After the Storm (KGI #8)(51)

Swanny and Joe took off to do their respective tasks, and Donovan excused himself to go tend to Eve. When he entered the bedroom, Eve had already crawled under the covers with Cammie, who was huddled into Eve’s body.

It was such an endearing sight that for a moment all Donovan could do was stare. At what could be his. At what he already considered his. He was struck by the rightness of it all. But he also knew he couldn’t afford to get distracted by the fantasy. Somewhere out there, a monster lurked. Waiting for an opportunity to strike. At his family.

The hell that was happening.

He uncapped the syringe Maren had prepared and then made his way closer to the bed. He slid onto the edge, his thigh resting against Eve’s body.

“I need to give this in your bottom,” he explained. “All you have to do is pull up your shirt and lower the band of your underwear. You can remain covered the rest of the way. It’ll just take a minute and then you’ll feel much better.”

“Thank you,” Eve said, barely above a whisper. “I don’t think I’ve said it properly—or at all, for that matter. But thank you. I have no idea why you’re going to so much trouble for people you don’t even know, but I can never hope to repay your kindness, Donovan. What you’ve done for Cammie and Travis. And me. I don’t know why—I can’t even comprehend it all—but I thank God that you’re here. That we’re here.”

He smiled and ran a finger down the curve of her cheek, fiercely satisfied that she seemed to finally be accepting his help. “You’re more than welcome, Eve. But get used to it, because I’m not going anywhere and neither are you.”

He carefully pushed up the oversized T-shirt to bare her slim waist and the gentle curve of her behind. It was pure temptation to stroke the baby-soft skin, but he focused on sliding her panties down just enough to bare the injection site.

“Just a stick,” he warned, and then pushed the needle into her flesh.

She tensed a moment and then stiffened further.

“Ouch,” she grumbled. “The medication hurt worse than the needle.”

Donovan chuckled. “That’s usually the way it goes. But you’ll be feeling the effects any second now. I want you to relax and get some sleep. I’ll wake you and Cammie for dinner. This time it’ll be something better than grilled cheese sandwiches and soup. Swanny has volunteered his culinary expertise and I have to say, the man can cook.”

She smiled, her eyes already dulling with the effects of the medication. “That sounds lovely. And Donovan? Thanks again. I’ll never be able to repay your kindness.”

He bent to kiss her forehead and she went utterly still beneath his lips. “You will, Eve. Trust me, you will. Just not in a manner you’d likely expect.”

With that cryptic statement, he withdrew, seeing that Cammie had already drifted to sleep in Eve’s arms. He checked her IV line, making sure it was secure and that the fluid was flowing correctly.

“Sleep well, Eve. And know you’re safe,” he murmured just before leaving the room and shutting the door behind him.

CHAPTER 17

AN hour later, Donovan stood in the living room where his brothers, Sam, Garrett, Joe and Nathan, had gathered along with the rest of Nathan and Joe’s team: Swanny, Skylar and Edge. Sean Cameron was present as well. Donovan had wanted him pulled in so he could discreetly run a check on Eve and uncover any potential issues with the law. Steele and Maren had remained, though Maren had retreated to the kitchen to feed Olivia in private.

He needed information from Eve before he could make any huge decisions, but he couldn’t wait until he got her to trust him enough to open up. Hopefully that would come later tonight when he and Eve were finally alone. But for now, he needed everyone on point because something or someone was after Eve. Her fear wasn’t faked. The terror in her siblings’ eyes wasn’t an act.

“So what are we dealing with here, Van?” Sam spoke up, breaking the heavy silence in the room.

“I don’t know exactly,” Donovan said grimly. “But I need to find out fast. I’m going to try to get Eve to talk to me tonight. She doesn’t trust easily, but I’m getting through to her. Getting her to agree to stay here was a huge step in the right direction.”

He glanced over at Sean, who leaned against the wall, hands shoved into his uniform pockets. He’d just come off duty and hadn’t been home yet. Donovan knew he was likely tired, but Sean hadn’t hesitated to come when Donovan had asked him to.

“Sean, I need you to do some very discreet checking on Eve, and Cammie and Travis as well. I’m not positive they’re using their real names, but Hanson is the name Travis gave. See what you can dig up on anyone matching their descriptions, but I do not need anyone to know about it. Anything you find, you come to me with, regardless of what it is you discover.”

Sean’s gaze narrowed. “What exactly are you expecting to find?”

“I don’t know,” Donovan said honestly. “What I know is that they’re running and running hard and scared from someone. Cammie’s terrified of men. She mentioned that her ‘daddy’ had hurt Eve. Not Eve’s father, but Cammie’s. So I’m wondering if maybe Cammie and Travis are Eve’s half siblings and they share a mother, or perhaps Eve is an aunt or concerned relative. I just need whatever you can dig up without leaving any traces that you were looking.”