After the Storm (KGI #8)(121)

“Look, I know I can’t say I know how you feel,” Joe began. “I haven’t been in love. I’m the only unattached brother, so I won’t insult you by saying shit like I understand what you’re going through. But I’ve seen it with every single one of you. I’ve been there when the worst has happened. She’ll get through this, man. She’s strong. She’s a fighter.”

“But she thinks I betrayed her,” Donovan said painfully. “What reason does she have to snap out of it, to even respond to the man she believes in her heart and soul betrayed her, used her and lied to her? Look at her, man. She’s gone. She’s not here. She’s checked out and I don’t know if it’s the meds they forced on her or if she’s just checked out because her reality doesn’t bear living.”

“Remember how Shea was when we found her,” Joe said gently. “Remember how out of it she was. How worried Nathan was that he’d lost her. That he’d never get her back. All Shea needed was time and his love. Our love. The support of her family. Our family. Eve needs that too. She’ll get there, Van. She just needs you to surround her with your love. She needs to know you love her and that you’d never betray her. She’ll pull out of this. Maren has already been called in and is waiting. She’ll see what’s to be done and if she needs more than Maren can provide. Whatever it is, we’ll get it for her. With you and our family behind her, and with Cammie and Travis with her and Walt being out of the picture, she’ll pull through this. She just needs time. Just like Shea needed time. But she’ll get there. I believe that to my soul. I wouldn’t just say shit to pacify you.”

“I can’t bear the thought of her thinking—knowing—that I did this to her,” Donovan said hoarsely. “I’ll never love another woman the way I love Eve. She’s it for me, man. The one. I knew it from the first day I met her. And I should have been clearer. I should have laid it out to her, but I thought we had time. I was arrogant and convinced that I’d take Walt out, that it would be easy. That my plan to draw him out was going to be a piece of cake. I was so wrapped up in what I wanted that I didn’t consider any other possibility but it going the way I wanted. And Eve paid for that. I should have been up front with her from the start. I was trying to shield her, and in doing so I made her believe that I threw her under the bus. All that shit about my weakness for women and children and especially children. Jesus, even I can see how bad that looks, how bad it sounds. I can understand why Eve thought what she thought because my entire family had recited those damning words for the world to hear. How must Eve have felt every time someone tagged on the especially children, as though she were some afterthought. Not as important as those kids when she’s the heart and soul of it all.”

“Stop torturing yourself,” Joe said. “It’s not doing you or her any good. Save it, man. Wrap her up in your love and support. Bring her home to Cammie and Travis. She’ll pull through this. We won’t entertain any other option. And you damn well know the Kellys are a stubborn, tenacious, overbearing lot and once we set our minds to something, come hell or high water, we’re going to make it happen. She’s family. She’s one of us. And there’s no way in hell any of us are giving up on her.”

Donovan smiled, some of the agony easing. Just a bit.

“It’s a hell of a note when my baby brother is kicking my dumb ass,” Donovan muttered.

Joe grinned. “I’m savoring it. It may never happen again.”

“Thanks,” Donovan said sincerely. “I’m glad you and Nathan are out of the army and working with us. We weren’t complete until you two joined. Now we’re whole.”

A shadow passed through Joe’s eyes, and Donovan knew he was remembering how close they came to losing Nathan. Joe’s twin.

“Just remember that I felt what Shea felt. That I had the same link to her that Nathan did. I saw what she saw, felt what she felt. And she went through hell. She was tortured and when we found her, she was a lifeless shell of her former self. But she came around, and so will Eve. Just give her time. If all they did was keep her drugged, then that’s something that can be overcome.”

Donovan gently thumbed the shadow of a bruise on Eve’s mouth and the dried blood at her lip. “Someone hit her. And if they hit her once, who’s to say they didn’t hurt her in other ways? We may never know what she endured. Even if she comes around, she may never remember all that happened to her.”

“Maybe that’s for the best,” Joe said quietly. “Some things are better left unremembered. All she needs to know is that she’s loved and she’s safe. The past doesn’t matter any longer.”

Donovan nodded. “You’re right. I know you’re right. But goddamn it, I want to shed the blood of every single motherf*cker who had a part in doing this to her. And to leave it all to Resnick? It’s the hardest thing I’ve ever had to do in my life.”

“And the most selfless,” Joe said. “You walked away because that’s what Eve needed. She needs you. And so instead of getting revenge, you walked away because Eve needed you. You did the right thing, Van. Don’t ever think otherwise.”

Donovan gathered Eve close in his arms, closing his eyes as he pressed his lips to her forehead.

“Come back to me,” he whispered. “Come back to me so I can tell you I love you. So I can tell you I love you every single day of our lives from this point forward.”