“Trust me,” she begged, “we won’t let that happen. But we can’t let you keep getting hurt. I’d never be able to live with myself.”
Panic ran wild through Elliott’s eyes as he gripped Shiloh harder. “Promise they won’t split us up.”
“You have my word,” Shiloh said. “I’ll make sure of it.”
It was a risky promise. Child Protective Services didn’t always control where openings were available in foster homes. But being in a smaller community, there might be more flexibility.
Elliott sniffed. “Please, A. I don’t want to live with him anymore.”
Grief swirled in Aidan’s eyes, but he nodded slowly. “I’ll talk to your brother.”
“Thank you.” Shiloh lifted her gaze to me. “Can I call him now?”
I moved my head in a jerky nod and hoped it wasn’t the biggest mistake I’d ever made.
20
SHILOH
Hayes pulledto a stop in front of the guest cabin and climbed out of his SUV. Ramsey went rigid. I felt the tension coming off him in waves as he stepped closer to Aidan. Everything about his stance said:protective. He wouldn’t let anything else happen to Aidan.
The movement made my chest constrict. Even though rough around the edges, goodness oozed from him. I wanted to wrap my arms around him, too. To build a barrier between the world and these boys. Between the world and Ramsey. They’d all been hurt too much.
Elliott pressed deeper against my side, burrowing his face into my stomach. Kai sat protectively in front of us. I rubbed a hand up and down Elliott’s arm. “Guys, this is my brother, Hayes. He’s going to help.”
They both stayed quiet, but Aidan eyed Hayes carefully. He was clearly looking for some sign of whether or not to trust him, and I hoped Hayes would give it to him.
Hayes kept his expression relaxed, but I saw his attention catch on Aidan’s black eye. “Hey, Aidan. Elliott. I hear you’re friends with my little sister.”
Aidan nodded, but Elliott stayed right where he was.
“Did she tell you about the time she locked me in a closet during hide-and-seek?”
I couldn’t help the laugh that startled out of me. “Hayes…”
He arched a brow in my direction. “Am I lying?”
My cheeks heated. “It was an accident.”
Hayes scoffed. “You were mad that I ate the last chocolate donut that morning.”
“I might’ve been holding a bit of a grudge.”
Elliott straightened, looking up at me. “You locked him in a closet? He’s so much bigger than you.”
I grinned down at him. “Just because we’re smaller doesn’t mean we can’t be trickier.”
His lips curved a fraction. “How?”
Hayes chuckled. “She was the seeker, but I’m guessing she peeked when she was supposed to be counting. She knew I was in the closet under the stairs.”
“It had an old-fashioned key that always stayed in the lock. It needed to be in there to open it. I pocketed that key and told the rest of our siblings I had no idea where Hayes was,” I said.
Elliott’s mouth dropped open.
Hayes shook his head. “I was stuck in there until Mom came in to cook dinner and heard me yelling my head off.”
“What’d you do to get back at her?” Elliott asked in a hushed whisper.