Concealed Hearts (Hometown Jasper #4) - Nicky James Page 0,55

when Easton’s name crossed the screen again.

“I have reason to believe Grant may be in trouble. We found some disturbing messages spray-painted on the high school this morning. We haven’t been able to touch base with him, and his parents reported he took off this morning without telling them. I only want to find out if he’s okay and let him know we’re dealing with the issue.”

Felix snorted a humorless laugh. “Sure you are. Pardon my French, but what the fuck do the police know about the issue?”

“Not a whole lot when people won’t talk to us.”

Felix considered that for a long moment. When he spoke again, his volume dropped to something almost inaudible like he feared being overheard even when we were the only ones on the secluded back street. “Grant is fine, okay. Just leave it at that.”

“I doubt he’s fine. Seeing messages like that must have hurt.”

Felix wet his lips and hesitated before, “You’d be surprised, Chief. He stronger and more resilient than you think. It pissed him off more than anything.”

“Well, I hope he has people on his side.”

“He does.”

“I hope those friends know where to turn if they need help.”

Felix didn’t respond, but he lifted his gaze to mine. He looked far younger and more vulnerable than I’d ever seen him before.

“Do you still have my card?” I asked.

He nodded.

“How about I give you a ride home and bridge the gap between you and your parents?”

Felix’s weak smile didn’t reach his eyes. “Sure. Doubt it does much good. Grounded is grounded. I wasn’t supposed to leave. Dad won’t care if the chief of police himself gives me a pass.”

Before we moved toward my Jeep, I asked the one question I’d wanted to ask for a long time. Perhaps it was blunt and the wrong way of going about it, but I’d never been the type to beat around the bush.

“Does your father hit you, Felix?”

Felix emitted a defeated sigh and glanced off into the distance, the sadness behind his eyes profound. “No, sir.” He hedged and added, “Don’t worry though. If he does, it’s better that way.”

I frowned. He was sending me mixed messages, and I didn’t understand. I had a strong feeling Felix was lying. “Why is that?”

“Verbal punches leave bruises that last far longer than physical ones. I don’t think the damage they cause ever really goes away.”

They were deep and insightful words coming from a seventeen-year-old, but they were also frighteningly accurate. Words spoken by a kid who knew the difference.

I still carried the wounds from my father’s harsh words. It had been over twenty years since he’d spoken them, yet my heart still bled every time I relived my past.

I don’t know why I did it, except that it felt right at the time. I swung my arm around Felix’s shoulder, intent on walking him to my Jeep. It was a gesture of support to a vulnerable youth. Felix ended up collapsing into my arms, hugging me like his life depended on it. His body shook and shuddered, but he didn’t say a word. For those few minutes, Felix let his guard down and let me hold him up for a change. There might have been tears, but he was careful to hide them away.

I hugged him back, sensing profound neglect and need for comfort wafting off the boy. When was the last time an adult took his side? How long had he been fighting this invisible battle on his own?

It bothered me more than I could express. I saw in Felix a reflection of the boy I’d once been, and I didn’t want him to turn out like me.

After a minute, I ruffled his hair and held him back by the shoulders, peering deep into his gray eyes. “Come on, kiddo. Let’s get you home.”

Whether embarrassed or unsure how to act, Felix ducked his head and dragged his feet toward the Jeep. We drove in silence until I parked in front of his house.

Before we got out, Felix stopped me. “Thanks, Chief.”

I didn’t know exactly what he was thanking me for, but I smiled and knocked his shoulder. “No problem. Come on. Let’s go have a chat with your parents. See if we can smooth things out a bit.”

Chapter Twelve

Tomi

I’d rearranged the kitchen, washed the floors, dusted, cleaned the bathroom for the third time in a week, and started a load of laundry. It wasn’t noon. After contemplating dinner options and taking out ground beef to make grilled burgers, I