Page 74 of The Boy from Half Moon

“Where’d you get that?” I asked, climbing down the ladder, two rungs at a time.

“Sister Sarah packed it for you,” he answered, setting the food down and jumping into my arms. “I miss you, Luke. I miss you so much.”

I cradled his head and shushed him while kissing the top of his head. “I love you too, little brother. How’s Ma?”

“You know Ma,” he replied, stepping back to face me, tears streaking his face. “She’s afraid of everything now. Worse than before, too.”

“And your room? Is it the same?” I asked, hoping I’d disrupted their lives as little as possible.

“We’re back in the same one. Do you think you’ll be back soon?” he asked, breaking my heart with the way he tugged on my sleeve. “The bottom bunk is empty, and I keep it clear for you, Luke. Ma tries to pile stuff on it, but I don’t let her,” he explained, moving back into my embrace, and pressing his face against my chest.

I stroked his hair gently and let him cling to me for as long as he needed. David hadn’t acted like a boy in quite some time. He openly wept as I held him, letting me know he wasn’t as grown up as he tried to let on.

“I need you to be strong, brother. Take care of Ma and always do what you’re asked,” I stated. “Do you understand?”

“We can run away, Luke. I’ll go with you.”

“We can’t leave Ma here alone. And we both know she won’t leave even if we could,” I reminded him.

“But me and you can leave right now. We can get out of here and go far away,” he said. “Please, Luke. Let’s go. Just me and you.”

I moved him back, lifting his chin. He held my wrists with his small hands. There was fear in his eyes, and I felt a familiar chill moving up my spine again.

“Why?” I asked. “Why are you asking me to leave Ma?”

“Because.”

“Because isn’t a good enough reason, David. Is someone hurting you?”

“Everyone’s hurting us. Always. Every day they hurt us,” he cried. “We need to get away.”

“I’m asking you, David. Who is hurting you?”

He pushed me away. “Everyone!” he yelled, angrily thrusting his fists to his side. “Don’t you see it? They all want to hurt us.”

“Who’s touching you, David?” I asked, moving closer to him as he backed away. His eyes were terror-stricken as I moved closer. “It’ll be okay, little brother. Just tell me if someone is hurting you. Can you just please tell me?”

“I want you to go away with me,” he cried. “Just do that, okay?”

I took another step, advancing nice and easy, trying to grab him so he could be held and could feel safe in his answer. I could protect him, but I needed the truth. I lunged for his hand, but he avoided my reach and ran out the open door.

“David!” I hollered, running to the door and looking into the darkness.

He was gone.

CHAPTER THIRTY-NINE: Tate

I felt like a prisoner in my own home. The reality that Alec was following my every move was a bit scarier than I’d imagined it to be. After Tyler dumped Alec’s dating history on me last month, I’d simply chalked it up to couples that didn’t get along. Of course, hearing secondhand about the stalking charges against Alec distressed me as well, but back then, I didn’t associate Alec with being a problem for me personally. That had changed.

Because of being a recent hire, there were few personal items in my office, so I hadn’t gone in to retrieve them. A simple resignation letter addressed and sent in an email to the two principal officers, Alec Browning Sr., and Alec Browning Jr., yesterday, should have done the trick.

Staring at the caller ID on my phone proved it hadn’t. The caller was Browning & Browning, not Alec’s cell or personal office number.

“Hello?”

“Tate, this is Browning Senior,” he stated. “I’m hoping you have a moment.”

“How can I help you, sir?”

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