'Shut up.' He was pulling her across the room and down the hall. 'I said I’d do it. You’ve done your part.'
Yes, she’d done her part. John Devon had been found and that meant— 'Stop thinking,' Joe said roughly as he pushed her down on the bed. 'I knew it would start eating at you the minute you finished. But, dammit, you’ve got to rest now.' He disappeared into the bathroom and came back with a damp washcloth. He sat down beside her and began wiping the clay from her hands.
'I should take a shower.'
'When you wake up.' He tossed the washcloth on the nightstand, made her lie down, and covered her with a quilt.
'I was afraid it was going to be him,' she whispered. 'Half of me wanted it to be John Devon, but I was afraid too.'
'I know.' He turned out the bathroom light, sat down beside her, and took both her hands in his. 'But you wouldn’t give up, would you?'
'I couldn’t. You know I couldn’t.'
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The slight tightening of his grasp was his only answer.
'Since it was John Devon, that means the monster might have been telling the truth. Fraser might not have killed Bonnie.'
'He could still have been the one who killed her. Because Dom killed one of the children Fraser confessed to murdering doesn’t mean he killed all of them.'
'But the chances are better now that Dom killed her.'
'I don’t know, Eve,' he said wearily. 'I just don’t know.'
'And he might still have her. That little girl could be my Bonnie. It wasn’t enough that he killed her; he’s keeping her like some kind of trophy.'
“He’s keeping her as bait.'
'I hate the idea of that monster with her. I hate it.'
'Shh. Don’t think about it.'
'And how am I supposed to stop?'
'Hell, how do I know? Just do it.' He paused. 'This is what he wants from you. Control.
Wouldn’t he love the idea of you lying here suffering because of something he’d done? Go to sleep and cheat the son of a bitch.'
He was right, she was doing exactly what Dom wanted her to do. 'I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to fall apart. I must be tired.'
'Now, I wonder why?'
'I’m confused. It’s difficult not to— I wanted to bring her home but not like—”
“Face it after you’ve slept for a while.'
'You have to call Spiro.'
'It will wait. I’ll stay here until you go to sleep.”
“You haven’t slept either.'
'How do you know? I doubt you were aware I was on the planet while you were working on that boy.'
'That’s not true.”
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“Isn’t it?'
'I always know you’re there. It’s like—' It was hard to explain. 'It’s like having an old oak tree in your garden. Even if you don’t pay attention to it, you never really forget it’s there.'
'I believe I’ve been insulted. A tree? Are you trying to call me a knothead?' No, if he was like a tree, it was because he gave shelter and strength and endurance. 'Smart man. I should have known I couldn’t fool you.'
'And I’m not that old.'
'Old enough.' She was smiling, she realized. A moment before she had been in pain, but she felt better now. Joe always made it better. 'I’m okay. You don’t have to stay with me.'
'I’ll stick around. You’ve got to be hysterical if you’re calling me an oak tree. The only way you’ll get rid of me is by going to sleep.'
She was already getting drowsy. It was safe to let everything go for now. Joe was there, holding back the darkness. 'This reminds me of when we were on Cumberland Island after Fraser was executed. Remember? You held my hands like this and made me talk and talk…'
'Now I’m trying to shut you up. Go to sleep.' She was silent a moment. 'He’s beginning to scare me, Joe.”
“There’s nothing to be scared about. I won’t let anything happen to you.”
