his Daddy? Why wasn’t Daddy protecting him? Had they hurt him too? Was it Craig screaming?
“Boy, I’m here. Follow my voice. Listen to me. Louis, listen to my voice. Daddy’s here.”
The voice was kind, but firm. Louis obeyed. He listened. He recognized the voice.
“Daddy?” he rasped, his throat so hoarse and painful his voice was barely above a whisper.
A strong hand stroked his hair, coaxing him to move. Louis stayed where he was, unsure, still not trusting the voice.
“Yes, I’m here. I’m here. I need you to open your eyes.”
“Hurt.”
“I know. I’m so sorry. Louis, open your eyes and look at me. See me.”
“Dark.”
“The light is on. You can see me. Come on, baby. Look at me.”
Louis opened one eye and saw a figure leaning over him. He cowered instinctively, but then he saw Craig’s eyes.
“Daddy?” He had to know for sure this wasn’t a dream.
“I’m here, boy. Let me hold you.”
Louis uncoiled and half-rolled into Craig’s arms. Immediately, strong arms came around him and he was pressed against Craig’s chest. The solid thump of his heart and the prickle of his chest hair help to ground Louis and reassure him this was real.
“I’m so sorry. So sorry.”
Craig crooned to him, and Louis listened, not caring about the words so much as the comfort. He was in an awkward position and his shoulder hurt like crazy, but his Daddy held him close.
“Craig? Craig?” came another voice.
Louis stiffened and trembled.
“It’s Padraig,” Craig soothed above him. “Just checking on us.”
“Can’t take it. No one else,” Louis managed to say. “Just you.”
Craig held him closer before calling out to the bodyguard below, “We’re okay, Padraig. False alarm.”
“Do you need anything?” Padraig called.
“No, we’re okay.”
“Understood.”
Louis heard the front door shut, and he breathed easier, his face still buried against Craig’s chest. He was grateful the CDR team were on the ball, but the thought of someone else seeing him so weak again was more than he could handle.
Craig kissed the top of his head. “Baby, can we get on the bed? We’ll be way more comfortable than down here. I need to take a look at your shoulder.”
Louis nodded, struggling to stand, hating that his legs threatened to give way underneath him. He knew Craig couldn’t pick him up, and yet again Louis wished he was built like Cade, but his Daddy gave him all his strength to get to his feet and help him over to the bed. He flopped onto it, and Craig sat next to him on his right side.
“Let me check your shoulder.”
“That really hurt,” Louis muttered.
“It was supposed to.”
Craig gently manipulated his arm but aside from a lingering soreness, Louis admitted no real damage was done. He let Craig manhandle him until they were both under the covers.
“I’m so sorry I hurt you,” Craig said again. “I heard a noise and assumed the worst.”
Louis could hear the guilt in his Daddy’s voice and hated that he’d put it there. “I should have called your name.”
“Your hair is wet,” Craig said.
“I took a shower. I had a bad dream and was covered in sweat.”
“The attack?”
“Yes.”
“And I sent you right back there, dammit.” Craig cursed under his breath.
“You didn’t know.”
“It’s my job to know. If I’d been outside your door, I would have heard you, and been there for you.”
“If you could have got off the floor,” Louis quipped.
Craig chuckled, and if it sounded a shadow of his usual hearty laugh, at least they were both making the effort.
“Do you get flashbacks a lot?” Craig asked.
“Whenever I close my eyes,” Louis admitted. “I dread sleeping even though I need it.”
There was a silence before Craig said, “You should have told me.”
“I don’t want to be so weak.”
Craig growled and maneuvered them so Louis was flush against Craig’s body. “Quit thinking you’re weak. You nearly died. I know. I checked with the doctor on the plane. One or two more blows and you’d have been dead. If it hadn’t been for Tina and that Conchita woman, I’d have never seen you again. You’re not weak, and what you’re going through is normal. I still have flashbacks about being shot. You know that.”
Louis pressed as close to Daddy as he could. “You never talked about them.”
“I should have,” Craig said. He gave a wry laugh. “I didn’t want to appear weak either.”
Louis sighed. “I think I’m gonna need therapy.”
“It’s a good idea. I went. After we split.”
“You did?”
Louis was surprised. Craig hadn’t exactly scoffed at therapy, but he hadn’t been keen on the