“Baby, you are crying,” he said gently.
“I am?”
She lifted her hand to her cheek, astonished to find it wet. She became more aware of the odd noise emanating from her chest and throat and realized it was her. Sobbing.
“She’s hysterical,” Beau said unnecessarily.
“What was your first clue?” Caleb snapped.
“Y-you r-really n-need to learn to c-control your t-temper, Caleb,” she stuttered out between each gasping sob.
Her chest was tight, squeezing her insides to the point of pain. She was precariously light-headed and spots appeared in her vision.
“Get her some water,” Caleb demanded of no one in particular.
Tori scurried from the room and Caleb went to one knee in front of her.
“Ah, baby,” he said, all anger and annoyance wiped from his face and eyes. “I’m all right,” he said, accurately guessing the source of her hysteria. “I wish you’d be this concerned over your own well-being, but I’ll make you a deal. You look out for mine and I’ll look out for yours.”
“D-deal,” she said, her teeth chattering almost violently.
Tori hurried over, a glass of water in her hand, thrusting it at Caleb. There was actual concern on her face as she looked at Ramie.
Caleb ripped open the pharmacy bag and pulled out one of the bottles. She had no clue what the ER doctor had even prescribed. Caleb had been the one who talked to him because she hadn’t been able to keep her focus for any length of time during the seemingly interminable visit to the emergency room.
“Can you swallow this?” Caleb asked, holding a tiny peach-colored pill out to her.
“What is it?”
“Something to help you calm down and sleep. Take it,” he said firmly.
He nudged open her lips himself and carefully put the pill on her tongue. She made an immediate face and recoiled from the horrible bitter taste.
“I’m going to take her upstairs,” Caleb said over his shoulder. “We’ll talk in the morning. I have no idea what the hell we’re going to do next, but I don’t want Ramie involved any longer. She could have died today.”
“So could you have,” Beau said quietly.
Caleb glanced at Tori, who was as pale as death, her eyes wide with fear. Then he glanced back at Ramie.
“Give me just a second, honey.”
He rose to his feet and then held his arms out to Tori, who flew into them, landing against his chest. She buried her face against his neck as he hugged her tightly.
“I’m okay, Tori,” he soothed. “We all need to get much-needed rest and then we’ll decide what is to be done in the morning.”
A prickle of unease had Ramie rubbing her chest. His words sounded so ominous. As though he was going to discuss something life-changing with his brothers and sister.
“Where are Dane and Eliza?” Quinn asked sharply. “Did we have any serious injuries on our side?”
“They’re fine,” Caleb replied. “They’re assisting in cleanup and evidence gathering. I don’t trust the police to share important information with us so I made sure I had men on the scene.”
He let Tori go, squeezing her hand before allowing it to fall from his grasp. Then he gently helped Ramie to her feet as though she were a breakable piece of glass. Judging by the expressions on the others’ faces it was too late for her not to end up a hot mess, which only left Caleb to be the relatively sane one.
Still, she couldn’t help the apology that formed on her lips. She lifted her gaze to Caleb’s two brothers and then swept it to Tori.
“I truly am sorry,” she said quietly, scrubbing back the stupid, endless tear trails from her cheeks. “If I had known, if I’d had any idea this would become so dangerous and out of control for Caleb—and you—I would have never called him.”
Caleb went rigid with anger. His jaw bulged from the strain of clenching his teeth.
Beau stared at her a long moment, his expression softening into a look of apology.
“I’m glad you did, Ramie. I believe my brother needs you every bit as much as you obviously need him. You certainly can’t be blamed for the actions of a cold-blooded murderer.”
Ramie offered him a tremulous smile, though he was blurry through a sheen of tears. If only she could quit crying, for God’s sake.
“Thank you,” she said sincerely.
“I believe we all owe you an apology,” Beau said, including his brother and sister in his stare. “But we’ll wait to give it to you when you’re in better shape to hear it.”
THIRTY
CALEB wrapped his arm around Ramie’s waist and slowly walked her up the stairs. As soon as they reached the top, he swung her up into his arms and carried her the remaining way to the bedroom.
He leaned over the bed, easing her down, and then sat on the edge turned sideways to her as he wiped at more tears that streaked her cheeks.
“We make quite a pair, don’t we?” he asked with a sigh.
“I don’t know why I can’t stop c-c-crying,” she said through chattering teeth.
Her jaw quivered and a fresh surge of hot tears trickled down her temples and into her hair. He lowered his head and pressed his lips to her forehead in the tenderest of kisses.
Without a word, he began to undress her, though her skin was ice cold and goose bumps dotted her body.
“Cold,” she fretted.
“I know, baby. Give me just a minute and I’ll get you warm.”