Page 33 of Beyond Perfect

“Frankie asked me to. I wanted to. The poor kid has been shuffled around so much he deserves a break.”

“You acted against the law.”

“Jackson, please. At least do what’s best for Freddie.”

His eyes widened. “Does that mean you don’t think I’ll do what’s best for Frankie?”

“I-I don’t know. But please, don’t hurt this little boy.”

“How do you see this all playing out, Maisy?”

“I think Caleb and I should have temporary care of Freddie.”

“You aren’t certified.”

She folded her arms over her chest. “You told me yourself you have pull at DFS. We can take the classes right away.”

He sighed. “What’s your long-range plan?”

“To find a permanent home for him, and for Frankie eventually.”

He shook his head.

“Please let us keep him until then.”

“It could be a few months.”

“Well, it’s summer, so we don’t have to worry about Freddie’s school.”

“Maisy, this is out of the box.”

“You won’t let me have any say over what happens to Frankie. Please, let me have input into Freddie’s care.”

Just then, Freddie came down the stairs. He looked like a different kid in little boys’ clothes and sneakers. His hair was clean and combed. When he saw Jackson, he ran to him and hugged him. “Thanks for letting me stay here.”

It was dirty pool she was playing here, but she didn’t care. And she wouldn’t let this be about Jackson, about not hurting him. She was past that.

Jackson hugged the boy. “You’re welcome, son.”

Maisy deflated with relief.

* * *

Jackson arrived home, exhausted. He’d failed Freddie and Frankie and Maisy. When he fell into bed though, other failures took over. He didn’t have the strength to push them down…

The leader, Buck Macom, called from the living room, “Hey, Jacko. Come see what we got.”

Since his initiation, Jackson had become fully entrenched with the gang. He stood, put out the joint and went to the bedroom.

A girl laid on the mattress. Her arms and legs were stretched out to the four corners of the bed and were bound. Her mouth was stuffed with a gag. Her lower half was naked. “Who’s this,” he said, squelching his horror.

“We got her from our sista gang. She jumpin’ in and train cars are part of her initiation.” Train cars meant fucking several guys in a row.

He hesitated.

Max grinned. “You ever fucked a girl?”

He shook his head. “I’m only twelve.”

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