Dirty Angel-BarbaraElsborg by Barbara Elsborg Page A

puddles. The boots were half a size too big, but they’d keep his feet warm and dry. When he heard a shrill cry, then a wail, he looked around, saw nothing and kept walking. Not his problem, whatever it was. But the second cry was louder, more desperate, definitely a child and he couldn’t ignore a child. The times he’d begged for help as a kid, and no one had come to his rescue.
    He followed the sound of crying and found a young boy standing at the foot of a ladder leaning against the side of a barn. He wasn’t the one crying, though he was white-faced with fear.
    “What’s wrong?” Aden asked.
    “Jamie’s gone up on the roof and he can’t get down.”
    “Go and find your dad.”
    The dark-eyed boy looked up at him. “He’s going to be mad.”
    “Get him or get your uncle.”
    As he ran off, Aden dropped everything and climbed the ladder. When he reached the top, he crawled onto the ridgeline of the corrugated iron roof and stood up. The boy was dangling, clinging by his fingertips. Shit.
    “I’m coming. Don’t let go,” Aden called.
    He wasn’t sure how sturdy the roof was. It was definitely slippery. Aden walked along the ridge as quickly as he could.
    “I’m going to fall,” the boy shouted.
    “No you’re not. Hang on.”
    But even as Aden reached down to grab his arm, the boy’s fingers slid from their hold and he screamed. There was no time to think about it, Aden flung himself at the kid and caught him as they fell off the roof together.
     

Chapter Six
     
     
    His heart pounding so hard his gut ached, Brody ran across the yard with his nephew Martin. Jamie’s scream was ringing in his ears as he spotted Des dashing out of the house. Teenagers emerged from the stables to see what was wrong. Then it was as if everything happened in slow motion, Aden and Jamie were sliding off the roof and there was a stomach churning crunch as they hit the ground.
    “Martin, get your mum,” Brody shouted as he sprinted to where they’d landed.
    Not that he wanted Karen to see this, but he definitely didn’t want Martin there until he knew… Oh fuck. He slid to a halt when he saw Aden lying on his back, Jamie sprawled on top of him, neither of them moving.
    Des reached them and dropped to his knees. “Oh God. No, no, no.”
    Jamie opened his eyes. “Dad.”
    Des let out a strangled gasp. Jamie wriggled out of Aden’s arms and flung himself at his father.
    “Are you okay? Where are you hurt?” Des ran his hands down Jamie’s body, then clutched his son’s head and stared into his eyes. “What hurts?”
    “Nothing. I’m okay.”
    When Aden pushed himself into a sitting position with a long groan, Brody let out the breath he’d been holding.
    “Don’t move,” Brody blurted. Haven’t we been here before?
    “I’m winded, that’s all.” Aden’s chest heaved.
    “I saw what you did.” Des stared at Aden as he hugged Jamie. “I don’t… How did…? Are you sure you’re okay?”
    Aden nodded and stood, but didn’t make eye contact. Was he hurt and pretending he wasn’t? Brody wanted to hug him and tell him he was glad he was all right, but something in Aden’s expression stopped him.
    When Karen and Martin reached them, Jamie clung to his frantic mother. “I’m sorry, I’m sorry,” he kept saying.
    “You know better than to climb up there. What were you thinking?” Karen held him out in front of her, scanning for injuries. She turned to her husband. “I told you to move that ladder. I asked you and asked you.”
    “I’m sorry,” Des muttered.
    “Oh Jamie. If I’d lost you. Oh God.” She burst into tears.
    How could they have fallen from so high and not been injured? How could Aden be hit by a car and walk away without a scratch?
    “Saved by the mud,” Aden said, as if he’d been reading Brody’s mind.
    Brody stared at him but Aden still didn’t meet his gaze. The soft ground would have cushioned their fall, but to have no injuries?
    “Are you all right?” Karen asked