Page 62 of The Shadow of the Count
“I swear to you, friend. I’ll protect him with my life.” Jeb’s voice brooked no argument. “You have my word.”
“Then I believe you.” Douglas was choked up, and Don went to bend and kiss his brother’s cheek.
“I’ll see you soon. Get better for me.” He had to leave then, and Peter caught him as he stumbled out the door, helping him stay upright.
He could sense Peter’s worry, his reluctance, but he stood straighter and shook his head. “I’m going.”
Peter nodded, pointing back and forth between them. Yes. They were going. Together. That made a difference.
Jeb and Clark came out to join them. “Let’s ride,” Jeb said. “Yvgeny has the bags and Richard and is meeting us at the station.”
He nodded, tears streaking his cheeks. He was scared and hurt and sad, but he knew what was right. He knew what he needed to do.
Now he just had to make it there and finish the job.
Twenty-One
They took the train to Paris, and they hadn’t intended to do more than change trains, but there was a protest and threatened strike at the rail station that caused them to have to stay overnight.
Donnie wasn’t thrilled.
Peter, for his part, was relieved. He needed time to get his thoughts together and to gather his strength. The idea of returning to Romania made him shake as if he had a fever. Then again, maybe he actually did. Broken bones could cause such things.
They booked two rooms, with Donnie and him sharing a room, while the others kept watch.
Yvgeny seemed to be particularly worried for their safety, but he assured Peter that the count would need to be in his home soil to rest, and that they had destroyed most of what the man had brought with him.
So he watched over Donnie, stroking his hair as his lover slept fitfully. Paris made Donnie…nervous at best.
I have you, love. I swear to you, no one will harm you.His voice was still nonexistent, but he had to believe Donald heard him in his soul.
A soft knock sounded at the door, and he frowned, easing away, thankfully without waking Donnie. When he opened the door, Jeb and Clark stood there, and Peter’s frown deepened.
Jeb slipped past him. “I’ll sit with him.”
Peter blinked at Clark, who pulled him out to the hall. “Come with me for a minute.”
The table in the other hotel room held a carafe of coffee, a tray of sweets, and a pitcher of water.
He spread his hands, looking at Clark with his eyebrows raised.
“I had a late supper with our fine benefactor,” Clark explained, his expression wry.
Grant?he mouthed. Were the rest of them ever going to meet the man? How did Clark know him so well.
“Yes. He wanted to check in with us. He’s sending a doctor to Douglas. One who does experimental treatments. Richard suggested him, and Grant is paying any bills.”
He grabbed his pad, scribbling,Good. Donald holds such guilt.
And so did he. He was the reason the count had found Donald. Had even known Don existed. If it weren’t for his pride…
“As do I. If anyone should have known what the count was capable of, it was I.” Clark waved him to the table. “Grant is covering all the expenses, and our new doctor friend say this man is good, if unorthodox.”
Peter sank down, nodding. That really didn’t explain what Clark wanted.
“Richard will be joining us in the morning. He was delayed. Grant decided we did need a physician with us since we would be so isolated.”
Oh. He agreed with that. He nodded. Richard was a stranger, but he had proved himself, once he had become a believer.
