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remembered the reason they were here and sobered as they started up the fire escape.
    Both the cops whistled as they saw the state of the trashed room.
    “Shit, Halloran, you into little boys now? I mean, I know the divorce had to be rough...”
    Joe ignored the teasing. He stared at the same picture of Adam that both cops were gazing at. Dobbs stepped out of the room and got on his radio. Joe knew they needed to know if the blood was human.
    He quickly explained how Adam had got a flat, and he’d followed him home. Both guys seemed to understand his unspoken relief that Adam hadn’t been on his own, and stopped their teasing. Thank God.
    He suddenly wanted to go check on Adam, so he set off down the fire escape. Joe jogged over to his truck. When he arrived, one of the paramedics—someone he had met once before on the job—shook his head. “I would be happier if we brought him to the ER,” he told Joe, “but the kid’s refusing.”
    Joe hunkered down to where Adam was seated. He clearly was refusing the oxygen mask that the other paramedic held as well. Joe looked at Adam. His black hair was plastered to the side of his face where he’d been sweating. Big green eyes made his face even whiter.
    Adam shook his head as Joe bent closer. “I can’t afford it.”
    “Adam, they have to treat you,” Joe said.
    Adam shook his head again and tried to rise from his seat. Joe held him in place. He sighed in total exasperation. Stubborn boy.
    “Do you have a friend we can call?” the paramedic put in, trying to be helpful. Adam hesitated.
    “He’ll be staying with me,” Joe blurted out.
    Adam’s mouth rounded in surprise. Joe didn’t blame him—the words had shocked the hell out of him as well.
    Joe never really gave Adam the chance to object, but he noticed Adam didn’t really try either. Once the decision seemed to be made, things were wrapped up pretty quickly. Dobbs took an initial statement from Adam, and the paramedics left. Joe intervened when it was clear Adam was getting distraught at the implication from the detective that it was someone Adam knew who had done this. Joe got Adam settled in his truck and went to say goodbye to the two detectives, and he quickly texted Rodriguez his new address.
    When he was all done, Joe slid in the driver’s seat, and Adam cracked his eyes open. He still looked like a stiff breeze could have taken him out.
    “I’m sorry,” he said. “You don’t have to do this, Sir.”
    There it was again. That word that seemed so natural dropping from plump, pink lips. “Look, we’re friends, aren’t we?” Joe deliberately kept his voice light, despite naturally wanting to drop it an octave or two, and despite him mentally chaining the boy to an A-frame .
    Adam nodded, his eyes drooping. “I’m sorry. I don’t do blood very well.”
    Joe grinned and set the truck into drive. “Yeah, all the more reason for you to stay away from Kerrick.”
    Adam smiled and closed his eyes.
    They drove a short distance until finally Joe pulled into the underground parking space for his new apartment. He’d loved Callum’s parking arrangement and if there had been any spare apartments in Callum’s building, he would have taken one. Failing that, underground parking had been a prerequisite for him when he finally searched for a place.
    Adam was out for the count, and Joe hated having to wake him to get him inside. Adam stirred and managed to get on his feet to get out of the car. He mumbled softly as Joe helped him in the elevator and up to the spare room.
    Joe stopped at the door. Shit. What was I thinking? He didn’t even have a damn bed in there.
    He quickly directed Adam to the master bedroom instead. Adam had clearly passed exhaustion point. He stumbled to the bed and just sat there, eyes half closed. “Sorry.” He bent to untie his sneakers, and if Joe hadn’t been holding on, he would have tipped straight onto the floor.
    “Adam, just sit.” Joe quickly took of Adam’s shoes