the top of her head, and then he carefully pulled her away so he could guide her to a chair.
“Are you hungry? Cade makes a mean pancake.”
“Butter and lots of syrup,” she said. Then she brightened. “I remember how I like to eat pancakes!”
Cade smiled at her and then reached for the plate of pancakes in the middle of the table.
“Let me give these a quick warming, and I’ll bring back the butter. You want milk?”
She nodded and then settled more comfortably into her seat.
“You didn’t answer my question,” Merrick said as he sat back down. “How are you feeling? Still hurting?”
She touched her shoulder automatically and then glanced down at the bandages still covering her hands. “How am I supposed to eat?” she asked ruefully.
Merrick reached over and began to carefully unwind the gauze. “Dallas said we could remove some of the padding. He just wants to keep the cuts covered, and he gave us some ointment for when we change the bandaging. How about I take it off, let you eat, and then I’ll reapply everything afterward.”
Elle smiled up at him. “Thank you, and I am feeling a little better today. I feel…safer.”
His hands went still, and then his fingers curled around hers. “I’m glad you feel safe, Elle. Cade and I are going to make sure you are safe. We aren’t going anywhere. I need you to believe that.”
She sucked in her breath. It was the second time such a promise had been made, and this time it was coming from Merrick.
He continued unwinding the gauze and then carefully pried off the bandages that were stuck to her skin by dried blood. He patted the cuts before tossing away the remnants of the dressings.
Cade returned and put a plate of pancakes stacked high in front of her. She flexed her fingers, checking for signs of discomfort, and then picked up a knife to spread the melting butter evenly across the surface of the pancakes.
“I remembered something,” she said nervously. “I dreamed it, I mean. So I think I remember it. Or maybe it’s just part of a really bad dream.”
Cade sat down with his own plate on her other side, and he and Merrick looked intently at her.
“What was the dream about?” Merrick asked gently.
“Him,” she croaked. “The man who…raped…me and tried to kill me. In my dream, I’m running and I know I can’t escape. I saw a badge attached to his jeans, like at his pocket or belt loop or somehow at his side.”
Cade and Merrick exchanged dark glances, their lips tightening.
Then something else occurred to her, and her eyes widened.
“It was hot,” she blurted. “I mean, here it’s cold. But in my dream, I was sweating, and the sun, it was bright.”
“That’s good,” Cade soothed. “You’ll get it back, Elle. Don’t rush it, though, okay? Don’t try to force yourself to remember before you’re ready. Merrick and I will be here for you. I don’t want you to be scared at any time, and you can tell us anything. We’ll always be here to listen.”
“You can’t be planning for me to stay with you permanently,” she said in bewilderment. “You know nothing about me. I broke into a building, for God’s sake.”
Merrick lifted an eyebrow. “Can’t we? Where else are you going to go, Elle? Do you honestly think we’d let you just walk out of here knowing you have no memory, no money, no place to go?”
She stared back, having no idea what to say to that. Most people would just turn her over to the police and be done with her. But these two men knew of her terror, knew she didn’t trust any cop, and they not only took her in and didn’t push her to go to the police, but they made her a promise to be with her…long term.
“You guys aren’t real,” she whispered.
“The hell we aren’t,” Cade bit out. “I made you a promise, Elle. Merrick made you a promise. Neither one of us is going back on our word. We aren’t letting you go, and we’re damn sure going to protect you.”
She closed her eyes, soaking in the firmness of his words, how determined they both sounded. A haven. Sanctuary. They were offering something she desperately needed. She’d be a fool to turn it down.
“Okay,” she said in a shaky voice, taking the plunge.
If she couldn’t trust them, who could she? There was no one else. She had no other options. Cade and Merrick were all she