Page 23 of More Than a Hero (Baytown Heroes #12)

His throat bobbed, and his voice cracked slightly as he said, “He left. He fucking ran away.”

Neither Pete nor Jeremy said a word. They let the silence settle over the room, let Robert sit with the weight of his own words.

Pete gave a slow nod, like he was acknowledging the truth of it without needing to say I told you so. After a long beat, he finally spoke. “And when we found the drugs hidden in the car?”

Robert flinched. His face twisted for a second, like he wanted to deny everything, but then his shoulders slumped again. “I was… surprised,” he admitted, voice quieter now. “And then I wasn’t sure why I was surprised. And then I just thought… I was fucked.”

He exhaled sharply. “I don’t even know why he needed me to come with him. I don’t know if he really was gonna get food or if that was just—” He shook his head. “I don’t know. I still don’t know.”

Pete didn’t glance at Jeremy. He didn’t need to. They were in sync, reading the situation the same way. Robert was cracking, piece by piece.

“We can’t tell you what Lashawn was really planning,” Pete said evenly.

“We’ll talk to him later. But if I had to guess?

” He leaned back in his chair, arms crossed.

“He probably was gonna get food. That’d be an easy way to keep talking to you without anyone else around.

Keep working on you. Keep making you feel like he was your boy, like you belonged. ”

Robert was staring at the table, but Pete could tell he was listening.

“That’s how they do it,” Pete continued.

“They make you want it. Make you feel like you need them. They don’t come right out and say, ‘Hey, wanna sling drugs for us?’ Nah.

They take their time. Get you thinking they’re family.

That you owe them something. And then, before you know it?

You’re running drugs. Selling. Getting caught up in something you can’t walk away from. ”

Robert pressed his lips together, his breathing shallow.

Pete let the words sink in before he finished, “And you? You were an easy target.”

Robert’s head jerked up, eyes flashing. “What’s that supposed to mean?”

Pete didn’t flinch. “It means you looked like you wanted someone to pay attention to you. And they saw that. They saw you wanted in, and they started reeling you closer. And you were going along with it.”

Robert swallowed hard. His fists clenched again, this time tighter. “That’d kill my mama and my grandpa,” he murmured, voice barely above a whisper.

Jeremy nodded. “Yeah. It probably would.”

Robert dropped his chin to his chest. His breath hitched slightly, and then, before he could stop it, a tear slipped down his cheek. He wiped it away fast, but they saw it.

“I knew,” he mumbled. “The second he stepped on the gas instead of slowing down… I knew everything was gonna go to hell.”

“Pretty much,” Jeremy agreed. He let a moment pass before adding, “But this is your first arrest. You weren’t driving. No alcohol, no drugs in your system. That’s gonna go a long way with the DA.”

Robert didn’t answer. He just sat there, staring at the table, his body rigid.

Pete exchanged a look with Jeremy. They had him now. Now they just had to figure out what came next.

Robert’s leg bounced under the table again, his fingers drumming an uneven rhythm against the metal surface. His eyes darted to the door, like he was already planning his escape from this conversation.

“But if I talk about anything that happened,” he muttered, his voice tight, “they’ll come after me, won’t they?”

Pete didn’t answer right away. Instead, he leaned back, keeping his tone casual—like he wasn’t asking for the most dangerous thing Robert had probably ever been asked to do. “Have you seen Lashawn talk to any other kids in your apartment complex?”

Robert hesitated, then shrugged. “Some,” he admitted. “I mean, it’s not like I’m the only one he talks to. He drives up in his car, all big talk and flashy. There are usually a few who hang around.”

Pete nodded like he expected that. “Can you remember who they are?”

Robert’s face twisted, and just like that, the wall slammed back into place.

He leaned forward, shaking his head. “Nah. I ain’t saying nothin’ else.

” His voice had an edge of panic to it now, covered up by forced defiance.

“I’m sixteen. They might not send me to Norfolk for juvie.

Right now, they’re keeping me here, but I’m separate from the adults.

That’s the only thing keepin’ me safe.” His voice dipped lower, his throat working as he swallowed.

“But I ain’t stupid. If I start answering more of your questions, it’s gonna get back to them. I know it will.”

Pete didn’t argue. Didn’t push. He just sat there, waiting.

Robert sucked in a shaky breath, his hands gripping the edge of the table like he needed something solid to hold on to. “I wouldn’t put it past Ciao to kill me himself,” he admitted, voice barely above a whisper. “That’s why he got the name, you know. Anybody crosses him, and it’s goodbye.”

Neither Pete nor Jeremy spoke right away. They let the weight of those words settle, let Robert sit with them.

Finally, Pete nodded and rapped on the door. The guard stepped in, waiting for instructions.

“We’re done for now,” Pete said. But before Robert could be led out, he added, “You can get ahold of us anytime you want to talk. Doesn’t matter when. You let the guards know, and they’ll call us.”

Robert didn’t respond, just stared at the table. But Pete saw the flicker of hesitation in his expression, like maybe he wasn’t ready to be thrown back into this mess alone.

The guard led Robert out, and as the heavy door clicked shut behind them, Pete let out a slow breath.

Jeremy glanced over as they made their way down the hall. “What are you thinking?”

Pete ran a hand through his hair, exhaling sharply. “I want to go talk to some of my kids. They live in that apartment complex. I’d like to make sure none of them are looking in the wrong direction.”

Jeremy nodded. “All right. Tell me when and where, and I’ll come with you.”

Pete gave him a grateful nod. He was glad for the backup. But at the same time, he hated that this was even something they had to do. Because deep down, he knew Lashawn wasn’t just looking at Robert. And Pete prayed that none of his kids were getting caught in the same web.