“Shit, how bad was it? Is it every night, what was she crying out?” I’m sitting on the edge of the couch now, and there is no way I’ll be sleeping anytime soon thinking of her over in Flynn’s apartment living through another nightmare.

“You. She was calling out your name, and she was distressed that she couldn’t find you, crying and then hugging herself hard. I wanted to call you that first night, but Felisha wouldn’t let me. Told me that we had to respect Harper’s choice to deal with this on her own.” I can see how it affected him, and I understand. It’s not fun to watch her in pain.

“Did you talk to her about it in the morning, or did she seem to remember it?” I ask.

“No, she just carried on like nothing happened, and that’s the weird part. Is this what has been happening since she heard about that scum Chester?” He wants to understand as much as he can about what happens for her.

“Yes, apparently she had these dreams back when her father was killed, but through therapy, she got rid of them. And then when she found out about Chester, they came back with a vengeance. It rips my heart out every time, but the first night I heard her, I went into her room and held her. She calmed down, and the nightmares disappeared whenever she was in my arms. And the next morning she would wake up so much better, but completely oblivious that I had been in her bed the night before. And I can assure you it didn’t go well the night she found out, but we worked through that.”

I run my hands through my hair and look at him. “It was my greatest fear when she left my apartment, knowing it meant she was going to be on her own at nights when it happened. But I had to push that agony from my head when I got on the plane to Chicago. I told myself that the few nights would be worth it if I could take the fear away completely.”

“I understand why you did it, but you should have told me. I would’ve gone with you. That’s what brothers do.” Flynn looks sad knowing I didn’t confide in him.

“You are looking at it the wrong way. I needed you here, that was more important to me than anything. I trusted you to keep Harper safe, and I knew you wouldn’t let me down. You protected the woman I love, and that means the world to me, Flynn. If something had happened to her, then it wouldn’t have mattered if he killed me because I would have been dead inside anyway.” And that’s the honest truth.