Page 94 of His Boys to Protect

Charlie blinked, processing that. Sky quit his job?Oh oh oh!Charlie bounced in his seat, so overwhelmed with joy and relief that he couldn't hold still.

But then he saw the look on Ward's face. It was part relief and part something else, and it was the latter that made Charlie stop moving.

“He called me this morning, a little while after he left the hotel,” Ward went on. “Said he couldn't do it anymore. That he needed to walk away from it all. So I went to pick him up, since his car wouldn't start, and then we went to his apartment. He packed up all his things–”

You see his apartment?Charlie asked, interrupting him.My Sky no let me see!

Ward cringed. “It was awful, Charlie. You would have hated it.” Ward slowly shook his head. “It was tiny. Maybe half the size of this room. All he had was a bare mattress on the floor. The kitchen had no food in it to speak of…” Ward trailed off like he was stopping himself from adding more. From adding evenworse. “I honestly don't blame him for not letting you go over there. He didn't even want me to see it.”

Charlie whimpered, hating the visuals that his imagination conjured up from Ward's descriptions.

“But it's over,” Ward said, putting on a soft smile. “He moved out. He's not going back.” Then Ward paused, his smile slipping. “I'm taking him home with me.”

It took Charlie a moment to realize what that meant.

When it finally hit him, he lashed out, screaming and swinging his fists at Ward.

“Charlie?” Dad yelled. Rapid, thundering footsteps approached, and both Dad and Mom stumbled into the room, still in their pajamas. “Charlie?” Dad repeated. “What's wrong?”

Ward held up his hands, protecting himself from Charlie's blows. “I'm so sorry–” he began, speaking over his shoulder.

You promised!Charlie signed between flailing punches, still crying out.You promised no take my Sky from me!

“Charlie,” Ward said gently. He kept blocking Charlie's swinging arms, then finally caught him by the wrists.

Charlie struggled, but the man was too strong for him.

“Hey, buddy,” Ward murmured, never raising his voice. “I know you're upset, but I need you to listen right now, okay? I need to explain. Can you let me do that?”

Charlie rocked hard. He wanted his Sky! But the gentle command in Ward's voice did something strange to Charlie's insides. His rocking slowed but didn't stop, and after a moment, he managed to give the man a nod.

“Thank you, Charlie,” Ward whispered, giving his wrists a gentle squeeze. “Sky wants to get out of the city. To leave it all behind.” Ward paused. “He should probably tell you this himself, but he told me he'd always planned to leave like this. Once he had money for his surgery, he was going to move far away and start over.”

Charlie blinked, feeling his body go suddenly cold. He tugged against Ward's grip on him, and when Ward released his hands, Charlie signed,My Sky leave me?

Ward winced. “Yeah. He said you deserve better than him.”

Charlie violently shook his head.My Sky! My Sky! My Sky!

“I know, buddy. And I agree. So I told him he's coming with me instead. He'll be free of the city, but not scared and alone. And I convinced him to stop here first so we could tell you.” Ward gently grabbed Charlie's hands and gave them a squeeze. “Instead of him running off to who-knows-where, he'll be with me. Somewhere he'll be safe. Where I can look after him and give him a fresh start. And you are more than welcome to come visit whenever you want, okay?” He glanced over at Charlie's parents.“Whatever arrangements we have to make to get you down there, we'll figure it out. You can come see Sky. See that he's safe. No more of that job. Or that apartment.”

Charlie considered that. His Sky wouldn't have strange men touching him anymore. Andanythingsounded better than that apartment. Ward's apartment wasn't perfect, but at least Charlie knew where it was. What it looked like. It was far better than what Ward had described of Skylar's place.

His Sky would be safe. And free. And not have to see clients. He'd have somewhere warm and secure to sleep, with a real bed instead of a mattress on the floor, even if that meant sharing the bed with Ward. Somehow, even that was okay.

But it was so far!

Charlie started rocking again. Ward did say he could come visit whenever he wanted.I visit now.

Ward blinked. “You want to come with us now?”

Charlie nodded.

“Hey, Charlie,” Dad said. “It's not polite to invite yourself over to someone's house.”

Charlie scowled.He say anytime. Now is anytime.

Ward glanced at Charlie's parents again. “Are you sure, buddy? It's very sudden.”

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