By the time James finished with the call, the brothers were more than ready and dying to know a little more than nothing about this hushed subject that put their father on edge.
James came to sit beside Nicolas and rubbed his hand on the side of his wrinkled face. "Just as I thought."
Nicolas asked, "What did you think?"
"It's not one hundred percent sure yet, but Sakura might be in danger."
Brenda gasped, for she knew what her husband was talking about. Not so for their sons, however, because they all looked confused.
"Danger? Sakura's in danger? From what?" Logan asked.
"Ah, I think it's best Sakura tells you when she wakes up," James said. "As for now, she needs her rest, and you boys need to be patient."
"Come on, Dad," Sebastian said. "How can we be patient when you said Sakura's life could be in danger?"
"Sebastian's right," Darcy said. "Why is Sakura in danger? From who?"
"Sakura needs to know what I've just found out as well," James said. "For now, you boys wait until she's up."
The brothers weren't satisfied with their father's reluctance to share the information with them, but they agreed regardless. It was then Toby appeared at the door and silently made his way to the brothers. He jumped into Hayden's lap and made himself comfortable.
"If Sakura's in danger," Conrad said, "at least she has the seven of us to keep her safe."
"Yeah," Tristan said. "From whatever maniac out there. At least I assume it's a person, this danger."
Sebastian frowned and flashed his mind back to yesterday, trying to pinpoint anything that could have caused that sudden change in Sakura's personality. There had been the appointment with Dave. But she'd been fine then and after that at the drugstore.
They were about to have lunch here in the Italian restaurant downstairs. Then Sakura said she needed to use to restroom. It was when she came back out that she'd changed so suddenly. What had she seen? Who had she met?
A woman. That was right. She'd bumped into a woman, hadn't she? What had that woman looked like?
Sebastian cocked his head to one side and murmured, "Pale-blond hair. Wearing a dark-blue suit."
"What are you on about, Seb?" Tristan asked his brother.
Sebastian lifted his head, his finger rubbing his lips, thinking.
"Sebastian," Darcy said. "You saw something."
Sebastian nodded.
"What was it?" Nicolas asked.
"Sakura bumped into a woman yesterday. After that, she just reacted and looked scared, like she saw a ghost."
"Sakura!" Darcy said, his voice loud and horse, echoing with tremor. He rushed off his seat and went to her in a second flat.
Sebastian turned and felt his gut wrenching with dread. Shit! She looked like a dead person walking. He quickly got out of his seat and came to her right after Darcy.
Darcy stood close, cupping her face, calling her name. "Sakura, look at me. It's me, Darcy."
Sakura just stared at him, unseeing, her eyes dark and unfocused.
"Sakura, sweetheart, Sakura," Sebastian called.
"She's not responding," Darcy said, feeling sick.
The rest of the brothers came rushing to them, calling her name, begging her to respond.
Sakura shook her head and started crying out, moving away from them.
"No. Please. Don't hurt me. I'm sorry. Please. Let me go. Don't hurt me," she begged, crying and shaking her head.
Darcy pulled her into his arms as she fought him with all her might, screaming and kicking, begging to be let go.
Jam
es and Brenda rushed in over the noise, their faces dark with dread when they saw their adoptive daughter.
"Shit!" Tristan muttered. "Is she going to be all right?"
"Sakura, look at me, sweetheart. Look at me!" Darcy commanded. "It's me, your Darce. It's me, Snow, Darce."
Sakura continued to shake her head and begged to be let go. Darcy wouldn't give up, however, and hugged her tight. They knew she was having one of her nightmares.
"Shh... It's all right. I'm here with you. Remember how I said I'll protect you from your nightmare?"
Suddenly, Sakura stopped struggling and calmed down, her body going limp in his arms.
"That's right. I made a promise, and I don't break my promises. I'm here, Snow. I'm here." He stroked her face and hair as she stared up at him, her eyes teary.
She reached her hand out and touched his face. "You promised," she whispered.
Darcy nodded. "I promised to be your protector."
She smiled. "Darce, my Darce." Then she closed her eyes and collapsed in his arms.
Darcy glanced up at Sebastian. The brother looked more than a little scared, his hand stroking Sakura's hair.
"We should put her in bed," Sebastian said.
Darcy nodded, lifted her small body in his arms, and carried her back into the bedroom.
*
CHAPTER 28
Reliving the Nightmare
Sakura woke with a start, her mind reeling with confusion. Where am I? she wondered as she stared long and hard up at the unfamiliar ceiling. She turned her head, searching about her surroundings, and then everything came back to her.
There had been the appointment with Dr. Mason yesterday. Sebastian had been there with her. Then he'd taken her to the drugstore to get her prescribed medication. After that, they'd been at the hotel, intending to have lunch, and then... Mrs. Byrd.
A lump formed in her throat as she recalled the cold shiver that had passed through her the moment she'd seen the woman's face.
Sakura shut her eyes for a moment as she took slow, deep breaths. She wasn't going to let that woman scare her witless. Not anymore.
She sat up, rubbing her fingers and thumb against her temples. Her headache was getting worse, and waiting patiently for it to ease wasn't going to happen. Plus, she was very hungry. She wondered if Mom Brenda had any breakfast left.
She flipped the duvet off her person and got out of bed. Then she went about searching for a robe. She found one in the empty closet. She unhooked it and put on the silky material, the hem resting just above her knees. She tied the front into a knot and then headed out the door.