After the Storm (KGI #8)(99)

He could swear that tears flashed in her eyes, but the low light streaming from the bathroom wasn’t enough for him to be sure.

Without waiting a response, he got up and went into the bathroom, where he kept one of the med kits. He prepared a syringe and then returned to the bedroom, where she hadn’t moved from the place he’d left her.

She obediently rolled over, presenting her hip, and once he injected the medication, she rolled back, pulling the covers up over her body in an almost defensive gesture. He discarded the syringe and then crawled back into bed, worry for her nagging relentlessly at him.

She relaxed some as the medication took hold and he pulled her closer to him, pressing his lips to her clammy forehead.

Whatever was worrying her, he’d get to the bottom of it tomorrow. But then tomorrow was also the day he’d arranged the meet-up with her stepfather. That had to be done and out of the way. Only then could he move forward with her and prove to her that she was safe. That he’d never allow anyone to harm her or her siblings, nor would anyone ever take them away.

And then it occurred to him that for all her worry earlier and for her reluctance to leave him to discuss his plan with his brothers and KGI, she hadn’t asked him about it. After securing his promise that he would tell her everything, she hadn’t brought up the subject even once.

He frowned in the darkness. Was that what she was fretting over? Or had she simply forgotten once the headache had taken hold? Or was the headache a result of her stress and worry?

Tomorrow. Tomorrow he’d tell her everything. Just as soon as her stepfather was out of the picture for good.

CHAPTER 31

EVE was awakened by Donovan gently shaking her from sleep. Her eyelids fluttered open and she blinked the remnants of the drug-induced fog from her vision. She hadn’t wanted the injection but recognized the futility of trying to sleep when she was so wrapped up in her anguish. She needed a clear head for today.

“How are you feeling?” Donovan asked in concern.

She sent him a wan smile. “Better.”

She knew he didn’t believe her, and she wasn’t that good an actress. He looked reluctant but also grim and determined. It was the determination that frightened her. As though despite any misgivings, he was determined to go through with his plan. Did she glimpse a gleam of conscience in those eyes? Apparently not enough for him to second-guess his intentions.

“I have to go out for a while,” he said. “But I’ll be back soon. Rusty is coming over to stay with you awhile. Just until I get back.”

She didn’t ask where he was going. She didn’t have to. Fear beat a steady rhythm in her chest. Her pulse thudded violently at her temples and she could feel the headache returning and with it the heartsickness that had filled her to bursting yesterday and well into the night.

“All right,” she said quietly, her heart breaking with every breath.

He leaned down and kissed her forehead, leaving his lips there for a long moment.

“This will be over soon, honey. I promise.”

With that, he drew away and got up from the bed, walking toward the door.

She waited only a few moments before rising to look out the window as he drove out of the compound. Then she turned quickly away and went to her bedroom to pack a small bag. Just enough to carry in a backpack. A few changes of clothing. The little cash she had from before. Her mother’s jewelry.

She then went into the kitchen, knowing Rusty would show up soon. She dug out paper and a pen and hastily wrote a note for Travis and Cammie. When she had finished, her eyes burning with tears, she folded it and went to their room, where they were still sleeping.

She didn’t remain there looking at them for long. It was too painful and she didn’t want them to awaken until she was away. After a silent good-bye that ripped her heart right out of her chest, she propped the note on Travis’s dresser where he would see it, and then she went to find one of Donovan’s guns that he kept in a drawer by his bed.

CHAPTER 32

RUSTY pulled into Donovan’s drive and parked her Jeep beside Donovan’s truck just as he was walking out the door. He looked grim and resolved. Her nape prickled because she knew that look. Whatever shit was going down today was heavy.

Not that Donovan had volunteered anything in the way of information. He’d only said he needed her to come and stay with Eve while he “took care of business.”

Rusty pitied the poor fool Donovan intended to take care of. Though none of her brothers was ever overly descriptive in their accounts of the missions they went on, she’d gleaned enough—and hell, she had eyes—to know that a Kelly man on a mission was a very scary thing to behold.

“Thanks for coming, Rusty,” Donovan said. “I hope to be only a few hours, but I’ll keep in touch. I don’t want Eve to worry, so if you can keep her occupied and distracted I’d appreciate it. She wasn’t feeling well yesterday. I think the stress is getting to her. She had a headache and I had to give her an injection so she could sleep last night. I left her in bed, so don’t disturb her. I want her to . . . rest.”

Rusty could see the very real concern reflected in Donovan’s eyes. She reached out to squeeze his shoulder. It was odd to be offering him comfort since he was usually the one doing the comforting and reassuring in the Kelly family. But he looked as though he needed it, and while he’d mentioned the fact that he had to give Eve an injection to help her sleep, he himself didn’t look as though he’d slept a wink.