The next day, my phone buzzed while I was off work.

I almost let it go.

Then I saw my son’s school number, and something in my chest tightened.

“Yes?”

“Alyssa?” It was Principal Navarro. “You have to drive to the campus. Immediately.”

Her voice sounded rattled.

My stomach sank.

“Is Kyler alright?”

There was a quiet moment.

“We have guys in the building requesting him,” Navarro stated, her sound quivering.

“What sort of guys?”

“They avoided saying a lot, Alyssa. Simply… kindly hurry here.”

The line disconnected.

I never paused while I snatched my vehicle remotes.

My hands would not stop shaking on the wheel.

Every possible scene raced through my mind; not one of them was good.

By the time I parked, my heart was pounding so hard it was difficult to think.

I walked straight toward the principal’s office and stopped cold.

Five men stood in a line nearby in army uniforms.

Still.

Alert.

Stern and put-together, as if they were waiting for something important.

Navarro stepped out of her office and leaned in the instant she saw me.

“They have waited outside for twenty minutes,” she spoke softly. “They claim it is related to how Kyler helped Rhys.”

My mouth went dry.

“Where is my kid?”

Right before she managed to reply, the biggest guy rotated in my direction.

“Miss, I am Lieutenant Hendrix, and these men are my coworkers. Would you object if we converse inside the room?”

I agreed and walked in, only to find Yates waiting and frowning at the back of the room.

The space was packed, with Hendrix and another soldier inside, before the leader gestured at the door.

“Fetch him inside.”

The door opened again, and Kyler walked in.

The second I saw his face, I went white.

My boy looked terrified!

Kyler’s eyes moved from the soldiers… to my face… and back forward.

“Mother?” he spoke, his tone completely trembling.

I ran to his side.

“Listen, listen, it is fine. I am present.”

But he would not settle.

“I never intended to create problems,” my child spoke fast. “I understand I was not allowed to act like that. I will not repeat it, I promise.”

My chest ached hearing those words.

“You ought to have considered all those things earlier,” Yates remarked sharply.

Navarro looked upset.

Yet before I could answer Yates, Kyler cut in, his voice rising, fear spilling over.

“I apologize! I will never ignore rules that way again. I swear! Mother! Kindly do not allow them to drag me off. I merely wished my closest buddy could participate in regular activities!”

Tears were running down his face now.

I pulled him against me at once, holding him tight.

“Nobody is dragging you to any place,” I stated, my tone wobbly. “Do you understand? Nobody!”

“He deserves it for making us anxious that way,” Yates threw in, worsening the situation.

“That is unjust! Why is this happening? You are frightening him!”

Then Hendrix’s face eased.

“I apologize deeply, young guy. We never intended to frighten you. We are not arriving to drag you any place you refuse to visit, much less discipline you regarding how you treated Rhys.”

I felt Kyler’s grip on me loosen a little.

“We arrived exactly to celebrate you regarding your courage.”

I blinked.

“Pardon?!”

Yates snapped, yet nobody gave focus to his remark.

“We brought another person along who wishes to talk with you,” Hendrix mentioned.

Before I could answer, the second soldier opened the door again.

And everything changed.

A woman walked in, and I knew her at once.

“Tasha?” I asked, puzzled. “What is actually happening right now?”

Tasha, Rhys’s mom, said sorry.

“I never planned for things to appear this way. I simply needed to act. Since when I collected Rhys previously, he refused to quit chatting regarding the walk. He shared with me all the thrilling details!”

Kyler froze beside me.