After the Storm (KGI #8)(41)

Donovan put Cammie onto the couch while Joe guided Travis into the recliner. Then Donovan turned to Eve.

“Welcome home,” he said softly.

CHAPTER 14

DONOVAN waited until Eve was seated comfortably on the leather couch, and then he bent and deposited Cammie beside her but warned her in low tones not to hurt Eve by climbing onto her lap. Eve looked as though she would protest and even reached for Cammie, but Donovan shook his head.

“She’ll be right beside you, Eve. You need to take care of yourself. Leave Travis and Cammie to me and the others. I’ll go call Maren right now so she can head over. She was planning to be here this morning anyway, but the storm may have delayed her somewhat. I need to find out if they suffered any damage and if she can still make it over.”

“And if she can’t?” Eve asked, unable to keep the worry from her voice.

Donovan slipped his hand over hers, squeezing reassuringly. “She’ll make it. If she’s delayed, then I’ll do what I can to make sure you’re all comfortable. I act as the team medic when Maren isn’t around. I know my way around medical equipment.”

She was still bewildered by just what she and her siblings had walked into.

“Are you all in the military or something?”

Donovan grinned while Joe chuckled.

“Not any longer. But we all used to be. I was in the Marines. Joe and Swanny were in the army. My other brothers have served in various branches. The only one we don’t have covered is the air force.”

“And yet you live on some kind of . . . compound,” Eve said.

“It’s a necessary evil,” Donovan said quietly. “We’ve made a lot of enemies over the years. We want to make sure our families are protected.”

Eve looked up at him in alarm, and Donovan swore under his breath. Now wasn’t the best time to tell her about KGI and the dangers of what he and his brothers did. He didn’t want to lie to her, but she didn’t need any additional stress. Not until she had come to terms with her and her siblings being here. And trusting him.

“Would any of you like something to eat?” Swanny broke in as he looked to where Travis sat in the armchair and then to where Cammie sat huddled against Eve. As he spoke, he bent over Cammie and placed his hand over her forehead and then frowned. “She’s running a fever. You got any ibuprofen, Van?”

“They need to eat,” Eve interjected, her tone brooking no argument. “We ate last night, but they need to eat again. Especially Cammie. She hasn’t been eating well since she’s been sick.”

“I want a grilled cheese,” Cammie mumbled around her thumb. “Donovan fixed me a yummy one before.”

Swanny smiled, the scar stretching over his cheek as he glanced affectionately down at the little girl. “I think I can manage that.” Then he turned his gaze to Eve, pinning her with his stare. “And what about you? You need to eat too.”

“Yes, she does,” Travis said firmly. “She didn’t eat as much as Cammie and I did last night. She was too busy worrying over where we were going.”

Donovan frowned at that, but it was something he’d address later. Right now he wanted them all to feel at ease in his home. Their home. At least for the next while.

“I’ll have whatever you fix them,” she said quietly. “And Cammie does need more ibuprofen. Her last dose was yesterday before we fell asleep.”

“I’ll help Swanny rustle up some food in the kitchen and we’ll get some medicine,” Joe volunteered.

“I have some liquid ibuprofen in the cabinet,” Donovan told his brother as Joe and Swanny started for the kitchen. “I keep it on hand for when Charlotte is over.”

“Who’s Charlotte?” Cammie asked.

Donovan smiled down at her. “She’s my niece. She reminds me a lot of you, actually. You’re about the same age. You’ll meet her. Would you like that?”

Cammie nodded vigorously. “Does she have dolls to play with?”

Donovan’s heart ached as he looked at the hopeful look on Cammie’s face. The things that Charlotte took for granted were things this child knew nothing of. Something as simple as a doll or toys to play with. Charlotte was spoiled by all her aunts and uncles, not to mention her own mother and father. Who spoiled Cammie? It was obvious that Eve and Travis were too busy trying to keep food on their table to worry over things like toys.

“As a matter of fact, I have a few of Charlotte’s toys here for when she visits. I babysit from time to time, so I keep stuff here for her to play with. She won’t mind a bit if you play with them too. How about after you eat, I see what I can dig up?”

Cammie nodded solemnly. “I’d like that.”

“Now if you’ll all excuse me for just a few minutes, I need to call Maren. Joe and Swanny are cooking up something for you to eat and I need to see about getting something for you all to change into. Travis, I have some clothes that will likely fit you okay. They might be a little big on you, but we’re about the same height. Will a pair of sweats and a T-shirt be okay?”

Travis nodded.

Then Donovan turned his attention to Eve. “I’ll have one of my sisters-in-law bring over something for you to wear, but until then, you can wear a pair of sweats and one of my shirts. You need to get out of those wet things. I have a few changes of Charlotte’s clothes and some of her PJs. I’ll show you both into the bedroom where you’ll be staying so you can get her changed and change yourself.”