Page 55 of Silk and Steel

Should I tell him he was thrashing around, talking about someone named Jake? I’m not sure it would be right. He’ll share this with me when he’s ready.

“Nothing. I think you were having a bad dream.”

His eyes grow distant, and he nods.

“I was. Sorry I woke you.”

I kiss him and then snuggle up, laying my head on his tattooed chest. “Don’t be sorry. It’s not like you chose to have a nightmare.”

His arm encircles my shoulder. I listen to his heartbeat as it slows. Soon he drifts back off to sleep. I sigh and settle in myself. It seems like a long way to morning, and we could both use the rest.

If Cole has any more bad dreams, they’re silent ones. When I awaken again, it's to the warmth of the morning sun streaming in through the curtains. As much as I want to just bask in the glow of how amazing last night was, the thought of Julian on the loose still makes me worry.

Cole is totally out. I chuckle softly and kiss his forehead before sliding out of bed. I’m sore in all the right ways as I head to the bathroom for my morning routine.

A powerful thirst grips me. Parched, I head downstairs and look for something to drink. A peach sports drink seems to fit the bill. I drain half of it in one go, then set the bottle on the counter.

Picking up my phone, I check for messages. My thumb slides a bit too far and I turn on the news feed instead. Before I can close it, a headline catches my attention.

Breaking: Several children ill after drinking contaminated water at LA daycare.

A sick feeling grips my stomach. It can’t be. It just can’t…

I tap the link with a trembling finger. The sports drink threatens to come back out the way it went in as I anxiously read through the article.

Panic gripped the staff at the Sunny Daze Creative Learning Center today–

“No! No!”

I cover my face with my hand, unable to read any further. The sound of Cole’s footsteps rapidly approaching herald his arrival. Damn, he got down those stairs quickly. Did he jump the last landing?

“Emory,” he cries, grabbing me by the shoulders. “Are you all right? What’s wrong?”

I look up at him in misery, showing him the phone.

“My…my sister works here…”

He takes the phone from my grasp and stares hard at the screen. His jaw works silently as he reads.

“It’s okay,” he says. “None of the staff were affected.”

It’s cold comfort. I’m glad my sister is okay, but those poor kids!

“What kind of monster would do this?”

“Glen Banner,” he says in a tight voice. “He needs to be brought to his knees. Brought down to his stomach. Brought down so low he never gets up again.”

I call my sister straight away, but it goes right to voicemail. Panicking, I shoot off a text before trying to call the daycare directly. The number is busy.

Before I can work myself into a total frenzy, Hellena texts me back.

I’m all right. Please take care of yourself, I’m surrounded by police. Nothing is going to happen to me.

I send back a relieved response filled with I love yous. If something had happened to her, I don’t know if I could stand it.

“None of this is your fault, Emory,” Cole says firmly, reading my mind. “We all know whose fault it is.”

I grab him and bury my face in his chest, letting the tears fall. Cole envelops me in his embrace, his hand smoothing my hair.

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