Sitting up, I rubbed at my chest as the fury lit inside me. Waiting was not a strength I had. I had a need to wrap my hands around her neck and wait as the life bled out of her.

There were only a few lives I had taken, and all meant something. All had been to save another.

With a sigh, I flicked back the blankets and put my feet to the floor. I wished I could sleep. However, my mind refused to shut down enough for me to do so. Instead, I stood and pulled on my pants. I zipped the fly but did not bother with the button. After walking to the door, I opened it and stepped out, closing it behind me. I could not lie in that bed any longer. I had to do something, and I was sure Lucas had said there was a gym in his large house somewhere.

I took a couple of steps, then paused. A sound from inside West’s room had me pressing my ear against the door. He whimpered.

Would he want me to check on him?

Would he want me to ease him from his nightmare?

A shuffle from down the hall had me looking that way. Lucas stood with Wreck at his back.

“I thought he would have nightmares.”

“Da, it sounds as if it has started.”

Lucas nodded, frowning, while Wreck just glared. “Are you going in?”

Wreck gazed down at his partner but said nothing.

A scream ripped through the house.

“Da,” I called and opened the door before me. I walked to the bed and sat on the edge at West’s hip, resting my hand on his shoulder. “Shhh, moya lyubov’. You are not there. You are home. With your friend Lucas. Shh. Nothing will hurt you here.” I hummed a tune my mama used to sing when I was a little boy while I ran my hand over the top of his shoulders, neck, and hair. He settled, his breathing evening out. “Good, moya lyubov’. That is it, breathe easy. You are not there, but here with me.” I continued humming.

After a while, West whispered, “What’s that song?”

I stilled for a second but then resumed tracing my fingers over him. “It is a song my mama used to sing to me when I was little and had nightmares.”

“It sounds pretty.”

“It is, and she has a beautiful voice.”

“I wish I had someone like that for a mother.”

I paused a moment. “Sorry, moya lyubov’. I wish you did also.”

“Tell me more about your childhood.”

“I am not sure it is a good idea.”