Once a week everyone got together for dinner. No one missed it. Dean came over, and though Mason and Kyler moved out at the beginning of the month, they were always here for the weekly dinner. After always wanting to belong to a family, I thought a weekly dinner was a really cool thing. I had been living here for almost six months and loved the idea of having brothers.

Dean and Mason usually went for a walk out in the woods after dinner, and I always noticed how moody Mason would be after their walks. Since Mason had moved out, I didn’t see the mood swings as much anymore, but I tried to stay out of his way.

We had finished up dinner, and I had begun clearing plates when Thom stood from the table and put his hand on my shoulder.

“When you’re done clearing the table, come find me. Dean and I need to talk to you.”

Shit! What had I done? I nodded and hurried to clear the table. While I put the dishes in the dishwasher, I tried to think of what I had done that made them need to talk to me.

I began to panic because I didn’t want to go back to the docks.

“Easy, mate,” Martin said.

“I can’t go back there, Martin. Whatever I did, I’ll fix it.”

“Wes, it might not even be something bad. Go talk to them, I’ll finish.”

I looked at Martin and considered his offer.

“Go, Wes. They’re in the living room,” Kyler nudged me in the direction of the living room.

I slowly walked into the living room as Thom and Dean looked up at me. They didn’t look angry, but they didn’t look happy either.

“Sit down, Wesley,” Dean said as Thom slapped the seat of the leather sofa.

I took a spot where Thom had slapped next to him.

“You’re not in trouble, Wes, relax.” Thom paused before dropping a ton of bricks on me with two words. “The docks.”

The docks.

The place I wasn’t going back to.

“I’ve been doing some digging, Wes.” Thom stared at me and then glanced at Dean. “The condition that you were in on the night I took you in, concerned me greatly. There were a lot of marks on you. So, we dug.”

“And dug and dug. It wasn’t easy to find info,” Dean said calmly.

“I had to dig a bit on the streets,” Thom added.

I felt as though I might throw up. Full panic had taken over my body. I was sweating and afraid of what was coming. And while I trusted them during this time that they weren’t going to take me back, it was a fear that was lingering in the background.

“Were...you able to find much?” I carefully asked.

I knew so much of what was done on the property was hidden from the outside. The few times other kids had run away, police never seemed to have a problem returning them to the docks. If they had known, I’d like to think that they wouldn’t have taken the kids back there. They got away with...well, murder.

“Oh, yes indeed, Wesley.” Thom sat up all the way and moved to the edge of the sofa. He turned his body to face me but kept his arm stretched out and held onto the top cushion of the sofa. “Everything can be uncovered if you just know where and how to look.”

I was scared now.

“You see, Wes, I knew something with you was amiss. Unbutton your shirt,” Thom instructed. I did as I was told, but nervously. When I unbuttoned my shirt, Thom continued. “You didn’t just spend your youth in a group home for boys.” Thom reached over, tugged my shirt open, and then he lightly tapped his fingers on my tattoo. “You grew up in hell.”

I lowered my head to look at the ugly mark I was given at the docks.

“I wanted to know exactly where the boy I took in came from. I was worried about you. You’d been so closed up about the place referred to as the docks. Life on the streets didn’t give you that tattoo or the scars on your back...life on the docks did.” Thom gently pulled the open edges of my shirt closed and put his hand on the side of my neck. “Let’s go for a drive, Wes.”

I could hardly stand. Thom was taking me back. Whatever I did, or didn’t do, I’d never have the chance to fix. I’d always be a throwaway without a family.

Dean and Thom were both on their feet, waiting for me. I slowly stood and couldn’t stop the tears from burning hot trails down my face. I quickly wiped them away with my sleeve. Steeling myself was the only option for me now. There was no point in taking anything. No clothes, nothing. It’d all be taken from me the moment I crossed that property line.

“Boys,” Thom called out.

This would be my goodbye with Mason, Kyler, and Martin. Mason would be glad that I’d be gone soon. Martin would get his room back to himself. Even though Kyler and Mason had both moved out of the house recently and freed up two bedrooms, Martin and I still shared a room. He had become my best friend, and, in a sense, my brother.

Dean held my jacket out, and I took it from him. It really didn’t matter though. Maybe there’s a chance that when the car stopped, I could make a run for it. I’d have a better off chance at surviving on my own.

“Boys, we’re going for a ride. Get your jackets,” Thom instructed.

Dean sat in the front while I sat in the middle row of the large SUV next to Martin. Kyler and Mason sat in the last row. In the car, the guys were quiet as Thom spoke.

“I started looking into group homes for a record of you. That didn’t get me anywhere, so I had the boys ask around on the streets with their friends. Again, I was worried about you. Martin had told me about your restless nights and how you often mention the docks in your sleep. Most people didn’t know anything about the docks. I continued to dig and dig.”

I remained quiet and stared at my feet on the floor of his car. This was my last ride in his sleek Mercedes SUV. Why was he making a big production out of taking me back?

“When things are this difficult to find, there’s usually a reason it’s hidden. But like I said, you just have to know how to look.”

How to look?

The car slowed and eventually came to a stop along a curb. Dean and Thom exchanged glances before telling everyone to get out of the car. I looked around, confused. I knew we were near the docks because I could hear the horns of the ships but it was so dark.

My legs ached and nearly buckled when I stepped onto the sidewalk and got a whiff of that familiar stench that I had smelled for so long. I thought it was out of my system with my time on the streets alone, but maybe it never really left. My stomach churned, nearly causing me to be sick.

“It’s okay, mate,” Martin said as he climbed out behind me.

He had no clue where I was going. I quickly felt my back pocket for my wallet. I quickly pulled it out and retrieved my picture of Martin and me. I’d hold onto this as long as I could. I tucked it into my pocket and handed Martin my wallet. They’d take my picture eventually too, but I could have it for a little while.

I couldn’t look in the direction of the docks. Footsteps grew closer, and Thom put his arm around my shoulder.

“Come here, Wesley.”

I panicked.

“No, please don’t make me go back. I...I’m better off on the streets than the docks,” I pleaded.

Thom looked at me with sympathy, and I thought for a moment that I might have a shot at just living on the streets instead of the docks. He guided me to walk to the corner with him while everyone else stayed a few paces behind.

No.

I broke down and began crying, despite trying to make myself strong and cold again so I could deal with shit on the docks. I could hardly move my feet forward as we moved toward the unmistakable smell of the horrific place. I kept my head down, and soon we stopped walking.

“Look, Wes.”

I looked up and in the direction of hell on earth.

It was completely dark. Why weren’t there any lights on? I frowned as I took a step forward, then I noticed that there was a chain-link fence lining the perimeter. I was trying to make sense of this.

“Skagen Group Home for Boys…is no more. It’s closed, Wes,” Thom said. “I closed it.”

“Wh-at?” I gasped.

I kept looking at the dark property and then back at Thom.

How did he do this?

Why did he do this?

“I found out what they did there under the umbrella of Skagen Steel.” Thom paused. “And I see the effect it’s had on you.”

I was speechless.

“I didn’t bring you here to scare you, Wesley. I brought you here for closure.” Thom jostled my shoulders and pulled me to lean against him. “You are part of this family. Our family goes to whatever lengths necessary to take care of one another. Nothing stays hidden.”

My head was against Thom’s chest as I looked out at the lifeless, still land. I couldn’t believe it. He somehow shut this place down…and he was holding me.

“Dad, what went on here?” Kyler questioned.

I froze and tensed up against Thom at Kyler’s innocent question.

“They made money in heinous ways. They bought—” Thom paused as he looked at his sons. “They bought young boys. Parents would keep their boys until they were nearly school aged and then sell them to this atrocious place. Many women who were desperate for money were just breeding, hoping for boys to sell and make money.”

I swallowed hard. I didn’t know that. Is that what happened to me? I thought we were all throwaways.

“Why would a steel company buy kids? What would they do?” Mason asked.

“Among many things, they ran an illegal fight ring with the orphaned boys. It earned them more money.”

“Shit. Seriously, Dad?” Mason asked. His tone was different this time and sounded disgusted.

Thom nodded and then Dean spoke up.

“They put the orphan boys to work. It was all underage, heavy manual labor loading steel to be exported. Skagen Steel kept a filthy secret as to how they amassed their profits.”

Dean was right. I loaded so many shipping containers with steel and iron.

“If the boys didn’t pull their weight in work, they were stripped and beaten...lashed,” Thom added as his hand gently ran down my back.

Everyone looked at me, and I couldn’t hide my embarrassment.

“Is that what happened to your back, mate?” Martin asked.

I gave him a nod. Everyone was quiet as Thom continued.

“Boys worked their asses off during the day, and by night the owners would pick a few boys and made them fight for necessities. Winning fighters were awarded food, water, and medical care.” Thom paused and squeezed my shoulder. “I was so curious when I learned of their practices that I went to visit Skagen Group Home for Boys. I pretended to have a few boys to sell so I could get inside. I spoke to the owner, and he explained everything. He even showed me everything. I saw the room where you probably slept in. No beds. Just a single mattress and some filthy blankets.”

I couldn’t listen to it. As Thom continued to expose my humiliating life, I tried backing away and covered my ears as if it would stop him. Thom kept advancing until I backed into a wall. With his eyes on me, he gently pulled my hands away from my ears.

“They tattooed the boys when they arrived at the docks...their initials and their age at the time, right, Wes?” Thom asked.

“Childhoods were left in the disgusting room where they were tattooed,” Dean added.

“WB6,” Martin said piecing things together. Months ago, when Martin asked about my tattoo I had told him that I got it on the streets and that the number 6 was my lucky number. “6.” He stared at me. “6 isn’t your lucky number. Is it, mate?”

I shook my head.

“You were 6 years old when you got there,” Martin said as the pieces fell into place.

I felt weak and leaned my weight into Thom again as I stared at the place I once knew as home.

“I can’t believe you went there,” I said.

“Dean came along. I wanted to understand you better. While I don’t know everything you endured, I know where you came from.”

I was quiet for another moment.

“It smells bad there,” I commented.

“Smells like fear, son.”

Son.

Was I someone’s son? Did I have a mother or father somewhere that sold me?

“I wanted you to see that they can’t hurt you anymore, and you don’t need to fear going back there.” Thom hugged me and I began to feel my strength return. “Let’s go home,” Thom said.

When we got home, Thom made me some hot tea, and he sat in the kitchen with me while I drank it and calmed down.

“Are you doing okay, Wes?” he asked me.

“Yes. I am now. I was really afraid that you were taking me back.”

“I couldn’t do that. Not in a million years, Wes,” Thom said confidently. “I don’t want you to be afraid of your past or doubt yourself. You’re a very strong young man.”

I nodded and concentrated on the liquid in my mug.

“I saw the barbed wire fenced area where they would make the boys fight.”

I swallowed hard and continued to stare into my mug.

“Did you have to fight a lot?” he asked me cautiously.

I just nodded. My tea started to look blurry, and I jumped when Thom stood up. He pulled me out of my chair and wrapped me up in a hug. I didn’t fight or resist him. I knew I had nothing to ever fear with Thom.

“When you’re ready to talk, Wes, I’m always here for you.”

He rubbed carefully on my back and gave the back of my head a gentle pat as he let go of me. I took a deep breath and looked at my mug.

“Finish your tea. I’ll see you in the morning,” he said and then left the kitchen.

What a wild night. I really wouldn’t have guessed that it would have turned out like this. Picking up the mug, I sipped on it as I walked around the kitchen table to the windows that overlooked the back yard.

In the distance, I saw Dean and Mason walking toward the woods. What on earth are they doing out there at this hour? Though it was pretty dark, I could still identify who it was, and I could tell that Mason was clearly agitated about something.

I shook it off since it wasn’t my business and went to my room. When Martin and I were ready for bed, my curiosity kicked in as to why he had never wanted to move into one of his brother’s bigger bedrooms.

“Because then I couldn’t watch over you and wake your ass up when you have those nightmares.” We both laughed for a moment. “I should apologize to you, mate. I’m sorry I pushed you to talk. I didn’t know. I’m sorry for whatever happened to you there.”

I shrugged and shook my head at him, hoping he’d catch on that I wasn’t in the mood to talk about this stuff.

“Wes, you don’t have to be afraid here. We’re a family. Dad won’t let anything happen to you, or any of us.”

My head hit the pillow feeling a mix of things. I felt exposed and humiliated about my prior life. While I felt like a huge weight had been lifted, a ton of new questions raced through my head. What had happened to the owners? What happened to the boys living there? How had I ended up there? Was I really parentless, or did I have parents that sold me? Did I possibly have other biological brothers that had been living there with me? How did Thom close the docks? What kind of power did he really have?

Even though my head was swimming with questions, I felt closer to being accepted by the Van Doorns. I didn’t have to keep my past in the dark shadows anymore.