(Ivann's POV)
"Is this the residence of the Simonson's?" A tall, male horse, in a police officer's uniform, asked as Sean opened the door.
"Yes," he answered, with a nod of his head.
I moved to get a better view. "What's going o-" My words and breath caught in my throat, as I saw what was in front of the officer.
"C-can we stay with you, please?" Kyle asked, with tears in his eyes and choke in his throat. Anthony clung to his arm.
"Oh my God!" I gasped as I noticed the bandaid above Kyle's left eye, his busted lip, a tear in his ear and his torn up shirt. "Get in here," I told them as I pushed past Sean and pulled them into the house. Sean stayed at the door and continued talking with the officer as I ushered the pups into the kitchen, so I could get a better look at Kyle. "What happened to you?" I asked as I sat him in a chair and then knelt down in front of him.
"I could ask you the same thing," he said as he studied the scratches on my face.
"I was in a car accident. I'm fine. Now, tell me what happened to you," I said as I turned his head to look at his busted lip.
His ears fell as he looked away from me. "My father."
"Your father did this to you?" I asked in dismay. He swallowed hard and nodded. "Why?" I asked as I turned his face back so that he was looking directly at me.
"I spent the night with someone and when I got back, my parents were teaching Anthony how to measure out drugs."
"What?! Drugs?!" I exclaimed, causing Sean to look away from the officer and into the house at us.
He continued, ignoring my outburst. "When I saw that, I just got so fucking mad that I lost it," he said with a growl. "I wanted to hurt him, but he got to me first and this happened," he said as he waved his hand over the swollen side of his face. Tears spilled from his eyes as he looked into my eyes. "I know I wasn't very nice to you, so it's okay if you don't want me here. I'll understand. But you have to take Anthony. He deserves better. He deserves parents like you and Sean," he told me, with a sniffle. "Please, will you let him stay with you?"
"But I want to stay with you, Ky," Anthony cried as he grabbed his brother's hand.
"You'll be okay. They'll take good care of you, and... and I'll be all right," he told him as he squeezed his smaller hand in the palm of his hand.
"Stop talking like that!" I growled. "Neither of you are going anywhere. You'll both stay here with us. We lost you once, we won't let that happen again."
"Thank you, officer. Have a good night," Sean told the officer as he closed the door. "We better give Rebecca a call," he said as he walked into the kitchen. "You okay there, Kyle?" He tilted his head as he looked down at him.
"Yeah. The rat that looked me over said that there's just some cuts and swelling, nothing major to worry about."
"It was very brave of you to stand up to your dad like that, for your brother."
"He's not my dad," Kyle mumbled as he looked at his brother.
"Still, for what it's worth, I think you did the right thing," Sean said as he patted him on the shoulder.
"Thanks."
"We better make that call," Sean insisted, looking down at me.
"Okay." I stood up. "There are still some clothes in your room. Why don't you go change out of these," I told Kyle as I pointed out the large rip in his shirt.
