Climbing the steps, Regan eyed Grayson then smiled at him before turning to study Aric who still sat in Hawk’s lap. “Who’re you?”

After a moment, he whispered, “Aric.”

“Aric, this is Regan. She lives in that house.” Hawk pointed to Caz’s place.

“So, where do you live?” Regan asked the boy.

There was no pause this time. Aric pointed right at Hawk’s house.

Oh, fuck.

All evening, Frankie watched how the psychologist managed to put almost everyone at ease. Even Regan.

Aric, though… No matter the enticement—games or food or even the cat—the boy never moved farther than three feet from Hawk. When Hawk used the bathroom, the kid waited outside the door. If Hawk went into the kitchen for something, he had a tiny escort.

Aric’s fearfulness simply broke Frankie’s heart.

And, hard as it was to admit, she was maybe a little jealous of Hawk. She’d thought she would be Aric’s support.

Yet it was a miracle that the child could trust anyone other than Kit, and Frankie was profoundly grateful that he had Hawk.

Hawk might not feel the same way.

Following Frankie’s gaze, JJ studied Aric. Sleeping, he was curled up on Mako’s huge sectional. Half on Hawk’s lap, the boy hadn’t let go of Hawk’s T-shirt. “I haven’t heard him speak above a whisper.”

“He did once.” Hawk lay his hand on Aric’s shoulder in a way that melted Frankie’s heart. “Then he hid under the bed.”

“Bet that bunch believed children should be seen and not heard.” Bull sounded as if he wanted to punch someone. “He probably got punished if he made any noise.”

“All of the children appeared to have suffered from abuse. Some more than others.” Caz turned to the psychologist. “What do you think, Zachary?”

“He was abused by adults, especially men. No matter how much his mother tried, she couldn’t protect him…or herself, either.”

Cazzo, Frankie wanted to go back and pound on every one of those fanatics.

Hawk’s sand-colored brows drew together. “I’m an adult. A man. But he’s latched on.”

“Of course he did.” Zachary’s gray eyes went soft as he studied Aric. “You took down his worst abuser and saved his mother. Then she told Aric to stay with you.”

Hawk shook his head as if he was trying to deny that.

“Even more, Hawk,” Zachary said. “His instincts agree with his mother’s orders. Because you’re strong enough to protect him.”

The poor ex-mercenary looked trapped, and Frankie almost laughed.