Dylan (Bowen Boys, #3)(13)
“I’m all right now. I’m sorry. I had a bad…all that blood, it scared me.” She didn’t try very hard to get out of his arms, and he didn’t seem to mind, either. “You should go back to your room.”
“I can’t. Caitlynne and Khan have it with the baby. And my parents and brothers are in the other rooms. Marc is sleeping on the couch. We worked late on the dining room, and they stayed over.” He shifted around and lay down beside her. “You okay with me being here? I don’t want to hurt you.”
“I’m okay. It’s your house, after all.” She tried to think of something to say and went back to the dream. “I was drowning. I don’t think it was blood, but a pool. I was in a pool somewhere.”
“You know about what happened and what you’re being accused of, correct?” She nodded. “There was a pool at the house where this supposedly happened. Maybe you fell in it or something.”
“I jumped. I shot the window open and I jumped.” Her body broke out in sweat. “Someone was chasing me. I don’t…I can’t.... All I can think of is an eye for some stupid reason.”
Dylan nodded. “Are you hungry? My mom made some lasagna for dinner and there was some left over. Walker said you could have whatever you wanted but for you to be careful.”
He stood up and walked to the door. When he went out and shut it behind him, she looked around. Flushing, she realized that she’d still been holding onto him, and he’d probably been freaked a little about it. She moved carefully in the bed and made it to the side without too much trouble. When he came back, if he came back, she’d ask him to move her to the couch and him take the bed. She didn’t think he’d do it. He seemed to be a really nice guy, but she was making the offer just the same.
When a woman returned with a tray, Jack tried hard not to show she was hurt. Thanking the older woman, she was surprised when she sat down in the chair next to the side she‘d moved to. She smiled at her when Jack took her first bite.
“Dylan is talking to his brother. Every time you give him something he runs to them with it, hoping that it’ll help. He said you were hungry.”
“Actually, he didn’t wait for me to answer him but hightailed it out of here without me saying anything.” She took another bite and moaned. “But I’m glad he did. This is really good.”
“Thank you.” She reached into her pocket and handed her a clipping. “That was in today’s paper. It says that Dylan was voted teacher of the year. His kids love him very much.”
Jack read it as she ate. The portion she had was huge, so she only managed to eat about a quarter of it before she lay back to finish reading it. She handed it back to the woman.
“I’m assuming you’re his mom.” She nodded and told her that her name was Corrine. “Nice to meet you.”
“You as well. I have pie if you want it. It’s apple. It was all he had in the cupboards since he’d been working on the kitchen. You’ll love it when he gets it all done. I think this is good for him to get his mind off of what is going on with you and all.”
It took Jack a minute to realize what Corrine was saying. “I don’t need to like anything he’s doing to his house. As soon as I’m able, I have to get going. There are people looking for me, and I’m reasonably sure that dead or alive means whoever I happen to be with when they find me will also be killed. And when Company finds me again, they’re going to find Casey.”
Neither of them spoke. When Corrine started to stand, Jack moved to the edge of the bed and stood up as well. Pain moved over her like a freight train, and she had to hold on to the bedpost for several seconds to try and get it under control.
“I don’t think you should be doing that. You’ve been shot several times and you’ve lost a great deal of—”
“I have to go. I have to get out of here right now.” She stumbled for the desk where a gun and several other things were laying. “I’m guessing these are mine.”
“Yes, but—” The door opened, and there stood Dylan and two other men, including Khan. “Thank goodness. She’s leaving, and I don’t think that’s a good idea.”
“Don’t come near me.” She picked up the Glock and held it in front of her when Dylan started for her. “I don’t want to have to shoot you, but I certainly will.”
“She’s remembering.” Dylan looked at one of the men. “Some of it is still fuzzy, but it’s coming to her. Go get Caitlynne. She’ll need to know this, too.”
Jack moved toward them, circling to the right with her gun in front of her. She was getting sick to her stomach and hoped she didn’t throw up. She’d had broken ribs before, and tossing cookies was not fun.
“Someone set her up. She hid in a tree for hours to see who or what they were up to and…. Snow is a person. Casey Snow. She moved the vet to another state until this is over, if it ever is.”
“Stop that. Fucking stop that right now.” She looked as the doorway filled with more people. “Being able to read a person’s mind doesn’t give you the right to do it. I want you to leave me the f*ck alone.”
“Jack, we have to help you. There are things going on, things you can’t understand right now.” Caitlynne spoke softly as she moved into the room. “Dylan needs to help you; he has no choice.”