“I’m not gonna judge him based on his father,” Damon told Eli - toldbothof them, really. “And once again, don’t call himkid. It really pisses him off.”
Eli gave Damon a pointed glance, clearly indicating that Cain’s feelings weren’t his priority.
“Can you protect them?” Damon asked. “I’m gonna leave in the morning with Cain. But I need to know Chelsea and Molly are safe.”
“I’ll take care of the girls,” Eli said with a nod. “Don’t worry about that. Fuckers better not show up here, or they’ll find out exactly what I’m capable of.” He hesitated, scratching at his beard. “You really trust the ki-, uh,Cain? You really trust Cain?Think, Damon, and not with your dick. How did they find you in the middle of Pennsylvania so quickly when you didn’t use credit cards and didn’t leave a paper trail? A hit like that, with pros like them… it’s not the kind of thing they can just set up on the fly. They had to know where you were going practically the second you did.”
“You’re right.” Damon let his frustration show. “And I don’t fuckingknowhow they figured it out. Hell, as far as I can tell, they didn’t know I was alive until two days ago, and now suddenly…” He shook his head. “But it wasn’t Cain.”
Even from the first confused moment, he’d known that. The look of shocked horror on Cain’s face, the determination in every line of his body as he’d shielded Damon and Molly.
Eli sighed. “I get that you don’t want to believe it. He’s cute, if you’re into that kind of thing. But how else…”
“Those guys were shooting at him, same as me, E. He’s the one who got hit with the flying glass or whatever in that shit-show.” Even now, the very idea of it pissed him off - that Cain had been the one to get hurt, that Damon hadn’t been able to protect him. “I don’t know who they were, I don’t know who sent them, but I don’t believe Cain contacted anyone. Hell, his cell phone’s dead. He’s as much a pawn in all this as Chelsea and Molly and me.”
“Alright, fine. Have it your way.” Eli shrugged. “But what are you andCaingonna do while the girls are here?”
“Cain had an idea that we could head to Nashville. We could search his parents’ house, his dad’s office. Apparently, the senator’s a stickler for keeping physical records of things. Maybe we can find some evidence tying his father to the Seavers’ plane crash, or some indication he knew what Jack was up to that we can present to the authorities.”
“You’re wading into a lion’s den so you can steal its tooth? You hobbling on one leg, while he’s got a bum arm.Christ.”
“If you’ve got a better idea, I’m all ears. I’ve considered and rejected every other possibility, and this is pretty much the only option I’ve got now.” He rolled his eyes and tossed Eli a smile. “You remember my motto? Hard and easy don’t matter…”
“Yeah, yeah. When there’s no plan B. I remember.” Eli sighed. “And you think he’s going to turn that evidence over to the authorities, even though he won’t go to them on his own?”
Once again, Eli’s thoughts lined up exactly with Damon’s own fears. Was he just being stupid here? Eli was rational, removed from the situation. If he really thought this was a shitty idea, should Damon listen? He glanced up at the loft once again.
Eli didn’t know Cain. And yeah, maybe Damon didn’t know him very well yet either, but everything he learned about the man made himwantto know him, and want to trust him.
“I don’t claim to understand all his reasons, Eli.” He chuckled shortly. “Frankly, I don’t understand my own fucking reasoning half the time. But my gut tells me I can trust him, so I’m choosing to do that.”
Eli shifted his neck back and stared at the ceiling, one hand braced on his hip. “Alright,” he finally said with a shake of his head. “You feel that strongly about it, I’ll reserve judgment.” He turned and speared Damon with a glance. “But promise me you won’t let your guard down completely, Damon. Cain might be a pawn, but he’s hisfather’spawn. And it won’t matter what his intentions are when his father moves him around the chessboard.”
