Snared(32)

“Just have them bring him to me,” I said. “I’ll figure out what to do.”

“Let me see what I can do, but unless someone leaves, it can’t be permanent, April.”

I hung up the phone and stepped out of my office, following Bella to the main entrance where a harried counselor was trying to keep up with a pissed off little boy. He was the most adorable thing I’d ever seen with dark hair just a bit too long and dark eyes. He stomped ahead of the worker, his face flushed and his mouth in a straight line. When he saw me, he stopped, crossing his arms in front of him as his eyes flashed up at me.

“Are you April Knight?” The older woman huffed, holding a bag on her shoulder.

“Yes.”

“Here you go,” she said, shoving the bag into my chest. “Good luck.” She turned to walk away.

“Wait! What’s he doing here? Why was he transferred?”

She glanced down at the little boy and then back to me. “He and his mother were here. I’m not sure why. She’s in the hospital.”

I gazed down at him, and that’s when I saw his lip quiver just once before he bit it. “Bella, take . . .” I regarded the woman. “What’s his name?”

“Robbie.”

“Take Robbie into the cafeteria and see if he wants something to eat,” I instructed. “I’ll meet you there in a few minutes.”

Robbie lifted his chin in defiance and I wondered if he’d go with her. Bella held out her hand for him, and although he turned away from her, he did follow her into the building. He hadn’t spoken a word.

I watched them walk away before turning back to the other counselor. “What happened?”

“His mother is in critical condition, not expected to make it,” she said, sadness lacing her tone. “I’m not sure what the details are, but I know he was the one who called 9–1-1. When the officers arrived, they looked up the mom and him, and that’s how they found out the rest of the information.”

“And no dad of record?”

She shook her head. “No. And Robbie hasn’t spoken a word since he called 9–1-1. When they took his mother away, he was screaming and crying. The officers had to hold him to get him to stop trying to run.”

Tears pricked my eyes again. This poor kid. “Okay, thank you.”

I walked back inside, my heart heavy for this child. Deep pain set in when I thought of what would happen to him now.



I stepped back and studied at my reflection in the mirror. Did I seem like I was trying too hard? Tonight was the Jaded Regret concert, and I didn’t just want to look hotter than ever before—I needed to. I’d had the craziest, most stressful twenty-four hours of my life, and I couldn’t wait to scream along with the fans while watching Beau beat the hell out of his drums.

Since meeting him, I’d been watching YouTube videos of drummers from all the most popular rock bands. I wanted to understand his passion and be able to talk to him. I may be a little biased, but I still thought he was the best at what he did.

Trent had mercy on me and had taken Robbie into the group home. Taking him there had broken my heart. Robbie hadn’t spoken one word, even when Bella had taken him in to get something to eat. He’d chosen a hot dog, chips, and water without saying anything at all to her. He’d eaten in silence, and when directly spoken to, he didn’t respond. When I’d pulled up to the group home, his eyes had been large and watery, but he still hadn’t said a word. When I’d crouched down next to him and told him he would be safe here, he’d just nodded and walked away from me, clutching his bag to his chest.

When I’d talked to Trent earlier, he said Robbie was in his room, clutching a photo of what seemed to be of him and his mom. He wouldn’t eat or talk. I’d also called the hospital and found out Robbie’s mother had passed away. I hadn’t had the heart to call Trent and tell him yet. I’d sat there and cried, my heart breaking for this little boy who had already lived most of his life in the system, and now was parentless. His mom had a drug problem, and he’d not only been born addicted to them, but had been taken from her no less than five times since then. No one knew what she was doing in this area when they lived near Miami, but she’d died of a heroin overdose.

I would never understand how a parent could see the sweet face of their child, the flesh and blood they gave birth to, and do such vile and horrible things to them.

“Holy shit!” Camryn’s voice interrupted my sad thoughts. “Where is April? What have you done with her?”

I smacked my ruby red lips together and pushed up my cleavage. This outfit was way outside my norm, hence Camryn’s reaction. This was more her style. “Do I look hot?”