When Maddy arrived at his home, the gate was locked. Not being able to go through, she pressed the intercom button and honked her horn repeatedly.
“Who the fuck is this?” Dax’s voice boomed through the speaker.
“It’s me, Maddy. You need to let me the fuck in. I got Lo with me.”
“Lo?” he questioned. “What the hell are you doing with my boy?”
“Let me through, and I’ll tell you all about it.”
Moments passed and the gate was opened. Maddy flew down the driveway and parked in front of the house. The two of them got out the car and hiked up the stairs. Before they could reach the top step, the door swung open, and Ada ran toward them.
“What happened? What’s going on?”
Lo stared at his mom as Maddy’s words rang inside his head. He couldn’t get the pedophile ring out of his psyche. She suddenly became a suspect as she grabbed his arms. Lo pulled away from her, prompting a stunned expression to cover her face.
“Lo, baby, what’s wrong? You can tell Mama,” Ada coached.
Maddy stepped in front of Lo, shielding him from Ada. Dax stepped out wearing a thick blue robe as he stalked toward them.
“What happened? What are you doing with him?” he interrogated her.
“What happened is that you sent him to that fucking camp, and they touched him inappropriately,” Maddy announced.
Lo closed his eyes as his insides recoiled. He couldn’t bear to witness the expressions on his parents’ faces when they found out the news.
“What?” Dax bellowed so loudly that Lo was certain the neighbors, who were acres away had woken up. “Who did it?”
“Oh, my God?” Ada gasped before moving Maddy to get to Lo. “Baby, tell me what happened.”
Lo suddenly felt unsafe. They were all looking at him to reveal the most horrifying moment in his life. He couldn’t repeat it. For some reason the words wouldn’t form. He couldn’t paint the picture of Liam trying to pull his pants down or making him touch his private area because it pained him too badly.
“No, leave him alone!” Maddy yelled, pointing at Ada.
Ada’s eyes had been filled with tears before they narrowed at her twin sister.
“Bitch, if you don’t move the fuck outta my way. I’m trying to talk to my child.”
“A child that you sent to be touched on,” Maddy countered.
“Maddy,” Dax stated in a warning tone. “You better tread lightly because you talking to us like we sent him there to be violated.”
“I can’t tell. He had to fight his way out of that stupid-ass camp that y’all sent him to. He didn’t want to go. Why the fuck couldn’t y’all just listen to him for once? Now look what happened. He was violated and it’s all your fault.”
Dax smacked his lips and went around her to talk to Lo. He stood wide-eyed, feeling like he was still under attack. His limbs vibrated uncontrollably while his heart rate increased.
“Son, what happened? You can tell me. I swear I’ll take care of it.”
Ada was right next to him. “Yeah, tell us what happened. We’ll go kill that mothafucka right now.”
They wanted answers but Lo was on mute. He suddenly couldn’t trust them. People who were once his protectors were now the enemy. They had thrown him into flames that would forever scar him for life.
“Get away from him!” Maddy ordered, stepping in front of him again.
He appreciated her protection even if it was from his parents.
“Bitch, if I have to tell you one more time to move outta my got damn way,” Ada gritted, pushing Maddy to the side. “Don't fuck with me!”
“No, y’all are terrible fucking parents. Y’all sent him there on purpose.”
