He looked back down as I dropped my hand.
“Close your eyes.”
I shook my head against him. Gavin and Brianne would be there, their bodies ruined, their hearts ripped apart.
“You’re safe. I promise. And I always keep my word.” He moved his hand from my waist and put his warm palm on my cheek. “Close them.”
He ran his thumb over my lips lightly, the feeling more soothing than sexual.
Safe in his arms, I closed my eyes.
I didn’t remember how I got to my bed, but I woke the next day to torrential rain. I glanced at the clock. It was already past noon. I lay still for a long time, letting my body slowly wake up, each sting of pain a reminder that I was alive, just like Gavin said I would be.
Gavin. I rolled to my side, the effort making the muscles in my legs try to seize. The hurt subdued me, and I focused on breathing through it. A tray was at my bedside with a sandwich, an apple, some chips, and a glass of tea. It looked like it hadn’t been there long.
“Renee?” My voice was hoarse, but plenty loud enough.
I heard the creak of a floorboard and then heavy footfalls. Not Renee’s. My door opened and Vinemont came into view. He flipped on the light. I closed my eyes against the sudden glare. The light flicked off again, and he strode to my window where he pulled back the curtains and let in the soft glow of sun through rain.
“Better?” His deep baritone washed over me.
“Yes, thank you.”
He stood over me, inspecting my face before moving to the foot of the bed checking the bandages on my feet. Seemingly appeased, he returned to my side.
“You need to eat.” He put his hands under my arms and pulled me into a sitting position before placing a pillow behind my back and resting me against it.
I ached all over, groaning even though he was gentle with me. Once I was settled, he drew the blanket back up and set the tray in my lap.
“Where’s Renee?”
“Just eat. I’ll have the doctor come in when you’re done and fix you up proper.” He opened the little bag of chips and placed it back in front of me.
“Will you just tell me if she’s all right?” I placed my hand on his arm and wondered if the rest of him was as warm.
“Take a bite and I’ll tell you if she’s buried out back, okay?”
My eyes grew large, the loss too much for me to bear, but then I saw his mischievous look, the corners of his mouth turned up.
“Are you teasing me about killing Renee?”
“Maybe. Now take a big bite since you didn’t do it when I asked the first time.”
I did as he said. The sandwich was actually delicious, made just the way I liked with fresh tomatoes and turkey.
“She’s fine.” He slid his arm down, and I thought he was going to pull away, but instead our fingers met and he entwined them. “She’s here. She’s just occupied elsewhere.”
I swallowed, relief flooding me, before taking another bite. I was suddenly ravenous. Vinemont smiled and handed me a napkin. I took the hint and wiped my mouth, Dijon mustard coming away on the cloth.
“Elsewhere?” I asked between bites. “Do you mean upstairs?”
His fingers tightened on mine. “You know, then?”
“I know your mother’s alive. Not much else. Feel free to fill me in.” The chips were salty and perfect, and I downed the sweet tea to finish it all off.
“There’s nothing to tell. She’s been up there for years.” He stared out the window at the sheets of rain, milky white in the gloom. He slipped his fingers from mine and took the tray before standing. “I’m going to send in Dr. Yarbrough and Laura. Keep resting.”
When he got to the door, my emotions got the better of me. “When are you coming back?” I knew I was a fool for wanting him, for my weakness. I couldn’t stop it any more than I could stop what happened to Gavin and Brianne.
“Soon.” He walked away, and not long after I heard more footsteps—the doctor and Laura as promised.
Laura stripped my gauze and helped me bathe, then she ushered me back to the bed so Dr. Yarbrough could clean my injuries and re-bandage them. He laid out some pills on the bedside table and made sure I took one.
“For the pain.” He didn’t have much of a bedside manner. Perhaps he’d seen too much. With his age, I suspected he may have doctored Renee during her Acquisition year. He must have seen it all, become numb to it. Competent and distant—maybe it was the smartest way to be around these people.
“I’ll be back around tomorrow.” He picked up his black leather bag and left while Laura puttered around my room, a certain nervousness in her quick movements.