"Let me help?” Ian lifted the first tentative spoonful to her lips.
The warm broth made her smile. “It’s delicious.” Cassie closed her eyes. As she swallowed a second mouthful, flashes of lightning bounced around the room, thunder crashed nearby, and the lights flickered on and off. The monitor flashed red with her rising heart rate. Her left arm sent the tray clattering to the floor.
“Sebastian attacked me. I remember you were there. Why won’t anyone tell me what’s going on?” Before she could finish the frantic sentence, some broth went down the wrong way. Tears of pain poured from her eyes as she started to choke.
Pete grabbed a pillow to brace against her chest. Unable to catch her breath, she panicked more, tearing off the oxygen and ripping out the feeding tube. The bandages on her fingers turned pink with blood.
Ian dislodged the tubing from her balled fist and placed her palm against his chest, hoping the contact would calm her. “Shh, I’ve got you. I’ve got you.” He cradled her and stroked her back as she held on tight.
Cassie burrowed her head under his chin. Warm tears dripped along his neck.
“Easy. Slow breaths,” Ian soothed her with his words and body. Fragile fingers grabbed on to his shirt.
At that moment, he knew he could never let her go. Ian lifted her chin to make direct eye contact. “Breathe with me, sweetheart.” With constant repetition, she matched his breaths. Her pulse lowered, and her oxygen levels increased as he rocked her in his arms. “Rest, my sweet Cassie.”
Ian ran his hand up and down her back until an exhausted sleep took over. He felt honored she trusted him, but it also kindled raw emotions. Would she believe him when he tore apart her life? It was time to lay it all out there. No matter what happened, he would make sure she would always be taken care of.
Chapter Twenty-Six
After a few phone calls and a fast shower, Ian changed into a pair of jeans and a T-shirt. Always meticulous, he made a list of questions and a rough agenda for the planned meeting.
Kieran popped open a can of soda. “Blake and Ruiz are still waiting on the damn arrest warrant. The judge wanted more information. Maddox is part of this; we just don’t know why yet. I wasn’t able to clone his cell. If you want, I can send two in tonight.”
Ian opened and closed a fist in frustration. “Call Brett to pull all his accounts. His wife’s too. Send our people tonight. Cover the house and the landline; also, tag his car.”
“I got the car. Are you ready for tonight’s meeting?”
“Do I have a choice?” He tossed his brother and Hunter each a bottle of water and straddled a stool. “They call you?”
“Did you think they wouldn’t? I’ll be honest—I’m out of my league with this,” Hunter admitted.
“What the hell happened?” A bottle crinkled in Ian’s hand.
“Ian, she’s coming back. It sounds like a flashback. The lightning or the power surge probably started it, and you seem to be the epicenter of her safe zone. It’s too soon to say anything definitive. Time and patience,” Hunter urged.
“That will be easy for you, brother.”
Ian flicked water at Kieran. “Before we go down, I have a medical question. Is there a way to tell if a woman has carried a child?”
“That’s a loaded question. What gives?” Hunter arched a brow.
“This was found in a hidden space at Cassie’s.” Ian handed Hunter the cap.
“We can tell by looking at the cervix. And before you ask, unless I have reason to check, I won’t do an exam. And, no, there is not any need,” Hunter said.
“Okay, I hear you.” Ian sighed.
The trio walked outside into the muggy June night. The rain stopped, and moonlight was breaking through the clouds.
“Hey, we get a break,” Kieran said.
“I hope so.” Ian wasn’t thinking about the weather.
At the pool house breakfast bar, Jameson was eating a light meal, and Eric was sipping a cup of tea. “She’s awake and comfortable. She doesn’t have any recollection of earlier. Pete and I put the feeding tube back, but Tuck recorded a big loss of oxygen when she panicked,” Eric said. Hunter headed up to check on her.
Eric placed his cup in the dishwasher. “Ian, helluva job. Rachel said she never saw Cassie respond the way she did with you—even when she was with her family.”
Jamie grabbed a notebook and moved toward the big farm table in the dining room. “Tuck needed to get home to take Nikki to the doctor. Pete is staying for the meeting.”
