisper, looking up at Barry.
“The police can’t help, so don’t bother calling them. No one can
interfere.”
“There must be someone who can help him?”
“No.”
It’s a solid answer that I refuse to believe.
“Will they hurt him?”
Barry averts his gaze, shifting on his feet. “He’ll be fine.”
“Someone hit him on the head. You saw it too.”
“Miss Rhodes…”
“Stacey,” I reply. “Please call me Stacey.”
“It’s nothing he can’t handle, Stacey,” Barry replies. “You should
sleep.”
They thought I was asleep in the car – like I’d actually be able to
pass out under those circumstances. I heard every word they said –
I’m too innocent; I’d be in danger if we spent time together – and
Kade saying I should have stayed out of his life, but I was always
there.
An hour later, my thoughts are still wild. Barry hands me a glass
of water, which shakes in my grasp. He sighs and drops into the seat
in front of me. He looks tired, as if he hasn’t slept in days. He does a
lot for Kade – cleans up his messes and deals with him when he’s
drugged up or drunk out of his mind.
I’m starting to think Kade is forced to take drugs too, because he
hated them when we were teenagers.
I manage to gulp down three mouthfuls of the water then place
the glass on the table between us. “I have a question. Do you work
