ble. Her bleeding foot left a faint r

inting a shaking finger at her soaked, mu

pun around and bolted for the door, practi

nched so tight the muscles ticked. He did not chase her. He needed a

threw on his dress shirt, and wal

orbed the sound of his footsteps. As he neared the corner leading

sound of a

t the quiet, suppressed nature of the sobs tugged at

overalls and a blue baseball cap pulled low over his face. He was clutching his

a major medical event. Yet, the boy did not scream. He just bi

ape of the boy's jaw, the stubborn way he bit his lip-it sen

He reached into his tailored suit pocket, pulled out

head up. His large, watery e

pon of intimidation, softened into something en

abric, then at the man. He reached out with

Leo whispered. His vo

ding knee. The amount of blood was not normal. Carlisle

hand. His small, blood-stained fi

crooked, mist

e was indeed pulled askew, a result of his fr

hands grabbed the silk fabric. With clumsy but determined movement

away. He let the boy's bloody fi

ble jolt of electricity shot straight into Carlisle's heart. It was a visc

ntly rested his large hand

asked, his voice thick with em

to the floor. The l

quietly. "I only have my mommy. S

s ribs. An intense ache bloomed in his chest. He

h my go

rinted around the corner, her face pale with terror. She saw the blo

e's imposing figure. "He slipped out while I was in the bathroom. He

t cast a shadow over the woman. His e

in a hospital?" Carlisle demanded. H

wer. She hoisted Leo onto her hip and ran back

er away, he lifted his hand and gave Carlisle a small wave. The

sappear around the corner. A massive, hollow void opened up

sp white shirt, right over his heart. Carlisle did not feel disgust. He ra

holding a stack of urgent contracts. He stopped and

The cold, ruthless CEO ma

y hallway. "Find out everything about a boy in the pedi

ling out his phone

e room. The brief moment of warmth was gone. He had a liar