Page 66 of A Million To Fall

But the second I turn on the water, my phone starts buzzing. I reach for it and immediately frown at the number: Cassie and Bronx’s foster parents.

“Hello?”

“Boss?” Cassie’s voice comes through. I can tell she’s crying.

My stomach bottoms out. “What happened?”

It takes her a second to catch her breath. “Mr. Dan had a heart attack yesterday and now Bronx and I have to move homes again.” She starts to sob in earnest.

“Oh, Cass,” I breathe, deflating.

“Boss, can you come get us, please?” she whimpers.

“I’m working on it,” I say quietly.

“How much longer is it going to take?” She sniffles. “I don’t want to go to a new place. I want to be with you.”

I close my eyes, her broken sobs slicing me open.

“Cass, I promise I’m working as fast as I can. I’ll call the caseworker tomorrow and I’ll find out where you’re placed.”

“Okay,” she whispers.

“What do you want to do on Sunday?” I ask gently.

There’s a pause. A shaky inhale. “Bronx wants to go to the park.”

“Okay. We’ll do that.” I nod, picturing her skinny arms hugging that old stuffed polar bear I got her for her fifth birthday. “And what about you?”

“I don’t know…” She sounds so tired. So small.

“That’s your homework,” I say. “You think of what you want to do, and we’ll do it. But for now, I need you to sleep. It’s late.”

“I love you, Boss.”

“I love you more. Tell Bronx I love him. I’ll see you Sunday.”

I end the call and just stand there, staring at the sink.

I know what I have to do next. It’s not even a choice anymore.

I tiptoe to Jake’s door, listening for a sound from his room—anything to stop me. The soft snore on the other side is like a death knell.

I sigh.

Then I head for the master bedroom.

Outside her door, I pause, heart pounding. “Do it for Cassie and Bronx,” I whisper, then knock softly.

The door opens almost immediately.

“Boston,” Mrs. Davis says, surprise flickering in her voice before it melts into something sultry. “I didn’t think you’d show. But I’m glad you did.”

She steps back, gesturing me in. The door clicks shut behind me.

Then she turns the lock.

Nausea rolls through me.