Chapter14
Luke’s face hurt, and his temper was still simmering, but he reined it in. All that mattered now was the boy, his little brother.
Nixon had walked into the room Luke and the others were in wearing a new jacket and beanie. Quinn had a beanie too. Rose-colored. He’d never seen her in anything that resembled a girlie color. It suited her. Her cheeks were pink, eyes wide, and he wondered what she was thinking after what she’d witnessed today.
Did she think he was an animal for behaving as he had? Very likely. Had he scared her? Also likely.
The Ryker Falls party was all sitting outside the room that Nixon was now being interviewed in by Mr. Buchanan and Mrs. McMillan.
“I’m sorry.” He leaned in to whisper the words in Quinn’s ear. She sat to his right, and Joe to his left. His brothers were bruised up like he was.
“For what?”
“That you had to witness that out there. I could say I didn’t start it, but that’s not good enough. It was wrong, and I’m sorry you and Nixon had to be there to see it.”
Her eyes settled on his face, but he couldn’t read her thoughts.
“It’s okay.”
“We’re not usually—”
“I said it’s okay, Luke. Really. If anyone deserved a fist in the face, it was Nixon’s father, to my way of thinking.”
“He’s a shithead.”
She nodded.
“Thanks for the jacket and hat you got Nixon.”
“He was cold.”
“I’ll pay you back.”
“I don’t want that.”
“Thanks. I wonder what’s going on in there?” He nodded to the door.
“He’s not even my brother and I feel sick inside,” Quinn said.
The door opened and everyone got to their feet. Quinn’s fingers gripped his as Nixon appeared with Buchanan and McMillan.
“We have had a discussion with Nixon, and told him his options, he has made the choice to return with you to Ryker Falls, isn’t that right, Nixon?”
Nixon nodded.
Luke nearly cried right there in front of everyone, the relief was so acute. His brothers and Dylan were no different. All of them exhaled as one.
“However, he cannot leave with you tonight; I’ll need to make some calls.” Mr. Buchanan got to his feet. “I need numbers of references. People who will vouch for your character.”
Dylan took control of that and wrote down a list of phone numbers for the man.
They all then went to the clinic to have the DNA test that the sheriff had organized urgently.
“Where will Nixon stay tonight?” Luke asked Mr. Buchanan when it was done.
“With Child Protective Services.”
“Can’t he stay with us?” Quinn asked.