Page 28 of Subtracting the Heart

At that moment, Ford wished to fuck he’d gone to law school. “No, but I’ll have him here in an hour.” If he couldn’t get Liam, he’d get someone else.

“I’m sorry, but he won’t get out tonight with or without his lawyer. I can get him a message before they move him.” The detective reached for a piece of paper and a pen, handing both to Ford before spinning in his chair to look at other files.

Ford wiped tears from his eyes and handed the note to the detective, who was kind enough to put it in an envelope without opening it.

“Thank you, Detective Del Torro. This is an unusual situation, but I know my boyfriend is innocent in this whole thing. May I have your card so I can pass it along to Cade’s lawyer?” Ford tried his best not to anger the man because perhaps he could be an ally. The man handed him a business card and offered a tender smile. It provided little comfort.

Ford went to the impound lot and arranged to pick up his car on Tuesday morning, as they were closing and wouldn’t reopen until after the holiday. He’d have to bring one of the kids with him to drive it because Jax certainly couldn’t, but really, the car was the least of his worries.

Kincade was in jail, and it was their first Christmas together. He was so frustrated he couldn’t breathe properly.

Ford pulled into an empty parking lot and rolled down a window, trying to abate the panic before it swallowed him whole. He had to be strong, even though his heart was breaking. He had seven people waiting for him at home… seven who he’d be disappointing when he got there.

When he pulled into the garage, Ford noticed the gifts were still in the third parking space. He thought about bringing them in so the boys could open them and have more clothes to wear, but he wasn’t sure what was appropriate under the circumstances. He let himself inside after he shut the garage door.

Slowly removing his coat and shoes, Ford walked into the kitchen to see the two pans of lasagna on top of the stove with foil over them. Neither had been touched.

Ford walked into the living room to see Jax on the couch with the other boys sitting on the floor, blankly staring at the television screen which was showing a fireplace crackling with carols playing in the background. The tree wasn’t even illuminated.

“Okay, now, come on, guys. This is pathetic. Turn on the tree, Ashton. I’ll build a real fire. You guys are going to eat because Cade would be pissed if he knew you let that food go to waste.”

Kevin the Ant stood from the floor. “WhereisCade?” The other boys rose in solidarity.

Ford had no idea how to explain it other than telling the truth. After a deep exhale, he looked at all of them. “Cade’s in jail, and I can’t get him out before Tuesday. They’re moving him to the Cook County lock-up tonight. They wouldn’t let me see him, but I got a note to him telling him we’d get him out as soon as possible.”

The shock on their faces reminded Ford of how he felt upon hearing Cade was locked up. Jax sat up and turned to the boys. “Which one’s Josh?”

The bulkier, taller boy walked over to him. Jax held out his arm and the boy hauled him up. Ashton ran to get his crutches.

After Jax had them secured under his arms, he crutched over to the kitchen where he went for the house phone. Ford could see the big man was pissed, and he dreaded anyone telling himno, but the fucking situation was out of their hands.

“Jackson, there’s nobody you can call. Kenneth Shaw is out of the country. Lawyers can’t get him out until his bail has been set on Tuesday.”

Jax wheeled around, that famous rage evident on his face. It was because of that rage he’d been given the nickname of “Ragin’Cajun” back in his college football days. “What’s he accused of doing?”

The boys had filtered into the kitchen, and Ford hated for them to hear the truth. He was worried they’d think it was their fault because Cade had been trying to make things easier for them, not himself.

It was a selfless act, really, and it wasn’t anyone’s fault it went down the way it had. Well, the person who called the cops to report the place as a brothel was at fault, but they had no idea who that person could be.

Taking a deep breath, Ford explained the situation. “Cade thought he was doing the right thing. He broke into the shelter to get your clothes, along with the food Bev left in the fridge and freezer so it didn’t go to waste. A cop came by to check the house and caught him hauling shit out of the back door.

“Until Kenneth Shaw or someone with Chicago Outreach Shelters, which is likely a shell company for something else, can vouch Cade had every right to break into the property, we can’t do anything about it. I know it’s frustrating, but please, guys, sit and eat. Jackson, love, sit and eat, please?” Ford wasn’t above begging.

Getting them to eat was the only thing in his control now, so Ford was going to do his damnedest to do just that… get them to eat.

After dinner, Ashton coaxed the other guys upstairs to the media room to leave Jax and Ford alone to talk. “We need to do something about Ashton, Jackson. He’s a minor, and he’s not related to either of us. We could go to jail for unlawfulimprisonment of a child or kidnapping.” Ford hated to remind him, especially with everything they already had to worry about.

“Let me think about it, okay? I’m not for sending the kid back into bullshit if his father’s as much of a dick as it sounds, okay? I don’t wanna go to jail either, Branford, but if we send that kid back to his parents and the old man’s nuts about having a queer son? I wouldn’t feel good if something bad happened.” Jax’s gaze was steady, telling Ford he meant what he said.

Ford agreed, of course. Things were dire enough without the boy being harmed. “Come on, love, let’s get you settled on the couch. Are those things comfortable enough for sleeping or do you want some sweats?”

Jax crutched over to the couch and sat down with a thud. “I’d rather have our bed, but I’m too tired to go up all those fucking steps. These stupid pants are fine, but I gotta get this jock off. It’s fucking killin’ me, babe.”

Ford looked at the situation and without a comment, he walked into the kitchen and came back with poultry shears. “Stand up and drop ’em.”

“Maaannn, this is my game jock.” Jax groaned.

Ford laughed. “Babe, you won’t be playing again until next summer. I promise we’ll get you a new one. You wanna try to sleep in it?”

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