“Alexis, come on…please pick up the phone. I need to talk to you, explain what you rolled up on earlier today.” I sighed before I dropped my voice and begged into the phone, “Most of all, I need to know you’re okay. Just…call me back.”

It was the third call I’d made to her. The third one she hadn’t answered. I didn’t blame her. I could only imagine what she was feeling.

I knew she had to be shocked.

I was feeling a whole lot of it myself. Trying to make everything add up and wondering what the fuck Veronica had gotten herself into.

My gaze wandered to where he was on his belly on the rug, doodling on a notepad with some markers I’d found him.

I contemplated.

Today had been hell for him, and I hated adding even an ounce of anxiety to what had already gone down. But I couldn’t shake this feeling that rattled my bones.

Intuition.

Dread.

Before I could change my mind, I made the call. She answered on the first ring.

“Shea, I need your help.”

* * *

I climbed down onto my hands and knees beside him. “Hey, buddy, what do you think about going to one of my best friend’s houses and playing with their kids? They have a big backyard with a swing set.”

Liam’s eyes lit up. “Really?”

“Yeah. And one of those kids, his name is Connor, and he has a super cool room that’s decorated with superheroes, and he has all kinds of superhero toys. I bet he would let you play with him.”

“Superheroes are my favorite.” He whispered it like it was a secret.

I ruffled a hand through his hair. “I know they are. We’re gonna have to get you some for around here, aren’t we?”

He nodded emphatically. “Uh-huh. ’cuz all my superheroes that you brought me are back at Mommy’s house and I don’t have any here.”

Could feel the emotion clawing at my chest, the turmoil rising up from my spirit and gnawing at my being.

I stood and picked him up, knowing he wasn’t a baby. In that moment, none of that mattered. I needed to hold him. Let him know he was safe.

“How would you like it if you and me got one of those big houses with a big backyard? Just like my friends Shea and Sebastian have for their kids?”

His little arms held around my neck as he tilted his head back to look toward the expansive ceiling of the loft. “You’re house is already way, way big.”

A chuckle rumbled free. “But not the right kind of big. Think we need to have some place where you can run and stretch out those legs. Where you and I can go out back and toss a baseball. How’s that sound?”

He squealed and squeezed my neck. “That sounds so good. I like that.”

Excitement blazed in his eyes. “Does that mean I get to stay with you?”

“That’s what I’m hoping. What do you think about that? Staying with me?” I rubbed a tender hand over his head when I asked it.

“I think that’s the best idea ever. But what about mommy?”

A heavy sigh pushed from my lungs. “I’m not sure about your mommy right now, buddy.”

Sadness and confusion hit him. I could feel it. This uneasiness that shivered through his little body. I held him a little closer, my voice dipping with emphasis. “You know you can tell me anything, right?”

He buried his face in my neck, and he nodded.

“Is there anything you want to tell me?”

His voice came out a whisper. “I don’t like our new house.”

I swayed him a little. Offering comfort. For both of us. “I don’t like that house, either. That’s why I brought you here…because I don’t think that apartment is a good place for you. I would’ve brought you here earlier if I’d known it wasn’t a safe place. You know that, right? That I won’t let anything bad happen to you? That I’ll keep you safe?”

He nodded again.

“Has anyone…hurt you there?”

His little shoulders scrunched up. Instantly, a ball of rage consumed me, threatening to burst, wondering exactly who I was gonna have to track down and kill.

“No…but sometimes people there are so, so mad.”

“Who?”

“The man…he yells at Mommy. When he comes, Mommy tells me to go to my room and stay in there.”

I kissed his temple, running my hand down his back.

That might have been the only good idea Veronica had ever had.

“All right, let’s go meet my friends. I’m going to leave you there, but just for a little bit, okay? I won’t be gone long. I just have some really important stuff I have to take care of, and when I’m finished, we’ll go do something super fun. Sound good?”

“I like that idea.”

“Me, too, buddy. Me, too.”