Page 86 of Up in a Blaze
“Hush, child. These are good people. They want to help, and we’re going to let them. Too many nights I lose sleep worrying about you and Arlo. I know you’ll be safe with them. These apartments are too easy to break into.”
Tears filled Sawyer’s eyes, but he wiped at them and sniffed. “Okay, Miss Cora.” He looked at Henri, Loyal, and me. “Thank you.”
Henri clapped and cheered, reaching out to hug Sawyer. “This will be wonderful, chéri. Come, let us go pack a few bags. Blaze and Loyal can assist Miss Cora.” He stood, dragging Sawyer up with him. “Arlo, come with us,” he called. Arlo zoomed in, stopping at Henri’s side. “Arlo, that is Loyal. He’s a friend of ours. Someone you can trust. You, Sawyer, and Miss Cora will be staying with him until Blaze and I find a bigger house, and then”—he cupped the boy’s cheeks—“you’ll move in with me and Blaze.”
The kid’s face screwed up before a sob tore out of him. He pushed into Henri, who tipped back to sit on the couch, and Arlo followed him, sinking to his knees, hugging Henri tightly.
“Chéri, what is it? Why are you upset?”
Sawyer whimpered as he watched his brother. I stood and went over to him. As soon as I was close, he turned to me and dropped his face to my chest. I cupped the back of his head, holding him to me.
“My sweet boy, please tell me what is wrong. Do you not want to move? Blaze, we will buy this building and live in it, making it secure for Arlo if he wishes to stay.”
The kid let out another wail, clinging harder to Henri.
When I nodded, I heard a sniff close by and saw a teary Miss Cora.
Hell.
What the fuck was going on?
I ground my teeth together.
“Arlo, chéri,” Henri cooed, rubbing at the boy’s back and hair. “Talk to me, please.”
Loyal moved closer and sat on the chair I’d been on. “Kid, you’re feelin’ a lot at the moment, right?” Arlo managed a nod against Henri. “Yeah, I would be to. And I bet you appreciate everything Sawyer has done for you, but you’ve been worried about him as much as he has for you.”
Arlo pulled back. “H-He does so much for me. There’ve been so many horrible people around us, except for Miss Cora, and no one wants to help. Not even my teachers. They think my brother is no good. But he is. He’s the best brother there is in the world. I just want him safe and to have people who care about us.” He stared up at a misty-eyed Henri. “You care, right?”
Sawyer’s hold on my tee tightened as he whimpered.
“I absolutely care, sweet boy. Blaze and I care so much about you and Sawyer. Loyal cares about you all too. We are here in your lives from now on, Arlo. This I promise you. Your brother is safe, and so are you and Miss Cora.”
He hiccupped through a sob and hugged Henri again.
My French firecracker stared up at me. The love he had for these boys was clear in his gaze. He was ready to go above and beyond for them, which meant I’d better start looking for a damn big house.
CHAPTER TWENTY-THREE
HENRI
I pretended to be asleep so Blaze would carry me inside. My beast wanted to dote on me as well as yell at me for getting into trouble in the first place. Of course I would let him.
I heard my door open and felt his large arms lift me from the car. I curled my head against his warm chest. “Mon amour,” I muttered.
“Shower, then bed,” he said, kissing my forehead.
I hummed under my breath, keeping my eyes closed.
When he flicked a light on, I blinked at the brightness and noticed we were already in our en suite. Blaze placed me on my feet, cupping my cheeks so I looked up at him.
“You’re not a very good actor.”
I glared. “I am so.”
He smirked, but it faded when his gaze slid to my bruised cheek.
“Are you going to yell at me now, mon amour?”
