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It was unheard of.
“You should have woken me up, baby. I’m here for you. Do you need a drink? Something to eat? Some warmer blankets? You feel cold to me.”
She was. But she didn’t want blankets to warm her. Reuben got up and found another blanket in the closet, placing it over her.
“Perhaps I should get you one of those sleeping bags for babies,” he said.
“I don’t like my arms being trapped.” Just the idea had her breath coming faster. “Please don’t do that.”
“Baby, of course not.” His face grew fierce. “I’d never do that. Never.”
No. Of course he wouldn’t.
What could she do to help him? She just didn’t know. But she had an idea of someone who might. As he lay down again, placing his hand on her chest this time, she decided on a game plan.
Tomorrow, she was calling for help.
Juliet frowned as Faith told her everything three days later.
Reuben was in the shower and she figured this was her only chance to talk to his sister. He rarely left her alone; he’d even set up a desk in the corner of the bedroom.
“Any advice on what I should do?” Faith asked. “I thought, maybe I could rebel a bit? Then it would give him a bit of a push. He hasn’t threatened to spank me once. The only problem is . . . I’m not good at being rebellious. Not on purpose. If that makes sense.”
“It does.” Juliet nodded. “And I’m not sure it would work with Reuben anyway. He . . . he’ll be experiencing some big feelings. I’m worried. Reuben hates feeling helpless. He felt that way when I was younger because I had to go into foster care, and I was bullied to the point that I grew ill. I stopped eating. I withdrew into myself. And I know he blamed himself. It made him even more overprotective. And he was already protective enough. But I needed that protectiveness. To be sheltered from the world. I don’t think you’d be able to put up with that long.”
No, though she liked it, she couldn’t stay locked away in this tower forever.
“What do I do? Do I attempt a rebellion?”
Juliet shook her head. “That might work with someone like Xavier or Brick. Not Reuben. He needs to know that you will obey him. That he can keep you safe. Give him back his control.”
Faith bit her lip. Give him control? Fully?
Well. She guessed she could try.
“Thanks, Juliet. Are you all right?”
The other woman looked tired and pale. “Just nightmares. I keep hearing that car coming up behind me. Realizing that it’s going to hit me. I know Reuben is blaming himself for that too.”
“It seems insane that someone might be targeting us to get to him.” But that’s the way it seemed. Lou hadn’t turned up yet, which was making everything worse. Nighthawk was still trying to figure out who the heck she was.
All of those unknowns weren’t helping Reuben’s state of mind.
“Okay, I’ve got this,” Faith said.
“Good luck. I’m here if you need me.”
She ended the call and then swung her legs out of bed, standing slowly.
Reuben was letting her get up for a few hours a day to sit on the couch. But she was ready for more. Other than a few bruises and abrasions and her broken wrist, she was good. Sure, the broken wrist was annoying as heck, but at least it wasn’t her dominant hand.
Walking into the kitchen, she startled as she saw a short, dark-haired woman cooking at the stove. Then she realized this must be the mysterious Anita.
“Hello,” she said.
The other woman jumped and turned. “Oh! You scared me.”
“Sorry. I’m Faith.”
