Beckett (Robinson Destruction #4) - Kathi S. Barton Page 0,33

of telling until we talk to them. They’ve been pushed around a great deal in the system. Mainly because they don’t want to be separated, which is making it difficult for them. No one wants to take on two teenagers at the same time, I’m thinking.”

“Who else besides Rogen knows about us going to see them?” Allie said that Tru and Anna knew, but they said they’d not say anything. “Rogen even suggested that we keep the kids with just us for a few days to see if we can make it fit. I don’t know what she thought we’d do with them if they didn’t. But I have confidence in our ability to take care of them. Don’t you?”

“Yes.” He thought about what he’d told his mom about sitting the kids. “You know that we’re not really watching the kids, don’t you? I mean, I was just getting at Mom before you nearly had her head exploding.”

“Yeah, I knew. Boy, she was fun to play with.” They both laughed right up until they pulled in front of the station house. “This is it. Our last night of freedom. Are we sure about this?”

“Yes. I am as sure about this as I am with my love for you.” Neither of them got out of the car. “Are you afraid? Because I’m terrified.”

“Right there with you. But we won’t know shit until we go and meet them.”

Allie got out of the truck first. He thought she was braver than he was because not only was he having second thoughts, he was having fourth and fifth thoughts as well. Getting out, he took her hand as they entered the building. They’d be parents in about an hour if he didn’t miss his bet. And he couldn’t wait.

Chapter 6

Conor held his sister while they sat in the cell. This was the third time they’d been brought here after running away, and he decided the next time they weren’t going to run in any direction that led back to here. He wasn’t sure how that would work, but he was going to try his best. They kept returning them, and that wasn’t helping them be safe at all.

“Conor, there are some people here to see you two. Are you going to behave yourself this time?” He shook his head. Behaving himself nearly got his sister killed. “Yeah, I didn’t think you would. Something you should understand about this couple, they’re not going to take your shit. You mess with them, and you might find yourself wishing you’d not. I’ve already explained to them that you get mouthy and mean. I’m telling you right now, Conor, you’d be well set up if you were to allow these people in—”

“They hurt us.” Andrew got down on his knees in front of Stripes. Holly was her real name, but the last home kept calling her that for some insane reason. Andrew asked Holly to look at him. Her black eye and cut lip made his blood boil each time he saw it. They’d locked Conor away from her to get at her, and that hurt him badly. “They wanted me to do things with the man.”

“I know, sweetie. I’ve had them picked up and put into a cell, too, in another stationhouse. The next county over is going to deal with them pretty quick. I’m so sorry you had to go through that.” She turned her head into his shirt. Conor felt the need to lash out at the policeman for taking them back there over and over. “I will tell you that Allie and Beckett are the nicest people you can meet. They come from a long line of nice people too. Beckett’s mom is one you don’t mess with, and her boys, all six of them, are afraid of her.”

“Why can’t we just stay at the home where they took us when our grandma died? I didn’t want to be taken out of there, Mr. Andrew.” Conor wanted to know the same thing. They didn’t want to be adopted if all there was out there were perverts and dick heads. “We wasn’t bothering no one.”

“No, you weren’t, honey, but you can’t stay there forever. You need a home that is good for you. All right?” She didn’t answer him, and Conor looked at the older man. “Conor, you have to give these people a chance.”

“I hope he will, but I have a feeling he’s not going to. Are you, Conor?” The woman came into