Page 31 (1/2)

Tears gathered in Eve’s eyes For a moment she remained silent, clearly overwhelmed by all that had been said Caot up and cla her free hand to Eve’s cheek

She patted gently, wiping away the tears that slipped down Eve’s face

"Don’t cry, Evie," Ca to take care of us Everything will be all right, won’t it, Van?"

"Absolutely, sweetheart," he said gravely, but he was looking at Eve the entire tied Cammie fiercely to her, and then she reached for Travis’s hand, squeezing The three of thee, but there was also determination They were a unit A solid, unbreakable family unit, one that Donovan wanted to be a part of

Slowly, Donovan reached out for Travis’s hand and then he reached for Eve’s other, linking theether

"We’re a fa forward, you can count on htens you, I expect you to come to me If you have any concerns or just need someone to talk to, I’m always here We have a lot to work out There are a lot of things that have to be addressed and resolved But we’ll get there Together"

"I’d like that," Eve said softly, for the first ti--what Donovan had asked her for

Travis looked relieved Caht and then launched herself fro hihed as she wrapped her arhtly

"I love you," Cammie whispered next to Donovan’s ear

For ain his throat that rendered hi the sweetness of a child’s unconditional love, and he vowed then and there that he would always return it That not even the children he and Eve would one day have would replace Cammie or Travis in his love and affection To him they would always be his first children and have a place accordingly in his heart

"I love you too, sweetheart I want you to always reainst his neck and then burrowed more deeply into his chest She yawned broadly and went liainst him He shifted her in his arms so he could hold her more securely and then returned his attention to Eve and Travis

"What are we going to do?" Travis asked in a quiet voice "About hi after Eve He’ll want to punish her for what she did We can’t let that happen, Van He’ll kill her Just like he killed"

Travis broke off and hastily looked away but not before Donovan saw the glimmer of tears in his eyes Eve’s eyes brimmed with sudden tears as well at the mention of their mother

It made Donovan’s heart ache to know that Travis ell aware of how his rips with the fact that his own father had taken away the most important person in Travis’s life

"I don’t want you to worry about him," Donovan said fir better and looking out for your sisters My brothers and I will take care of your father and ensure that he’s no longer a threat to any of you Can you trust in that?"

Slowly Travis nodded

"Now, this little lady here is al to put her down and then perhaps you need to consider getting some rest yourself How is your pain? Do you need more medication?"

Travis shook his head and then hesitated a lanced at Eve and then back at Donovan before speaking again

"Why don’t you put Cammie in witheither with me or Evie I know Evie needs to rest too"

Donovan barely controlled his surprise He could swear that Travis was paving the way for Donovan to have ti for Ca by the sudden rush of color in Eve’s cheeks, she suspected the saift horse in the mouth He and Eve did need time alone Not just to --but to be able to discuss things that would otherwise upset Cammie were she to overhear

"If you’re sure," Donovan said

Travis nodded "And I’ht It bothersflat and it’s hard to sleep"

Donovan frowned "You should have said soht No reason for you to suffer needlessly I could have given you an injection so you could rest better"

"It’s okay," Travis said "I’ll be fine I’ll go lie doith Caht after supper I’ forward to those pork chops"

Donovan set you and Cammie to bed"

Before they could move, a knock sounded at the kitchen door Since the surveillance system hadn’t alerted him, he knew it had to be one of his brothers or his sisters-in-law Glancing up, he saw Garrett through the glassportion of the door

Shit Garrett could be very inti he wanted was for his brother to scare Caot up and transferred Ca

"It’s just my brother Garrett," he explained to ease the look of alar a lot of hi Charlotte over to meet you, Cammie"

Cammie smiled shyly and shoved her thumb in her mouth

Donovan went to the door, irritated with the interruption But he should have expected it Garrett, being Garrett, would have wanted to see for hiet it over and done with now so Garrett would back off No way Garrett wouldn’t take one look at Eve, Travis and Ca Donovan off

Garrett rowliest of the Kelly brothers, but he was also a complete softie when it came to the people he loved And Donovan had no doubt that he’d love Eve and her siblings on sight

To his surprise when he opened the door, Garrett was holding a foil-covered baking pan

Donovan’s eyebrow arched "To what do I owe the pleasure of this unexpected visit?" The enored Donovan’s dig and pushed his way inside