Downing half his water in one go, he put the bottle aside, leaning with his hands braced against the island counter.

"I know," he said, after a moment, some unidentifiable emotion flickering across his face.

Clearing his throat, he admitted, "I've seen it before. Dealt with it before."

Those memories were still hazy, but they no longer felt like they belonged to someone else.

I want you to take my son.