“More like a deer in headlights.”
“Fuck. Yeah. Okay. Point taken. Reckon we’ll get any sleep tonight?”
Kellan snorted as he lay down on the tiny mattress on the floor and covered himself with a thin blanket. “Fuck, no.”
“That’s what I figured you’d say.”
Her cries woke Eli.
Huh. Seemed he had fallen asleep. Standing, he raced into her bedroom. He found Kellan already there, standing over her.
It was doubtful Kellan would have slept at all. Not in a strange place with a storm raging. He never got much sleep anyway.
“What’s going on?” Eli asked.
“Nightmare,” Kellan said.
“Why haven’t you woken her?” Eli asked him, reaching for her.
“I didn’t think she’d be happy to wake up with me looming over her.”
“No, Father. No!” she cried. “Where is she? Why didn’t you tell me? Why didn’t you tell me she died?”
“Jesus,” Eli said. “Who is she talking about?”
Kellan shook his head.
They might have to do some looking into the former governor. Then again, what went on behind closed doors was generally very different from what went on out in the open.
“Poor baby,” Eli whispered, sitting next to her. Since she’d left the battery-powered lamp on he could see her clearly.
“Arabella, wake up,” he told her. “You’re safe. Everything is all right.”
“No, no, no!” she cried. “I don’t want to marry him, Father!”
“Motherfucker. Is she talking about Cole?” Kellan snarled.
Eli gave his brother an assessing look for a moment. Oh, he definitely cared about Arabella. There was no way he’d be reacting this strongly if he didn’t.
“I don’t know but it seems we have to find out. If he coerced her . . .”
“Fucker is dead,” Kellan said as she cried out again.
Eli shook her lightly.
Shit. She was really stuck in this nightmare.
“Arabella, you’re safe. Wake up, baby. Come on, open those beautiful brown eyes and look at me.” He shook her again, this time more forcefully when she didn’t open her eyes. “Come on, baby.”
Gradually, she opened her eyes, letting out a loud gasp. “What . . . what’s going on? What are you doing?”
Eli couldn’t help himself. Mindful of her back, he lifted her and placed her on his lap.
Kellan grabbed a blanket and wrapped it around her and Eli gave him a nod of thanks.
“What is going on? Why am I shaking? Why are you in my room? Is it morning?” she asked.
“No, baby,” Eli said. “Not yet. You were having a nightmare.”
