Free Finding Forgiveness (Finding Series, Book 4) by Sloane Kennedy Page B

door. Sobs were still erupting from his throat and he began fighting Roman the second he touched him.
    “Don’t!” Hunter screamed. “Don’t touch me!”
    The young man’s pain was so palpable that Roman felt tears filling his own eyes.
    “Hunter, please,” he whispered brokenly as he wrapped his arms around the younger man. He could feel Hunter frantically trying to push him away but after several long seconds, Hunter’s whole body gave out and he buried his face against Roman’s neck. Roman could feel hot tears sliding down his throat.
    “I’ve got you,” he murmured against Hunter’s head. “I’m here, okay?”
    Hunter didn’t answer him but he did feel Hunter’s arms finally close around him. He had no idea how long they stood there for but when Hunter’s crying finally slowed, Roman leaned down and put his lips against Hunter’s ear.
    “Come with me, okay?”
    Hunter nodded against his chest and wiped at his face when he finally pulled back. The young man was a complete mess and blood continued to drip from the wound on his cheek. Hunter pulled his sleeve down to cover the burns and then swiped his arm over his face again, smearing the blood in the process. Roman took his hand and led him to his rental and got him settled in the passenger seat. As he walked around the car to the driver’s side, his mind began firing through his options. The clear solution was to take Hunter to a hospital where they’d have experts who could help him deal with his obviously scarred psyche but even the thought of Hunter locked away in some psych ward had him mentally shaking his head. No way. He just couldn’t do it.
    Roman settled into the driver’s seat and cast a look at Hunter who sat quietly in the passenger seat. He reached out and gently turned Hunter’s face so he could see his eyes. The pain was gone and so was Hunter. All that was left was the same shell of a young man he’d seen being brutalized on that fucking pool table less than forty-eight hours ago. And in that instant, Roman knew exactly what he needed to do.

Chapter Five
     
    “Roman?”
    Roman watched his brother’s face go from shocked to thrilled in the space of two seconds and then he was being dragged into Gray’s arms. Under any other circumstances, he would have extricated himself from his brother’s hold as quickly as possible but for some reason he didn’t want to think too much about, he wrapped his arms around Gray and held on as tightly as he could. He felt Gray stiffen slightly and then he was fiercely returning the embrace.
    “I need your help,” Roman whispered.
    Gray must have heard something in his voice because he put just enough distance between them to make sure their eyes met. “Anything,” he answered.
    Relief flooded Roman as he nodded and then stepped back. Hunter was standing quietly at the bottom of the porch stairs, ignoring the large German Shepherd that had darted outside as soon as Gray had opened the door and was now eagerly sniffing Hunter’s lax hands. Roman went down the stairs and took Hunter’s hand. The contact seemed to snap Hunter out of his daze because his hand tightened around Roman’s when he looked up and saw Gray watching them both with concern.
    Roman didn’t bother with introductions as he led Hunter inside.
    “Everything okay?”
    Roman looked up and saw Gray’s boyfriend, Luke Monroe, watching them from the entrance to the kitchen. His eyes swept over Hunter and then shot to Gray. He didn’t say anything as he disappeared towards the back hallway.
    “Here,” Gray said as he motioned to the living room couch. By the time Roman got Hunter settled, Luke was back with a small black bag that looked like a shaving kit. He sat down on the coffee table so he was facing Hunter.
    “Can I take a look?” Luke said gently to Hunter as he motioned to his face.
    “Luke’s training to be a paramedic,” Gray said quietly.
    Hunter nodded stiffly. His grip on Roman’s hand hadn’t eased at