“No, he must have left as soon as he went out, but at least we got those two. The others will fall in easily, and we have a team at the compound as we speak getting most of the other men,” Kalebsaid.
“He’ll show back up here, and probably with Joan,” I sighed, not sure how I would deal with that. Morgan already left a threat on my voice mail about doing anything to get to Dawn. I of course, told my FBI team aboutit.
Getting to the closet after unlocking the door, I saw my girl hugging a pillow tightly to her chest. “Dawn?” She was rocking back and forth, her arms wrapped around a pillow, her knees pulled up as tight as they couldbe.
“Dawn?” I repeated, easing my way into the room, hoping not to scare her. I called her name louder, and she finally looked up at me with wide redeyes.
“Elijah?” she whispered, but seemedconfused.
“Come here, sweetheart,” I coaxed. She began to slowly move, still not quite herself, as the panic was still fullforce.
“Will you be okay if I leave? I have to be back at the office to oversee the ones that will be brought in shortly,” Kaleb said once I had Dawn in myarms.
“That’smy girl,” I said to her, before nodding at Kaleb. “I’ll be fine. Make sure the doors are locked before you leave,please.”
“Of course, brother,” he nodded before leavingme.
“Dawn?” I asked again. She still seemed to be in a daze. What was she thinking, or remembering, in the short time that she was in that room? “Can you talk tome?”
“Elijah,” she said again as she laid her head on myshoulder.
“I’m sorry I had you go in there, but it was safer. Galvin and Erick won’t ever hurt you again,” I said, hoping my voice would bring her back from her thoughts. “Morgan ran off before Kaleb and his fellow officers gothere.”
I had never seen her like this, but I knew whatever she was remembering had to be worse than her dreams that she’d woken up from many nights in a row. I just knew that she wasn’t truly with me, as her eyes were glazed over in a dazed-like panicstate.
I gently picked her up and carried her to the bed, where I tried to lay her down, but she only hung on as tight as she possibly could, and her breathing picked up. Not wanting to cause her more panic, I easily slid onto the bed with her wrapped aroundme.
I somehow maneuvered a blanket from the end of the bed up around Dawn’s shoulders, to help with the shaking that was wracking her body. I was at a loss of what to do for her, other than hold her and comfort her. I slowly ran my fingers through her hair while I talked toher.
“You’ve done wonderfully today,” I soothed quietly. “I am so proud ofyou.”
I leaned back against the headboard and pillows with Dawn curled up in my lap and her head on my shoulder. Her knees were still pulled up to her chest, but at least her breathing began to even outsome.
Looking down at her, I saw her eyes were closed, but her face was still saddened with worry and fear, even as she slept. My heart hurt, knowing I couldn’t do anything about it rightnow.
