“Myself? I haven’t done anything for myself in so long I can’t even remember what it feels like to do something selfish and normal for a kid my age! I’m taking my sister and we’re going back.”
“Back to what? You’re not a stupid kid. You know what’s happening here. I promise I’m not out to hurt you or your sister. I only want to help you.”
“Help us what? You and Jonas show up out of nowhere and everyone starts acting like it’s perfectly normal to have strangers as houseguests. You’re right. I’m not stupid. I know when something’s wrong. Cybil, wake up—”
Cain caught his hand in an unbreakable grip and Colby growled. “And who is going to protect your sister when your grandmother’s gone? You?”
“Yeah, me!” Dane jerked his hand but couldn’t break his hold. “Get off.” He swallowed gulps of air, his shoulders rising and falling with each seething breath.
Cain chuckled and released his arm as if proving his point. “You’re just a kid.”
If he weren’t holding his sister, Dane would have lunged at him. He wanted to punch that arrogant smirk off his face.
As if reading his thoughts, Cain lifted a brow in challenge. The wind whipped at their clothes as they faced off. “That’s what I thought. Let’s go.”
Cain continued walking, and Dane stood his ground. “Cybil, wake up!”
His sister stirred, and something vicious flashed in the man’s eyes, catching the moonlight in an unnatural way. “Enough. Let her sleep.”
“She’s not going with you. Cybil, I said wake up!”
Cain crossed the distance in two strides and gripped Dane by the front of the shirt. “What’s the matter with you? I said leave her be. She doesn’t need you upsetting her. For Christ’s sake, be a man and quit your bellyaching.”
Anger became a living thing that seethed within Dane’s heart. He shoved him with both hands but the man didn’t budge.
With pitying eyes, he chuckled. “Let’s not do that again.”
Dane’s jaw quivered as an all too familiar helplessness paralyzed him. “Why are you doing this?”
Cain released his shirt. “Look, I know you are confused and upset, but I’m not the guy to help you with that kind of stuff. I’m just here to take you to the farm.”
“We’re not going to your goddamn farm!”
“Don’t you get it, kid? Your grandmother’s dying. There is nothing you can do about it. And once she’s gone, you and Cybil will be all alone.”
“We’ll have each other.”
“For how long? She has eight years before she’s a legal adult. Do you have any clue what could happen to her in that time? You won’t be able to go with her once you’re of age and, I’m sorry, but I don’t think you’re ready to take care of her by yourself.”
“That’s not your decision!”
“Fine,” he snapped. “Let’s just assume you two are kept together. You’ll be an adult soon but you aren’t in a position to be anyone’s legal guardian. She’ll stay in the system and you’ll both be on your own until you get your life together. Do you understand that there are bad people out there, people who would love to get their hands on a beautiful little girl like her, who doesn’t talk and can’t tell?”
Ice formed in Dane’s veins. “There are good people out there, too.”
“Okay, but come on, Dane, I know you’re different. You’ve seen what’s in people’s minds.”
He swallowed, not wanting to admit that his telepathy had limits and he could only overhear the thoughts of children.
“Ah,” Cain said with understanding. “I didn’t realize.”
Certain he hadn’t said anything, he snapped, “What are you talking about?”
“You can only read the thoughts of innocents. Once a person becomes jaded, they’re blocked to you.”
Shaken, he looked up at him, mouth agape. “How…”
Cain tapped the side of his head. “We have some things in common.”
Dane had suspected, but now his suspicions were confirmed. “How long have you been that way?”
“It varies, depending on who I’m around. You’re easy.”
He scowled. “Because I’m a kid?”
“Sure, we can say that’s the reason.” He started walking and Dane rushed after him.
“What other reason would there be?”
“Plenty. I could probably teach you how to control it better.”
“You can?”
“Sure, when we get to the farm.”
He started walking again when Cain did. Dane wasn’t giving in, but it was too cold to stand still on the side of an icy road. “We’re never gonna see her again, are we?”
This time, when Cain looked at him, he read empathy in his eyes as if he understood such loss. “I don’t know. I can only tell you that my father has your grandmother’s best interest at heart.”
“Why? He doesn’t even know her.”
“Let’s call it a mission from God.”
“If the treatment works, will they meet us at the farm?”
He didn’t need a verbal answer to understand that his grandmother would not be coming to the farm. He read the truth in Cain’s eyes.