“No, Dirk! Don’t you dare do that! Don’t you take the blame for my irresponsibility again. Always, always you cover for me, you come to my rescue and take the blame. You have enough responsibility; I should be more help. I’m your right hand like you were Dad’s. Chloe is mine to watch out for. I let her down. I let Dad down and you.”
“You have let no one down, Damien. This is not your fault. You are still learning your own responsibilities. Because there are so many of us now and things have been running so smoothly, we got lax. I never made my demands of you clear; again, it is my own fault,” Dirk said.
He stopped his pacing to stand before his haggard younger brother. He placed a comforting hand on his shoulder when Damien gazed up at him woefully.
* * * *
“She must have fallen down the stairs and hit her head again. She must have been so scared, left all alone. I promised I would never leave her. She must have come looking for me, to comfort me, wanting to help, you know what she’s like,” Damien said, feeling his guilt consume him.
His insides were torn apart. He pressed his fist to his chest in agony, and hung his head in shame. He had been so relieved when his father had walked through the door unharmed. Thankfully, the car was still close to home. His men had ushered James home quickly. His thoughts had only turned frantic when James had asked if Chloe was all right. Concerned, Damien had raced to the study. When he found her gone he had ripped through the house, screaming her name.
When Damien had heard Carrie’s howl of fear a knife went through his heart. He knew something had happened to Chloe even before he reached her. Her prone, motionless body lying at the bottom of the stairs had sent ice through his veins.
For one horrifying moment he thought she was dead. He had done this to her. He had failed her, again. He had lifted her into his arms, noticing blood, and hurried her to her bedroom. His tears had clouded his eyes. Damien had waited anxiously, hovering while the doctor was once more called to care for her.
“Damien, she’ll be fine. You heard what the doctor said. It’s a nasty bruise, yes, but she will eventually come to. She will need you then. To be strong for her. She’ll be afraid again and want your comfort.”
“She already needed me; I failed. I’m useless,” Damien insisted.
“You saved me,” Came a small, weak voice from the bed.
“Chloe!” Damien cried. He lowered himself to clutch her body gently to his own, while placing his head against her chest. “I’m sorry, Chloe. I’m so sorry for leaving you all alone. Please forgive me.”
“Salvator, he hurt me,” Chloe said, tears falling from her eyes. She reached for him.
“Who hurt you, babe?” Damien asked, confused. He grasped at her waving fingers, ceasing their flailing motion.
“There was a man, he had a knife. I felt it at my throat. He sounded so strange. He…he…wanted me dead…I think. But I heard your voice. I wanted to call for you. He hit me. I was so scared. He was in the house, Damien, inside. I’m afraid. Please don’t leave me, he sounded so angry,” Chloe cried.
Damien cast his brother a concerned look. Was there a new threat?
“What do you mean he was inside the house?” Dirk demanded.
“He grabbed me, then held a knife to my throat. I begged him not to hurt me or anyone else, I was afraid for the children. He was so angry, Dirk…my daddy was so angry with me, I was afraid he was going to beat me again. I called for Granny and my mommy, but they didn’t come, why didn’t they come?” Chloe sobbed.
Damien looked at Dirk sadly. She must be disoriented. It was understandable. Once more she had undergone a traumatic experience. Once more her head had been given a nasty bang. His shoulders relaxed with understanding; there had been no new threat.
“It’s all right, Chloe, your father can’t hurt you anymore, I’m here. I won’t let anyone hurt you ever again,” Dirk soothed.
* * * *
“No, Dirk, I was afraid. You don’t understand. Daddy was hurting me again, but he had a knife. I’ve seen him use a knife. He smelled different and was stronger than before, bigger somehow; he held me tighter. But, Dirk, it was him. His voice was different; it would be after all these years.”
The memory of the man hurting her collided with the memory of her father; the terror intertwined throughout her mind. Which was real? Her father was dead, wasn’t he? She saw him go up in flames. She saw the car go up in flames. But her father never came back. Why wouldn’t he come back if he had been alive? Was the man even real? Maybe she had just fallen and dreamed it.
“Be still, sweetheart. I’ll stay right here beside you. Both myself and Salvare are here for you,” Damien promised.
“She needs to rest, Damien. Try to keep her as quiet and calm as possible. I need to check with Dad and the others. Carrie is terrified and Tyr is worried about her asthma. It’s under control for now. Candy is a basket case. Casey is afraid for everyone, and Wolf is thinking about sending her and Rhea to Lando. He’s torn, wanting them close, yet wanting them away. Everyone is fearful we’re under attack since we have proof the brake lines were cut on the limo. They need my reassurance.
“At least now I can tell them Chloe has come to. I’m certain Wolf will be up to see her in a while to give you a break; he feels awful about this. Hang in there. I’ll handle this, don’t worry, little brother,” Dirk said. “I’m planning on pulling in my men from other sectors to make certain they aren’t vulnerable out in the open. I won’t lose another man. I want everyone close and safe until this is sorted out.”
He leaned down and kissed Chloe before he left.
“Damien?” Chloe whispered. Her mind felt as though it was searching through a dense fog. Her confusion ran rampant. More pain to assault her already battered mind.
“I’m here. I won’t leave you, Salvare.” Damien carefully lay down beside her. He gathered her into his arms and stroked her face and hair until she slept.
* * * *
Chloe opened her eyes slowly, in confusion. She could feel the weight of someone almost on top of her, smothering her. “For heaven sakes, Damien, Salvator means one who saves, not one who squishes!”
“I’m sorry,” Damien muttered, easing himself away from her.
Chloe glared at him. “How long have you been on top of me? My ribs are killing me! You’re too big to be a lap dog,” she stormed. When she tried to move, she cried out in pain.
“Lie still, Chloe. For heaven's sake, where do you think you’re going in your condition?” Damien exclaimed, wide-eyed.
“What do you mean, my condition?” Chloe snapped. She rubbed at her aching ribs. It was then she noticed the bandage wrapped around her hand. “What the devil is this?”
“What’s going on?” Wolf barged into the room.
“You tell me, Wolf. Why am I in so much pain?” Chloe demanded, easing herself into a sitting position.
“Chloe, can you see me?” Wolf asked with excitement. He waved his arms up and down.
“Why? Are you wearing your invisible cape, getting ready for takeoff?” she asked sarcastically. “Because you’ll be disappointed to know it’s not working. Of course I can see you!”
Chloe found her face gripped between Damien’s palms, his face so close they almost touched foreheads. “Can you see me?”
“You two need to get out more,” Chloe said with a shake of her head, feeling frustrated. She disengaged his hands.
“You can see me!” Damien howled and crushed her to his chest in his excitement. Chloe squealed in protest.
“What’s going on?” Chloe demanded once more. She felt great relief when James walked through her bedroom door. “James, what is going on? Why are these two acting so weird?”
“You can see me!” James declared, astounded. Chloe sighed and allowed her head to slump to her chest. It must be a conspiracy. She felt the bed dip and was quite surprised when James sat as close to her as Damien. He gripped her chin into the palm of his hand and raised her eyes to his own. “Chloe, it�
��s a miracle.”
“It was a miracle you weren’t hurt in the car crash, James,” Wolf replied.
“You were in a car accident?” Chloe exclaimed alarmed. “When? What happened? Was anyone hurt?”
James eyed her critically. “Chloe, can you tell me the last thing you remember?”
Chloe’s face screwed up in deep thought. “I…I was at the house.” She looked at James guiltily. “I found a book yesterday, James. I read some last night before bed. I know I should have given it to you when I found it, but I was afraid of what you would say. I didn’t want you to be angry because I read some of it. It was my dad’s. It was a book he used to manipulate my mom. A book on executions.” Chloe became concerned at the look on all three of their faces.
“Please don’t be angry with me. I couldn’t stand that. I know it was a book of deceptions and lies. When you read it you’ll see what I mean,” Chloe cried frantically.
“We’re not angry, Chloe. We have all read the book,” Wolf declared, his eyes trained intently on her.
“But when, how? I only just found it,” Chloe said, confused. A feeling of dread settled into the pit of her belly.
“Sweetheart, that was over two weeks ago,” Damien said.
“No,” Chloe said, scowling. “It was just yesterday. I remember it clearly.”
“It would appear the return of your sight came at great cost,” James said grimly.
“My sight?” Chloe whispered.
“You have been blind for two weeks. Yesterday you fell down the stairs in the front hall after we all raced off to make certain Dad was all right,” Damien explained.
Tentatively, Chloe reached up and felt a bandage wrapped around her head. She then studied the gauze on her hand. She lifted her shirt, exposing significant though fading bruising on her ribs.
“Why did I forget, Salvator?” Chloe asked, confused and now frightened.
“It must be because you banged your head again,” Damien replied, looking perplexed.
“How did I lose my sight two weeks ago?” Chloe asked, trying to absorb what they were saying.
“There was a bomb. Your old home blew up and you were very close to it. You were lucky it didn’t kill you. As it was you can see you were hurt. You have yet to heal. This last fall has aggravated your condition,” James replied.
“A bomb killed my father,” Chloe said.
Her belly twisted into knots. To her it seemed only yesterday she had confronted James about the death of her father. He had admitted his man was responsible but had screwed up. James had somehow gotten rid of the man responsible, but had not elaborated.
She had admitted to him she had always known James and the family’s occupation. James had explained he and his men only killed evil people who glorified in harming others for sport or ill-gotten gain. Yet her father’s vivid descriptions of the men and women he assassinated came to mind.
If her father had been ordered to kill, by James, wouldn’t that make them both evil? Her father had mentioned Dirk in his book. Had it been Dirk who helped with his executions? If Dirk was in charge of the family it would be him ordering the assassinations of others. Did that make him evil?
But Damien wasn’t evil. Had he killed? If he had would she feel differently about him? Did she feel any different towards Dirk or Wolf, even knowing what they did and do?
Chloe’s thoughts became so confused. Her mind ached. These were the same men she had loved and trusted her entire life. Why was she questioning them now? An overwhelming sensation shattered her heart. A fear on the tip of her memory. It hurt to search for it, then eluded her altogether.
“Why don’t you get more rest? This has all been a terrible shock. This entire day has been hard on everyone,” James said. He leaned forward and kissed her cheek.
Chloe stiffened, and was surprised she almost recoiled from his touch. For the first time in her entire life she felt a moment’s fear of the man. Chloe nodded dutifully and buried herself under her blankets, afraid to let them see the expression on her face. She felt like she was betraying them again. Yet a thought crashed into her mind: Who was deceiving whom?
Chapter Eight
“Your uncle was a good man. Your father always said he should have seen it coming when he was killed by them. He trusted them, they killed him. We’re next, beware, Chloe, beware…”
Chloe woke with a start. The dream of her mother faded into her consciousness. She blinked hard against the confusion that assaulted her thoughts. Her head ached. Chloe eased herself off the bed and headed towards her bedroom door, stumbling in the semi-darkness.
She rested her weary head against the bedroom doorframe. The dim hallway was quiet, the hour very late or perhaps early morning. She settled a shaky hand onto the banister. Chloe could see the light on downstairs in the living room; images of moving shadows flickered within her line of vision. Someone was quietly stalking about. Taking in a hesitant breath, she lowered an unsteady foot and took a small step down, then another.
“Chloe!”
She jumped, frightened at the deep, commanding voice, and spun around, losing her balance. Chloe’s hands flailed into open, empty air. A frightened memory crashed within her mind, stilling her breath. She was pushed. Someone had hurt her, frightened her. But when, who, why?
“Christ, Chloe! You could have been hurt again. What the devil are you doing out of bed?” Damien’s harried voice reached her ears as she was snatched from certain death into his arms. Damien held her to his chest and strode off to her room. Chloe could feel the frantic pace of his heart pounding through his warm, unclad chest.
“My head and bones ache. I just wanted to take something for the pain I’m in,” Chloe mumbled.
Damien deposited her onto her bed. He pulled the covers over her. When he sat beside her, he ran a quick hand through his hair. Even in the dim light she could make out his worried expression.
“You are too injured to be stumbling about. I told you I would take care of you. You should have woken me. No more wandering around.”
“What’s going on?” Dirk demanded. He entered Chloe’s room, snapping on the lights.
“Chloe’s in pain. She tried to head for the kitchen,” Damien said.
A grim look settled over Dirk’s face. “Chloe, I have men stationed about the house. I don’t want you startling someone by wandering. Tensions are too high. Between the explosion and the car crash everyone is on edge. Everyone has been ordered to stay in their rooms for the night so we can make certain the grounds are air tight. You know better; we’ve practiced lock down with you before numerous times.”
Chloe looked up sorrowfully into Dirk’s angry expression. “I just wanted an aspirin,” she whispered, weariness settled into her bones. She had no idea Dirk had rallied his men. No one had informed her she was to remain put. Dirk should know that, yet he was frightening her. Dirk had never purposely frightened her. “I’m sorry, Dirk. Please don’t be angry. I would have listened to your command if someone had told me. I always obey your commands.”
* * * *
Now it was Dirk’s turn to run a quick, agitated hand through his hair. He had enough to deal with. With a wife and new baby to care for, he found his nerves were tense like never before. Chloe’s gentle sobbing had him take a quick breath; he could tell he had frightened her.
She was right, she hadn’t known about his orders. She fell asleep before the others did. With Damien in her room he just assumed she would be unable to become mobile without his knowledge. Of course she would be in pain. Dirk should have thought to leave something by her bed. She could have been injured because of his thoughtlessness. Now it looked as though she was close to hysterics from her pain and fear, fear he himself had caused. Dirk removed a syringe from his pocket.
* * * *
“No, Dirk, not that,” Chloe cried, cringing back. She hated the feel of the fog as it took over her mind. He didn’t need to control her through drugs; she would listen this time, now that she knew what he expect
ed. She shrank back farther as he approached her. A terrified thought popped into her mind. Why did he even carry debilitating drugs with him? What on earth could their purpose be, and within his own home? Just how much trouble was he expecting?
Dirk sat beside her and took her into his arms. “Chloe, I’m sorry I was annoyed with you and made you cry, I know you always listen to my commands. I’m at fault, not you. It’s just that things are heating up around here. I’ve hardly had any sleep. You know what a bear I am when I can’t get any sleep. There are just a few hours until morning. I promise Damien will cuddle up beside you for the rest of the night. When the drug wears off we’ll all go down to breakfast, I promise. There is no reason you need to lie here awake and in pain for the rest of the evening when I can help you. Let me help you, sweetheart,” Dirk cajoled in a soothing voice.
“I just wanted an aspirin,” Chloe pleaded. The dreams would come again. The ones that teased her with their partial memories, brief glimpses into doom. Like fleeting nightmares, always teasing at the corners of your mind. Handing you only a fragment of what was or will be.
Chloe cried harder when his grip tightened on her, his arms wrapping themselves around her, stopping her pitiful efforts to break free of him. She felt the needle slip into her vein regardless of her frightened pleas.
“No, wait! You don’t understand,” Chloe begged. But it was too late.
“Let me make it better,” Dirk soothed. He rubbed on her arm and kissed her tear-stained cheek. “You know I’ll take care of you. I’ll take care of everything.”
“It’s all right, Chloe,” Damien soothed. He pulled her into his own embrace after leveling a dark look onto his brother.
Chloe’s soft sobbing quieted until it was nonexistent. Her arms slipped from around Damien’s neck to land at her sides. Her head rested against Damien’s bare chest. “What the hell, Dirk?” Damien stormed.
“Look at yourself,” Dirk replied, annoyed, into his brother’s bloodshot eyes. His clothes, what there were of them, were a rumpled mess. “You’re of no use to me half-baked! She almost got away from you. When’s the last time you slept? What if you hadn’t stopped her from wandering downstairs, you know what’s happening outside.
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