Page 52 of Always Mine

“Our team did.” He pushed back his chair. “What can I do?”

“Go talk to them.”

Usually, he jumped at the chance to visit a classroom. Not this time. But he had responsibilities. He left his office and walked to the classroom building. It was a beautiful day and he thought he might take the guys outside, drain off some of their energy.

He found Maisy sitting with them in Annie’s room. “Hey, thanks for coming. They won’t settle down.”

“I’ll handle this. Go take a break.”

Maisy left and six faces stared him down.

He edged his hips against a desk. “Go ahead guys, ask your questions.”

Bryce Lincoln spoke up. “Did you really save Ms. Stefano from a girl in the Cobras?”

“My team rescued her, yes. I was there.”

“Why did she get kidnapped?”

Only the truth would work here. “Do you know about the gang bust a few weeks ago?”

“The police killed everybody.”

“Not everybody. One young girl, not much older than you, was still alive. Her boyfriend was killed in the raid. She took it out on Ms. Stefano.”

“She really cut her?” Quentin’s voice was harsh. Unusual for such a quiet boy. “That’s what the TV said.”

“I can’t discuss her condition with you, except to say she’s going to be fine.”

The guys grumbled so loudly, he said, “Okay, okay, yes she has some cuts. Very shallow. Nothing serious. They’re healing already.”

“Those hurt.” This from Bryce.

“Yeah, they do. But she’s sedated and sleeping soundly. She’ll recover.”

“How long she gonna be out?”

“I honestly don’t know.”

The kids at Pathways usually liked him because he was ultimately responsible for them not going to juvie. “Look guys, I’ll keep answering questions until you’re satisfied, but I think before we do that, we should go for a run.”

“You all dressed up.”

“I got sneakers and clothes in my office.” He walked to the door to Maisy’s room. “Hey, Ms. Shepherd. Can you come in and sit with the guys again? I’m going to change and take them out for a run.”

“Good idea.” Her eyes were soft and approving. She’d been looking at him like that since he saw her at the hospital after he helped get Annie back.

Jackson headed back to his office, none too steady himself.

Why didn’t you get me out… Why didn’t you get me out…

Denzi was right. He failed and hated seeing what happened to her. Man, he needed a long run himself.

* * *

“I can’t believe everybody’s here,” Annie said, trying not to feel bad that she’d excluded Diego from coming to her parents’ house where she went to recuperate. She’d asked him for some time. They all sat in the living room, on a couch where she’d necked with Diego all those years ago.

“Of course we’re here, Sis.” This from Bianca, the sibling she was closest to. “I took the morning off work.”

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