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“Baby, it’s Kane. Listen to my voice. I’m here. You’re here. You’re safe.”
Reality flickered in and out as I finally realized I was standing in my room, the chain stretched as far as it would go. Bruises began to bloom from where I’d struggled against the restraint.
“Kane? I don’t understand. Why are you here?”
“Take a deep breath. As soon as you’re calm, I’ll look at your wrist.”
I glanced down, frowning while panic ripped through me.
“What happened?”
“You had a night terror, but I’m here now. It’s okay.”
I stared at him, trying to recall what I had dreamed. My chest heaved, and I closed my eyes.
“Kane, for the first time, I remember … I saw my mother, then a man with dark hair and brown shoes.” I opened my eyes again, my heart jackhammering against my chest. “I was beaten, then thrown in a hole, Kane. That wasn’t a night terror, was it?” My legs gave way, and I dropped to the floor. “It was a memory.”
“I was afraid taking you to Madeline’s would be too much. I’m sorry, baby. I’m so sorry.”
“You knew? You knew I’d been beaten and locked away, didn’t you?”
Anguish ghosted over Kane’s face. “I did. I also understood that taking you to Madeline’s might trigger some of the memories.” Kane wiped away the tears from my cheeks. “It’s one of the ways they punished us. When you called me to come over … I don’t think I’ve ever sped faster in my life.” Kane backed away, and I watched as he located a clean washcloth in my bathroom. After it was wet with warm water, he returned.
“Where’s the key for the wrist cuff?”
I nodded at my nightstand. “Wait, I called you?”
Kane unlocked the cuff, then gently cleaned the gash on my wrist.
“Yeah. Your voice was different, though. I’ve done some research on night terrors, and they said the differences are often subtle and hard to identify if someone is in the middle of one. But the moment you said my name, it didn’t sound like you. It was haunted.”
I massaged my forehead with my free hand. “Thank you for coming. I don’t remember calling you. I guess even in my sleep, I know who my heart belongs to.”
Kane hesitated, his brown eyes full of worry. “Are you sure?”
I reached for him. “That was never the question, baby. I just have to make sure that I’m enough for you. I’m fucked up, and if I’m struggling, I don’t know how to show up and give you what you need.”
Kane gently kissed me. “Babe, don’t. Show up for you first, and that will help me heal as well. We have to be patient and learn how to adjust as we start the next chapters of our lives … together.”
“I don’t understand how, after everything you lived through, you still love me.”
Kane stroked my cheek with the pad of his thumb. “Loving you has been the easiest thing I’ve ever done.”
Kane’s mouth crashed onto mine. His kiss was so intense I forgot to breathe. I allowed him to consume me and lost myself in the safety of his touch.
“Let’s get your wrist bandaged, then try to sleep.”
Panic surged in my chest. “Are you leaving?” I stood as he led me to the bathroom.
“You couldn’t get me to leave even if you tried.”
“Good.”
ChapterThirty-Six
Brie
The following week flew by, even though I had two appointments with Alida and spent a few nights alone. I hated that Kane wasn’t next to me while I slept. He seemed to keep my night terrors at bay. As much as I despised them, I wanted to see what else I might remember. I knew he was only a phone call away, and I promised to let him know if I needed him. To my disappointment and relief, I hadn’t had any more nightmares.
