Page 23 of Sticks and Stones (FBI Romance/Thriller #65)

The Condo

Saturday

Noon

A t the knock on the condo door, Ethan knew it could only be a few people who wanted to see them. There were only a couple of friends who knew where they lived, and they needed to keep it that way.

The list was short.

Greyson, who was out with Gene.

Corbin, who was asleep in their spare room.

And the Prices.

Yeah, by now, Alice and John had found out that Corbin wasn’t in the hospital, and they were looking for him. There was no doubt they knew who had broken him out.

It was about to get rough for him.

Peeking out the peephole, he saw he’d been right. It appeared it was a showdown with Alice and John in order to give Corbin some space.

Well, it was time to do what he needed.

Buy.

Corbin.

Time.

The man needed to regroup, and having his parents there hovering wasn’t going to be what he wanted or needed. So he had to play a dangerous game.

He called it ‘provoke Alice’ , and it never ended well when she rolled into port. Anyone who came between Alice and her child was playing a crazy game.

Well, this was for friendship.

Opening the door, Blackhawk stepped outside and closed the door behind him so no one could slip past him. His keys were in his pocket, and he needed to lock Corbin in for his own well-being.

The second he was outside, Alice was getting feisty.

“Where is my son?” she asked, staring him down.

Well, he called that one.

Because this was Alice, and she’d been a decorated detective, he respected her. So, Ethan was to the point.

“He’s inside, and he’s resting.”

Alice reached for the knob, and Ethan shifted to block her. The look on her face said it all.

She.

Went.

Red.

And Ethan prepared for an ass kicking.

“I know you’re not going to stop me from getting to my only son, Ethan. I know you’re not crazy.”

Ethan had to deal with this for Corbin because he said he would—despite getting his balls knocked up into next month by the woman.

“Alice,” he began.

She stopped him.

“For now, it’s still Mom, but that could end if you don’t let me inside to see Corbin. I’m not playing, Ethan. It’s been a long day, and I came to you to help, not block me.”

John put his hand on her shoulder, knowing this boy had nothing to do with this.

He knew his son, and there was likely a reason Ethan was standing sentry.

Corbin trusted him.

They were his parents, but right now, he didn’t need them. He needed people who could be neutral.

Alice couldn’t.

“Honey, calm down.”

She turned.

“I’m not calming down. My son was hurt. I’m his mother, and I need to see him!”

Because it was his promise to Corbin, Ethan shut that shit down.

“And that’s why you can’t see him,” he said. “That right there.”

When Alice turned on him, he stood his ground and got ready for any hands she threw at him. Ethan wouldn’t hit back, but he’d block that shit.

He had to stand his ground for his friend.

“What does that mean?”

Ethan lowered his voice since Alice was making enough noise for everyone in the whole building to hear.

“Right now, he’s trying to come to grips with what happened to him. He’s mourning, and he’s trying to heal. You have to let him have this. He’s entitled to his privacy right now with this situation.”

At his words, tears filled her eyes.

“How bad is he hurt?” she asked.

Ethan didn’t lie.

“He’s not in a good place. He asked Gene and me to sneak him out so he could hide.

If you don’t give him that, he’s not going to let you in later.

He’ll block you out, Alice, and that’s going to be far worse for both of you.

Your adult son is telling you to back off.

You need to stop thinking he’s ten, and see that he’s twenty-five. ”

That hit her like a ton of bricks.

He didn’t need her anymore.

“He’s always telling you that you’re crossing his privacy lines.

This is the most important one. This is tied to his masculinity, and if you kick the shit out of that line, he’ll never trust you near him again.

He’ll move, Alice, and he’ll cut you off.

You know Corbin only draws the line when he’s damn serious about something. ”

That hurt.

Oh, not for her, but for Corbin.

“Corbin is regrouping, and what he needs is to deal with this on his own. You mommying him will suffocate him, and it’ll make this harder. He doesn’t want pity. He wants to find his footing, and get better. When he’s ready, he’ll let you in.”

That hung there.

Only, she knew he was right. The fact that he’d stand up for her son meant he wasn’t alone in the world, and maybe she could let go.

For him.

“They hurt him, didn’t they? The doctor wouldn’t tell me anything more, but a mother knows.”

Because he respected them, he went there.

“He was raped by five men. His body is battered, and I did the kit for him. Right now, he needs a few days to start to feel human again. He’s humiliated, broken, and scared.

If you love him like I know you do, you’ll be a support system and not a bull in the China shop.

You come on strong, Momma bear, but he needs subtle now, and he needs male friends who will protect him. ”

John was grateful to this man. It was clear that their son meant a lot to them. Standing up to Hurricane Alice wasn’t easy.

“You’ll take care of him?” he asked.

Ethan was to the point.

“Right now, Gene and Greyson are out getting the files and visiting the crime scene. We’re already on the case, and we had the original case pulled. I’m here to keep him safe, and let him have a place to hide. No one will hurt him now. That I can promise you.”

That was all John needed to hear.

“Okay, Son. I hear what you’re saying.”

They both looked at Alice, who they knew would struggle with this.

“What can we do?” Alice asked. “We both feel so helpless. I feel guilty. I know he took that undercover case because he’s sick of being referred to as my son at work. Tell me that him living in my shadow didn’t do this, Ethan. Please.”

He hugged her and let her lean on him.

“Mom, it’s not your fault or Corbin’s fault.

We can’t undo it, but we can come back from it.

Corbin needs to work through this, and decide if he wants to be a cop now, or not.

That’s his choice to bail or to stick. Being reminded of his mother’s valor and skills will just make him run.

A guy grows up and never forgets his mother’s love, but he needs to stand on his own for a change. ”

She was aware.

“As for what you can do, just give him time, and he’ll let you know when he’s ready.

It could be a day, or it could be a month.

Your son loves you, and he isn’t going to stop being your son.

He just might stop being a cop. Doesn’t he deserve the chance to make that decision without any outside influence? ”

“He should quit,” she said, and Ethan stared at her.

That’s when Alice got it.

“And I just did what you told me not to do,” she said, sighing. “God. I’m annoying.”

He laughed.

“Not annoying, but a Mom. Your choices can’t be his. Corbin is a good cop, but this is a huge obstacle to get over. He has to make that choice alone without anyone pushing him one way or the other. Once he starts to heal, he’ll have a clearer picture.”

She understood.

“Can I bring him some food later?” she asked. “I’ll knock and leave it outside the door. I won’t try to get inside. That at least lets me feed him, so I know he’s okay.”

Ethan smiled.

That was a good compromise, and he knew it.

“I know he’ll love that. You know his favorite foods. Bring some by for dinner for him. We’ll make sure he eats and gets back on his feet. I promise.”

She hugged him.

“Thank you for taking care of him and loving him for us. You’re very important to him and to us. You’re his family and ours.”

He squeezed her hand.

“I know. Don’t stress it, Mom. I got him. I promise,” he said, as John hugged him too.

She understood.

“If you need anything…”

He stopped her because he might just be able to take her up on that offer.

“You still have cop connections. If you hear anything about the trafficking going on of young men, let us know. Like I said, we’re working that case.”

She could do that.

“Thank you,” she said. “We appreciate you facing us down.”

“US?” John asked. “Who is ‘US’ ?” he asked.

Because she could, she elbowed him.

Immediately, John got it.

They were ‘US’ .

Clearly.

“I have your number in case something comes up,” he admitted. “You don’t have to worry about him being safe. Corbin is very safe now.”

They could see that.

As they walked away, and the coast was clear, Ethan headed back inside. The entire condo was quiet, so the chaos outside didn’t disturb Corbin.

Heading toward the room where Corbin was, Ethan found him gone.

Oh, boy.

Well, so much for that.

Now, he had to find him. There were only so many places he could be.

Heading toward his and Gene’s room, he heard the shower going, and knew that the man had gone there. Well, at least he’d gotten a couple of thigh swabs for DNA, because it appeared that Corbin had made up his mind.

There wouldn’t be more swabs.

The evidence was now, officially gone.

Ethan wasn’t shocked that he chose not to face the reality of what happened, and instead, wash it away. Facing a court and a jury was daunting when you were the victim the defense was trying to shame.

At the door, he heard sobbing, and he knew he had to help him. When he saw the door wasn’t locked, he took that as a sign that he was able to go in.

Once there, Corbin was sitting on the floor, the shower was running, and no one was in it.

He looked up.

“I don’t know what to do,” he whispered. “I want to wash this all away, but I’m scared that it’ll make this harder for you.”

That wasn’t the point, and Ethan knew it. Corbin had to do what was better for him, not him and Gene. They’d work this out either way.

Ethan moved closer and sat on the floor next to him. The two of them sat with their backs to the wall.

Side-by-side.