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“Matty!”

The lack of a response had ht now!” I shouted I kneas likely overreacting, but the thought that Matty could have clih a broken floorboard flashed through ain, but there was still no answer And when I saw the barn door partially opened, I was gutted with fear and I shouted for Hawke

But when I slid the door open wide enough so that I could fit through it, I was nowhere near prepared for the sight that greeted me

Because there standing just behind ainst Matty’s head, was Denny

“Sorry, Daddy,” Matty said, his voice uneven, and I kneas just seconds away fro

At so the quiet puppy in his arms “It’s okay, buddy Just hold on to Storrown-ups talk”

Despitenot to move, Matty nodded, but that was all he did I lifted my eyes to Denny and shook my head “Denny, please He’s just a kid Just let him leave and you and I can talk”

“You shouldn’t have taken hiun “Pops, he was…you just shouldn’t have taken him”

I glanced around the barn as subtly as I could, but didn’t see Buck anywhere But I kneithout a shadow of a doubt that Denny wouldn’t have had the forethought to do this on his own Denny’s eyes ide and glassy and I suspected he was high or just co And that fact alone had sheer terror rolling through me Because Denny holly unpredictable when he was in that condition

“I had to, Denny You knohat Buck would have done to him What he would have turned him into”

Denny pulled the gun away from Matty’s head so he could wipe his broith his arun to his side instead of putting it back to Matty’s head But he still had his other hand clamped down on Matty’s shoulder

“Things didn’t go well for one,” Denny said accusingly

“I’m sorry, I didn’t think about that when I took him”

Denny grew itated as he shook his head “I told that stupid bitch to stay away”

I dropped et lost in hi smile and a brief nod Matty was clearly terrified, but he ed a small nod

Denny was still ranting and I could tell he was getting more and more frustrated so I said, “Denny, talk toabout?”