After the Storm (KGI #8)(43)

Donovan left, his hand reaching for his phone as he walked into the kitchen, where Joe and Swanny were preparing sandwiches and soup.

“You weren’t wrong about them,” Joe said quietly.

Donovan shook his head. “I know.”

“What are you going to do, Van?” Swanny asked.

“Whatever I have to,” Donovan said, his voice as grim as his thoughts.

He placed the phone to his ear after he dialed Steele’s number and waited.

“You all make it through the storm?” Steele asked by way of greeting.

“Yeah, everything’s fine here. You?”

“Yeah. We didn’t get too much. Just high winds and a little hail. You still need Maren this morning?”

Donovan hesitated. “Yeah, but there’s been a change of plans. The tornado wiped out Eve’s trailer. Me, Joe and Swanny ran over because I was scared to death they’d been killed. Found them in a culvert and Eve several feet away trapped under a mattress. They’re hurt and Cammie’s ill. I’d like Maren to come out to check them all over.”

Steele swore. “That sucks, man. Where are y’all now?”

“My place. They’re all here. I need Maren as soon as you can get her here. Travis is hurt pretty badly. I’m concerned he has broken ribs. Eve’s hurt too, but I’m not sure of the extent. She’s in shock and scared out of her mind. And then there’s Cammie, who was already sick enough before spending a night in the storm.”

“I’ll have her over as soon as possible,” Steele said shortly.

“Thanks,” Donovan murmured, but Steele had already hung up.

“They coming?” Joe asked as he plated another grilled cheese.

“Yeah, on their way now.”

“Thought about what you’re going to do after Maren checks them over?” Swanny asked. “What if they need to be in a hospital?”

Donovan shook his head. “That’s going to be our last option. We have the means to take care of them here. Maren can render her diagnosis and write any scripts they need and I’ll take care of them here.”

“So they’re staying,” Joe murmured.

Donovan looked up at Joe. “You got a better place for them to go?”

He shook his head.

“Yeah, they’re staying,” Donovan said resolutely. “Until I find out what the hell they’re running from and eliminate the threat to them, they aren’t going anywhere.”

CHAPTER 15

DONOVAN insisted on holding Cammie while they ate despite the fact that Eve offered. Donovan had shaken his head reproachfully and merely directed her—and Travis—to eat.

Cammie crammed the grilled cheese into her mouth, eating with more appetite than she’d had in days, a fact Eve was grateful for. A quick glance over at Travis told her he was wolfing down his food as well. Swanny had fixed a plateful of sandwiches and given each a bowl of soup and glasses of sweet iced tea.

It was the first time in longer than Eve had remembered that they’d enjoyed something as simple as a meal without worry of imminent discovery. The evening before, when they’d eaten as they prepared to flee—again—was the closest they’d come to a few moments of peace. But weighing heavily on her, despite her attempt at putting up a brave front for Cammie and Travis, was the knowledge that once again they were running into the unknown. Now they were here, wherever here was. As much as she’d feared resigning herself and her brother and sister to the tight security of Donovan’s compound, at least no one could get in.

That kind of reassurance was priceless.

“You aren’t eating,” Swanny said, gentle reproach in his voice.

Eve glanced guiltily up to see the quiet man regarding her thoughtfully. She got the impression he didn’t say a whole lot. He was someone who blended into the background even though he looked like a total badass. The scar only added to that appearance. What or who had put that mark there? She shuddered to think of the violence he’d endured in the past. It could be the result of an accident. But something told her that wasn’t the case. These men, all of them, were fighters. Ex-military, as Donovan had explained. And now they protected people? What exactly did that mean? It was a question she desperately wanted the answer to, but she wouldn’t ask now. Not in front of the others. That question was reserved for when she and Donovan were alone.

“I don’t have much of an appetite,” she admitted.

“And it’s equally clear that you’ve missed far too many meals already,” Joe said pointedly. “Eat, Eve. Nothing will hurt you here. You have to stay strong for yourself and your brother and sister.”

Knowing he was right, she made an effort to eat more of the food Swanny had prepared. And it was delicious. It didn’t taste like something out of a can. It was rich and flavorful and it warmed her from the inside out. She savored each bite and checked occasionally to see that Travis and Cammie were also eating. They were. Much more than she herself was, so she dug in to catch up. It was important that they all ate and regained their strength, because as soon as they were able, they had to leave. They’d already been here too long and it was making her twitch. Sitting ducks. They couldn’t run forever. She acknowledged this. Knew it for the truth it was. But she could at least buy them more time. Running from place to place until she could figure out what to do. How to confront Walt and the future.