Page 172 of His Boys to Protect

Help! Daddy help! Scared!

“What did he say?” the officer demanded.

Ward tried to take a step closer, but the other police officer stopped him. “He's scared. He wants my help. Please,” Ward begged, his voice sounding strange. Like he was about to cry. “Just let me help him. I can get him to calm down.”

Charlie tried to look up. The two police officers stared at one another for a long moment. Finally, one gave the other a nod, and Ward was allowed to come closer.Help!

“It's okay, buddy,” Ward murmured, crouching beside them. “It's okay. I'm right here. Everything's gonna be okay. Just hold real still for me and stay calm, okay?”

Charlie didn't want to hold still. He still needed to scream. To beat his fists. To let out all the angry noise in his head. But something in Ward's voice stopped him. He went utterly still, trying with all his might to stifle the cries that wanted to come out.

A weight lifted off his shoulder. Then off his back. Then his legs. Charlie gasped. He could breathe again!

Ward moved right up against him. He didn't quite lie down on top of Charlie, but it was close.

“It's okay, sweetheart,” Ward whispered, gently rubbing his wrists where the police officer had held too tight. “I'm right here. Daddy's right here.”

Charlie whimpered.

“You tell me when you're ready to get up, okay?” Ward asked.

Charlie squeezed his eyes shut and hid his face against Ward's arm.

“I'm sorry,” a woman said. “I really have to get going. The train's about to leave.”

Ward lifted slightly off of him. Charlie almost panicked, except Ward didn't fully let go. Charlie looked up and saw the train lady hand Ward the money he'd given her.

“I think he was trying to buy a ticket,” the woman said. “But you can't buy a ticket at this station. It's unmanned. I tried to explain that to him, but–”

“It's okay,” Ward said gently, taking the money.

“And this is his,” the woman added, pulling Charlie's bag closer to them.

“Thank you,” Ward said. He stuffed the money into a pocket on the side of the bag, then bent over Charlie again. “Easy, buddy. Just hang on.”

The woman walked away, and the train doors closed.

“Shit,” Ward swore. “Charlie? There's gonna be noise.” Ward covered Charlie's ears.

The train horn sounded. It was so loud! Charlie winced and squeezed his eyes shut. He held onto Ward's wrists and felt the rumble as the train pulled away.

But he needed to be on that train! He had to get to their Sky!

It was too late now. The train was gone.

He'd have to get the next one. He needed to get up. To figure out how to buy a ticket. Their Sky was out there, all alone. They had to find him!

Charlie squirmed. “Hhnn!”

“Okay, sweet boy.” Ward pulled his hands away and grabbed Charlie by the shoulders instead. “Let's go nice and slow, okay? Take your time.”

Charlie pushed himself up onto his elbows and knees, trying not to touch the ground with his bare hands. It looked even more dirty now that he wasn't so distracted by being forcibly held down. He sat back on his heels, then turned and burrowed into Ward's side. There were still so many people there!

“Shhh,” Ward murmured, rubbing his back. “I've got you.” Ward looked up. “Where'd they go?”

Someone strode closer. Charlie peeked up at the big man, recognizing him from the time he'd come to Ward's apartment.“I convinced them to leave him be,” he said, gesturing over his shoulder.

The big, scary police officers were gone.

---