Page 137 of Broken Prince

“Shhh,” I try to soothe him. The crying has slowed, but he’s still crying so hard he starts to gag. “I’m so sorry,” I say into his hair as I hold his head against my shoulder. “I’m so sorry, I’m so sorry.”

My blurry eyes manage to make out two people running towards me.

I see the moment in Logan’s eyes when he realizes who’s in my arms. He runs faster, his face masked with fury.

“I’m so sorry,” I sob out as Logan takes Benny from my arms. “I went upstairs to pee, and I heard crying. I found him in a room.”

“Shhh.” Logan has tears spilling down his cheeks now, too, but he’s doing a better job at keeping it together than I am. “It’s okay, buddy. Daddy is here.” He kisses Benny’s head before looking to me. “Laney, baby, I need you to tell me everything.”

“I’m sorry.” I start to breathe heavily.

“Laney.” Owen cups my face. “Breathe.”

I nod, taking a few deep breaths.

“I found Stacy downstairs. She’s here; she left Benny in that room alone. The door wasn’t even locked. She was getting high in the basement, hooking up with some guys.”

“I’m going to fucking kill her,” he snarls, body vibrating. “She is never getting my son again. I don’t care what I have to do, she will never, and I fucking mean never, see him as long as I fucking live.”

“I’m calling the cops,” Owen says, grabbing his phone.

“I’m sorry.” I wrap my arms around myself. “I’m so sorry.”

“You have nothing to be sorry about, Laney.” Logan looks at me with devastated eyes. “You didn’t do this, you saved him. You saved my little boy, Laney, and for that, I owe you the fucking world.”

Closing my eyes, I cry hard. I can’t stop. I don’t know what’s wrong with me. Seeing Benny like that, I will never be able to get that out of my mind.

“Is he okay?” I ask, opening my eyes.

“He will be. We’re going to have to get him checked out.” Logan lays Benny down on the ground, making him scream.

“I hate to ask this, but please videotape this.” Logan looks at me with broken eyes.

I nod my head and grab my phone, hitting record.

“I need this as proof of what state he was in when he was found.” Logan takes Benny’s diaper off, doing his best to soothe his son.

“Fucking hell,” Owen hisses when we see the mess Benny’s been in. “Here.” Owen hands Logan a bottle of water he snatched from Justin. It’s then that I realize that Winter and Justin are here too. “Oh my god,” Winter sobs, putting a hand to her mouth.

“It’s okay, buddy,” Logan soothes in a cracked voice. “This is going to make it feel so much better.”

He pulls the heavily soiled diaper off Benny and pours the water on his bum. Then he takes his shirt off his back and uses it to wipe him up.

The screams that leave Benny as Logan brushes it over the angry red rash marks have me crumbling to my knees next to Benny.

“Hi, baby.” I brush back his hair. “Daddy just needs to clean you up. It’s okay. It’s okay.”

It’s not okay. Nothing about this is okay.

With my free hand, I continue to record, my hand a shaking mess.

When Logan is done, he takes the shirt Owen hands him and uses it to wrap Benny up in a homemade diaper before scooping him up in his arms.

Logan says nothing as he holds his son, whispering in his ear, eyes closed as he rocks him.

Pressing end on the recording, I hand the phone to Owen.

“The police are on their way,.” Owen informs us, running a hand through his hair. “I’m going to kill her, Logan. I’m going to wrap my fucking hands around her neck and snap it.” He gives me a look before I take one last glance at Benny and Logan.

---