“Justin!” Dylan yells his name.

“It’s going to be okay, buddy.” He looks at Dylan. “I need you to be strong for your mom,” he says, and Dylan breaks free from Parker and throws himself at Justin, hugging him around the waist. “It’s going to be okay.”

“Don’t let them take you,” Dylan pleads while he sobs and shakes. “Don’t take him.” He pleads with the officer who just looks down.

Cooper makes his way over to Dylan and has to peel him off Justin, who just yells for Justin as he’s pulled away and led out of the apartment. Cooper hands Dylan to Parker.

“Get over here now.” I hear Matthew say to someone as he holds the phone to his ear, and Cooper runs out of the apartment, following Justin as he is led off.

“I ruined him,” I say to Matthew. “Everything is my fault.”

“No, it’s not,” he says. “You have to be strong for Dylan.” I look over at my son as Parker whispers to him, and he sobs out, calling for Justin.

“Baby,” I say to Dylan, and he comes over to me. Matthew finally lets go of me, and Dylan crashes into me and the both of us sob in each other’s arms. Matthew is on the phone nonstop. The front door opens, and both of us look, hoping it’s Justin, but it’s just Max and Allison, who has her own tears running down her face.

“Go,” she tells Matthew. “Take Mom.” Parker gets up and looks over at me, her eyes with her own tears, and I swear I can almost hear her say she’s sorry. She rushes out of the apartment with Matthew at her side.

“Where is he?” I ask them, and Max comes to sit beside us, and the door opens again, and this time, Viktor walks in.

“They are taking him in,” Max says. “We just heard it on SportsCenter.”

“Oh my God,” I say, putting my hand to my stomach. “I’m going to be sick,” I say, turning and running into the bathroom. Whatever is left inside me comes out, and I close my eyes and vow to make it better for him. It’s my turn to protect him, even if it means breaking my heart in the process.

Chapter Thirty-Seven

Justin

I sit in the lock-up cell the whole night, not once closing my eyes because when I close them, all I see is Dylan rushing to me and calling out my name.

When they placed me in the car and pulled away, I looked out the window. “We just want you to know that we had no choice,” one of the officers said.