Page 204 of Call the Shots
“I don’t give a shit if it’s on the six o’clock news!” I hissed. “Stay here. Where’d they take Bear?”
Once I had confirmation from the MU lawyers, I received an escort through the police station. I focused on putting one foot in front of the other. I only had bits and pieces of what happened from the boys and didn’t know what to expect.
We walked into a closed hallway overlooking the room of separate offices and desks. My eyes flickered through the windows to Bear. He was handcuffed to the chair, his body hunched over, his t-shirt coated in blood. I stumbled to a stop.
Oh my god.
More footsteps followed and a brisk voice interrupted my spiral. “June?”
I glanced back to see…Warren Hodges.
Bear’s father.
“Where’s Xavier?” he demanded.
“That’s all you have to say?” I managed.
When I used to spend summers with him, I always saw Warren as the kind of man Xavier would grow up to be. The salt-and-pepper hair, the strong cheekbones, graciously growing into his age and power, Warren was how I used to picture my future.
The longer I looked at him, the more I realized how right I was. This was clearly an older Xavier. That same stupid, perplexed look on his face and casual disregard for another person’s wellbeing.
My hands balled to fists. “Do you know where Bear is? Have you had any idea this entire summer?”
“Excuse me?”
“I know he hasn’t seen you one fucking time.”
“You don’t get to curse at me?—”
“How dare you,” I snarled. “What thefuckis your problem?”
“You’re a child,” he dismissed me. “You don’t have children, you can’t possibly understand?—”
“Why are you playing favorites with your own kids?!”
“Oh, please. You’re being dramatic?—”
“You have a clear favorite! How can you justify that?”
“How can I—?” he repeated in disbelief. “Xavier was a choice I made, something I decided on, I didn’tdecideon Bear! He’sa business trip to Canada! I told her I didn’t—I took him in! I didn’t have to, but I did!”
Pure fury curled inside of me. “If you didn’t want him, you should’ve left him behind with a family wholoveshim! I can’t believe you’re not genetically related. Xavier’s just like you!”
If we weren’t surrounded by police, I would’ve thrown something heavy at him. It took effort to prioritize. I was at the station for Bear, not to get arrested myself. With a shaky breath, I pushed the door open, leaving Warren behind.
Bear stared at the ground until I came closer. His eyes flickered to mine.
Oh, god.
He was covered in blood—that had to have been from his battered nose—and his left eye was swollen with angry red bruises. It must’ve been so painful, but his lips tugged up for a rougher version of that boyish, hopeful smile. He moved to stand up, only stopped by the handcuffs. His voice was hoarse. “June?”
“I’m here, baby,” I whispered, moving next to him. Bear rested his forehead against my hip and I wove my fingers through his hair, holding him to me. “Why is he here?”
“Because he sent another student to the hospital?” an officer replied sarcastically.
“Well, why isn’theat the hospital?”
“Uh, he has a broken nose.”
