After the Storm (8 page)

“I have a friend—a very close friend—who is a doctor. You’d like her. Her name is Maren. She’s married to another very good friend of mine. She’s been on maternity leave and is just now starting to get back into the swing of her practice. She routinely makes house calls, and she also sees disadvantaged patients free of charge. And Eve, you
are
in need. Cammie is in need. I’d like to bring her over tomorrow to check on Cammie. I’m concerned. She appears to be a very sick little girl, and while I’m sure you’re doing the absolute best you can, sometimes it’s not enough.”

She sagged, her head lowering because he was right. It wasn’t something she could very well hide. One only had to look at her—at where she lived—to know that she was in desperate need. And Cammie
did
need a doctor. Eve had been up with her all night, worried, sick with indecision over whether she should risk taking her into the emergency room. But how would she have gotten there? She was basically trapped here. No access to anything that wasn’t in walking distance.

Donovan lifted her hand, curling his fingers gently around hers. She tried to pull away, but he tightened his grip, giving her hand a gentle squeeze. His grasp wasn’t painful. Not at all. He wasn’t trying to hurt her, but neither did he let her go.

“We aren’t going to harm you, Eve. Nobody is. I’ll bring Maren out first thing in the morning so she can do an assessment on Cammie. She likely needs more than the over-the-counter medications you’ve been giving her.”

She closed her eyes, bringing her free hand to her throbbing temple. More medications. Prescription medications. No insurance. No way to pay for them. And antibiotics weren’t cheap!

“Eve,” Donovan said in a voice barely above a whisper. “Look at me.”

Eve lifted her gaze and in his eyes she saw—
felt
—warmth. Kindness. And something else entirely that she couldn’t quite figure out. He looked at her oddly. Like she was someone who mattered. To
him
.

“I’m going to get you the help you need. Help that Cammie and Travis need.”

Eve’s knees went weak and nearly gave out. She stumbled and braced her free hand on the countertop while Donovan’s grasp tightened on her other hand as if to steady her.

What if he reported her to child protective services? In his place, Eve certainly would. This was no place for a child, and it was equally obvious that Eve wasn’t providing for Cammie. He would be well within his rights to report his findings to the authorities, and then they’d sweep in and take Cammie—and Travis—away from her. And eventually return them to their father when it was discovered who they were. And Eve? She’d be punished for what she’d done. For taking desperate measures to protect her family. She simply couldn’t be separated from them and leave them at Walt’s mercy. It didn’t bear thinking about.

“Whatever the hell you’re thinking, stop,” Donovan said. “I don’t know what’s going through your head right now, but Eve, you can trust me. I realize that you don’t trust anyone. That much is evident. It’s also equally evident that you’re in some kind of trouble. You have nothing to fear from me. Or from Maren. We only want to help.”

“I don’t know what to do,” Eve whispered, glancing desperately in Cammie’s direction.

It was the wrong thing to do, and she cursed that she’d broadcast her fear for her sister to see.

Cammie immediately started crying. Not loudly. No. Cammie had learned to be quiet at all times. Big, silent tears rolled down her cheeks, and her thin shoulders shook. Tears pricked Eve’s eyelids as her heart broke into a thousand pieces.

She broke away from Donovan, and this time he let her go. She flew to the couch and knelt, pulling Cammie into her arms.

“Please don’t worry, darling,” Eve soothed. “He only wants to help. He wants to bring a doctor to see you and make you all better. Wouldn’t that be wonderful?”

Even as she said it, she knew that as soon as Travis got home from work, they’d pack their meager belongings and as much of the food that Donovan had brought as they could carry, and by the time Donovan showed up with his doctor tomorrow, they’d be long gone.

They were far too exposed here. First the woman who had hired Travis and now her brother. He wanted to bring in a doctor and God only knew who else. What if it was all a ruse? What if the cops showed up at her door tomorrow?

They needed anonymity. They needed a place where they would gain no notice. Where they’d be just another poor, struggling family among many.

There were shelters in larger cities. Maybe even Memphis, if they could get that far. There had to be a way for them to get the shelter they needed until Eve could pick up a steady enough job to bolster their finances. She and Trav could tag-team, where one would always be with Cammie while the other worked.

“What did he bring to eat?” Cammie whispered.

Her question nearly undid Eve.

“I brought lots of yummy things that my niece, who is about your age, assures me are the best things ever,” Donovan said cheerfully.

Eve yanked her head around to see that Donovan had followed them over.

“But I think perhaps we should take it easy on your stomach. At least until you’re feeling a little better. How does a grilled cheese, hot soup and a Sprite sound?”

Cammie’s eye brightened. “I love grilled cheese sandwiches.”

“Consider it done,” Donovan said, performing an exaggerated bow that elicited a giggle from Cammie.

Eve watched in wonder as Cammie relaxed under the force of nature that was Donovan Kelly. The man was too good to be true, and Eve had learned the hard way that what appeared to be too good was precisely that. A facade.

“Mind if I steal Eve a moment so she can help me whip up lunch?” Donovan asked.

Cammie slowly nodded, her hand automatically going to her mouth. She slid her thumb inside, a habit she’d only recently adopted. One that was a result of the stress they were all under.

Donovan nudged Eve’s elbow, guiding her away from the couch and back to the tiny kitchenette. He took over as if this were indeed his own kitchen. She stood stiffly, watching as he expertly put together the meal, even including a cupcake on a separate paper plate for Cammie’s dessert.

“Why are you doing this?” she asked in a low voice. “You don’t know me—us. Why would you go to this much trouble for complete strangers?”

His head whipped up and for the first time she caught a glint of anger in his green eyes.

“What would you have me do, Eve? Turn a blind eye to people who desperately need help? Or ignore the fact that you’re scared to death and are running from something or someone? Don’t look so stunned. It’s not hard to figure out. And if I can see it, don’t you think everyone else can? Only those others won’t be of no danger to you like I am. I get that you don’t trust anyone. Believe me, I get that. But I’m going to do everything in my power to change that. There are good people in the world. I’m trying to convince you that I’m one of them.”

“It could be dangerous for you,” she blurted.

It was as close to an acknowledgment of what he already knew as she was going to get.

Some of the anger dimmed from his eyes, and once again she saw that glimmer that told her she wasn’t just someone in need he was helping. And it befuddled her.

“How about you let me decide what I consider dangerous? You say I know nothing about you, but, Eve, you know nothing about me. Yet. And believe me when I say I am not going to let anything happen to you or Cammie and Travis.”

The hell of it was, in that moment, he spoke with so much conviction that she found herself believing him when she should be believing or trusting no one.

“Now here’s what I want you to do,” Donovan said as he pushed one of the two plates he’d prepared across the counter to her. “I want you to go sit with Cammie and eat. You’re as badly in need of a meal as she is.”

“And what are you going to do?” she asked quietly.

“I’m going to finish putting away the things I brought and make sure your refrigerator is stocked. And then I’m going to make a list of anything else you need so that when I come with Maren tomorrow, I’ll bring whatever then.”

CHAPTER 9

IT
took everything Donovan had to walk out of Eve’s trailer and stroll to his truck like he’d just been on some neighborly errand for his mother. He was seething on the inside, and he couldn’t even pinpoint the exact target of his rage.

Seeing Eve—and Cammie—look at him like he was some monster and they were expecting the worst turned his stomach. And Cammie. God. He couldn’t picture her without seeing Charlotte and couldn’t imagine his niece in the same situation.

He—all of KGI—took a hell of a lot for granted. They shouldn’t. Enough had happened over the years for them to know all too well not to take a single moment with their families for granted. And yet it was all too easy to forget the circumstances that others lived in. Despite the fact that they saw the worst in the world on a daily basis.

As he drove away, he picked up his cell to call Sam to see if he’d contacted Maren—and Steele—but mainly Maren. Because Steele could put up a fight all he wanted, but if Maren wanted to do something, Steele didn’t have a chance. Steele would just make damn sure she wasn’t walking into a dangerous situation, and after what Donovan had witnessed, he knew that there was nothing to fear over Maren going to check on Cammie. Whatever the danger was, it wasn’t from Eve. No, whatever the hell it was that had struck terror into Eve and her tiny family’s hearts was out there lurking and waiting for an opportunity to strike. An opportunity that, if Donovan had any control over it, would never present itself.

After Sam confirmed that Maren was in and that Steele had been assured all the bases were covered as far as Maren’s safety, Donovan rang off and drove toward the compound, Eve squarely on his mind.

He activated the key code to open the gate and waited as it swung open, allowing him entrance. The tight security net around the compound reminded him of the reality of his life. His family’s lives. It was a necessary evil, one they were all well aware of. But it brought to the forefront that they would never lead
normal
lives. That theirs came with an awareness that at any time, enemies could strike at them, at their most vulnerable weakness. Their wives, mothers, fathers, brothers, sisters, nieces and nephews.

Donovan had wondered in the past, as he was sure all his brothers had, particularly when their family had been in jeopardy, if it was all worth it. If what they did was worth the risk to their loved ones. But at the end of the day, the answer was always the same. Yes. They might not be able to solve all the ills of the world, but they could damn well make it a better place, one mission at a time. For every criminal they took down, for every child they rescued, for every hostage they freed, they made a difference.

Maybe that answer would change if they ever lost any part of their family to the enemies they’d accumulated over the years since KGI’s inception. But for now, they were still absolutely devoted to righting wrongs and taking down the evil in the world.

As he pulled up to his house, he was surprised to see Steele’s SUV parked out front. Not that it
should
have come as a shock. Steele would want a firsthand accounting of the situation his wife was walking into.

But then the passenger door opened, and Donovan saw Maren step into the sunshine, a warm smile lighting her features as she stared toward Donovan. A moment later, Steele got out of the driver’s side, his expression not as warm as Maren’s. Donovan sighed and stepped out of his vehicle. Might as well beard the lion now.

“Hello, Van,” Maren called out. And then she opened the passenger door and ducked in, a second later reappearing with her daughter.

Donovan’s smile was instantaneous. Okay, so he was a total sucker for babies. Sue him.

“Hey, sweetheart,” he said as he walked toward where Maren stood with the baby. “I swear that girl gets bigger every time I see her.”

Maren grinned. “That’s because I’m a twenty-four-seven fast-food restaurant. Clearly she inherited her father’s appetite because I swear I can’t ever feed her enough.”

Steele grunted and then reached for the baby, expertly cradling her in his arms. Donovan shook his head. He still hadn’t gotten used to seeing Steele with an infant. The sight still elicited amusement, and if he was honest, it also inspired envy.

“So what’s the situation?” Steele asked bluntly.

“Why don’t y’all come in out of the heat?” Donovan offered. “I have some iced tea in the fridge and I can brew Maren up a cup of her favorite hot tea. Then we’ll talk.”

“Hadn’t planned to stay long,” Steele replied. “Weather’s supposed to get bad tonight, and I don’t want to have Maren or Olivia out in it.”

Donovan frowned. “Bad weather? What are we talking here?”

Maren rolled her eyes. “Steele has become a regular meteorologist in his spare time. He’s convinced a storm is going to take us out.”

Steele shot her a glare. “It pays to be aware of potential hazards.”

Donovan mounted the steps to his home and swung open the door, gesturing Maren and Steele inside.

“So? The weather report?” Donovan queried.

“Severe thunderstorms. Isolated strong cells. The entire western part of the state is under watch overnight.”

Donovan blew out his breath. Damn. All he could picture was that first time he’d walked into Eve’s trailer and had seen the bowls scattered over the floor to catch the rain. They’d be miserable tonight and with Cammie sick, the last thing she needed was to get rained on inside her house.

“Have a seat,” Donovan murmured. “I’ll get Maren’s tea brewing. Care if I nuke the water and throw a bag in it?”

Maren smiled. “Nope. With my hands full of a starving infant, I’ve learned the art of a quick brew.”

Donovan shuffled into the kitchen and drew water into a coffee mug before slipping it into the microwave. While he waited for the time to elapse, he filled two glasses with ice and took the pitcher of tea from the fridge.

When the microwave dinged, he pulled the hot mug out and dropped the bag into it. Remembering that she liked sugar, he spooned the right amount and gave it a quick stir. Balancing one of the tea glasses between his arm and chest, he picked up the mug and the other glass and headed back to the living room.

“How have you stayed single this long?” Maren teased as she took the proffered cup. “I love a man who spoils me.”

Steele grunted again and shot her a bemused look. Donovan chuckled because it was widely known that Steele absolutely spoiled both wife and daughter.

Steele took the glass from Donovan’s hand but didn’t drink. He leaned forward, setting the glass on the coffee table, and looked expectantly at Donovan.

“It’s bad,” Donovan murmured.

Steele’s expression immediately blackened. “What the fuck? Sam said it was safe.”

Donovan shook his head. “Not what I mean. It’s safe for Maren. I wouldn’t bring her into a situation that put her at risk. You know that.”

“Then what the hell do you mean?” Steele demanded.

“Steele.”

Maren’s soft voice immediately brought the team leader to heel. If the situation hadn’t been so serious, Donovan would totally have given him shit over it.

“Not very far from here, a young woman is living in a run-down, piece-of-shit trailer with her two younger siblings. Cammie, her four-year-old sister, is sick. Travis, her fifteen-year-old brother, is working part time in the hardware store to put food on their table, and Eve . . . She’s trying to keep it together.”

Steele frowned.

“They’re running from something,” Donovan continued. “They’re all scared shitless.”

“Well, fuck,” Steele muttered.

“How sick is Cammie?” Maren asked, her eyes narrowing in concentration.

Steele reached for the baby, deftly taking her from Maren’s arms as she sat forward, her gaze trained on Donovan.

“I don’t know,” Donovan admitted. “That’s why I wanted you to go with me to check on her. I’d say she’s been sick several days. Their living conditions are deplorable. They don’t have enough to eat. I took groceries over today, but their roof—if you can even call it that—leaks in a hundred different places, and with all the rain we had last week, I doubt that helped Cammie’s condition any.”

Maren grimaced, her eyes shining with sympathy and concern. “Of course I’ll go.”

“I’ll go with you,” Steele said.

Donovan shook his head. “No way, Steele. I know it chaps your control-freak ass to stand down on this one, but if you show up, I guarantee we won’t get anywhere near them. Not to mention they’ll likely bolt. When I say Eve’s trying to keep it together, I mean trying, as in barely managing it. She was spooked enough with just me there. You show up?”

“He’s right,” Maren said, looking pointedly in her husband’s direction. “You’ll scare the poor woman witless.”

Steele scowled.

“Maren is in no danger,” Donovan said. “The only people who live there are Eve, Travis and Cammie. Travis is a good kid. Shouldering way too much responsibility, but you have nothing to fear. I’ll be with Maren the entire time. No way I would let her go into a situation where I wasn’t absolutely certain she’d be safe.”

Steele’s lips thinned, but he didn’t argue the point.

“Besides, I’ll need you to keep Olivia,” Maren said in amusement.

Steele’s gaze automatically fell over his daughter, and his expression softened. His face lost the hard lines that seemed permanently etched in his skin, and his eyes lightened with love.

“I’m trusting you with my life,” Steele said as he lifted his gaze back to Donovan.

They were words echoed from months before when Donovan had pulled Maren from the helicopter wreckage while Steele had waited, helplessly pinned.

“I know,” Donovan said quietly. “I’ll take care of her. I promise.”

Steele nodded and then glanced in Maren’s direction. “You ready? Little bit is about ready for her nap.”

Maren laughed. “Which means she’ll eat on the way home first.” She shook her head. “I swear this kid eats more than Steele does.”

“What time do you want her here tomorrow?” Steele asked as he rose, cradling his daughter in the crook of his arm. “I’ll bring her here and wait for y’all to get back.”

Maren rolled her eyes. “Because heaven forbid I drive myself.”

Steele shrugged. “I need to talk to Sam.”

Maren nodded, a quick look exchanged by the couple. Donovan lifted an eyebrow.

“Everything okay?”

“Yeah. I know you’ve had my team, Van, and they couldn’t be in better hands, but I’m ready to get back in. Maren and I have talked about it and it’s time. Her practice is established and she’s going to be taking the patient load back on, and it’s time for me to get back to my team before they forget who they belong to.”

Donovan chuckled. “As if that’s going to happen. I’ll miss them. It’s been great working with them over the past several months. But I know they’ll be glad to get their team leader back.”

Donovan walked out to Steele’s SUV with them. Steele turned back to Donovan, his expression serious.

“Give Sam a heads-up on the weather, okay? It’s supposed to get bad. Don’t know if he’s had an eye to the forecast or not.”

Donovan frowned. “Will do. Y’all be careful too.”

Maren rolled her eyes. “Oh, we’ll be spending the night in the basement, no doubt. After the baby was born, Steele set up a bedroom down there, and if there’s so much as a chance of severe storms, that’s where we sleep.”

Steele grunted. “Can’t be too careful. Not much of a duck-and-run kind of guy.”

“Got a point,” Donovan said. “See y’all in the morning.”

Donovan watched as they drove away and then glanced across the way to where his brothers’ homes were. They were all separated by several acres and Nathan’s was even farther away, nestled on a bluff overlooking the lake. Things were quiet. No current mission. They weren’t even training today.

The new team had trained extensively over the last several months and Sam had given them all time off, a precursor to setting them loose on their own.

Skylar and Edge had moved closer to the compound while Swanny still lived with Joe in Sam’s old cabin a short distance away. Skylar and Edge spent a lot of time at Joe and Swanny’s place. It was good for them to bond. Build camaraderie and form the foundation of a solid team.

Complete immersion. They’d spent every day together for the last few months, but now it was time to give them a break before parceling out missions to the new team and trusting them to get it done.

It was hard for Donovan. He’d admit that. He had complete faith in all the teams, but it didn’t mean he didn’t worry. Nathan and Joe were his youngest brothers. They’d always be his younger brothers, which meant his instinct was to protect them whether they needed it or not.

And the truth was that Nathan, Joe and Swanny had all been through hell. Nathan and Swanny more so, but Joe hadn’t had an easy time of it either. Donovan worried from time to time that they weren’t ready.

But he and Sam and Garrett had agreed. They were solid. It was time.

So the next mission would be drawn by Nathan and Joe, with Steele’s team acting as backup. Now that Steele was getting back into action, things would get back to normal and Donovan would step back and not take as active a part in the missions.

Not that he’d ever just stand back and keep out of action. Sam and Garrett had taken more of a managerial position over the last year. They coordinated, did the planning, called in the teams as needed, but they’d stepped back.

They both had wives—and now both were expecting new additions to the family. Their loyalty belonged first to their wives and then KGI. Of all the Kelly brothers, Donovan and Joe were the most involved, although Nathan had stepped up as the new team came together.

Things were going . . . well. He winced, not wanting to jinx them all, but things were definitely quiet on the home front. Everyone was . . . happy. They’d survived setback after setback and had come out the stronger for it.

Even the team leaders were settling down. Donovan had honestly never thought he’d see the day that Rio and Steele would positively ooze domesticity. And yet both men were married, had daughters and were no longer eating, sleeping and drinking all things KGI.