Free Magpie by Kim Dare Page B

another possible attempt at manipulation. The other half of him tensed at the sight of Kane’s tears, simply wanting to do whatever it took to make him feel better.
    Kane turned his face into the blankets as if trying to hide the moisture gathering on his lashes. A really good attempt at manipulation, or was he ashamed at genuine tears?
    Everet couldn’t tell. It didn’t matter. Either way, he couldn’t give in. He closed his eyes too, but permitted no frustrated tears to gather on his lashes, not even when he felt Kane finally fall into an exhausted sleep beneath him.
    Wincing each time he put too much weight on his sore knee, Everet slowly rearranged Kane in his bed, tucking him in beneath his blankets. There was no telling how long he’d remain asleep this time.
    Everet slumped back into the chair by the side of the bed. He felt like he hadn’t slept in years. In truth, it hadn’t been more than a few days. That didn’t make his eyeballs itch any less.
    He closed his eyes for a moment. The moment stretched out into a minute, then an hour, Everet’s eyes remained closed.
    * * * *
    A sudden bang jerked Everet out of his slumber. He got up so quickly, he almost threw himself out of his chair. He looked around, frantically trying to get his bearings. The chair. Yes, he was well acquainted with that chair. It wasn’t the first time he’d dozed in it since he’d met Kane.
    Everet rubbed at his eyes and blinked toward the bed. Kane was…not there.
    Kane wasn’t there!
    Everet stepped forward as he came fully awake and quickly took in several details about the room. The most important one was that Kane wasn’t in it; all the others could wait.
    Everet rushed out of the bedroom. One of those less important details from the bedroom repeated itself in his living room. Every item Everet owned had been emptied out of the drawers and cupboards. They littered every inch of the floor.
    Carelessly trampling his possessions, Everet headed for the door leading into the bathroom, just in case Kane might be there.
    He was almost to the other side of the room when he spotted Kane. The magpie hunched down, hidden from view behind a chair, as he rooted through the back of a low cabinet. Several items cracked beneath Everet’s feet as he rushed toward him.
    Kane already had Everet’s wallet in his hand. He seemed so absorbed in hunting for more money, he didn’t hear Everet noisy approach.
    He spun away as Everet put a hand on his shoulder. His eyes opened very wide. He stared up at Everet as if he had never seen him before. Shuffling back on his heels and palms, he only stopped when his elbow hit the cabinet. Money tumbled from his fingers and scattered across on the floor.
    Everet held his hands up. “I’m not going to hurt you.”
    Kane scrabbled at the fallen money, paying no attention to anything else.
    Everet tried to put a hand on his shoulder again. “Kane. Kane, look at me.”
    The magpie had already gathered up most of what amounted to Everet’s life savings. He still didn’t seem to have heard a damn word.
    Everet reached out to capture the other man’s hands.
    “No! Mine! It’s mine, you can’t have it.” Kane scrabbled at the remaining notes, keeping a fearful eye on Everet over his shoulder as he hunched over the money, but never once looking him in the face.
    “Kane,” Everet said again, as calmly and patiently as he knew how. “You need to look at me.”
    Kane shook his head, pressing himself against the cabinet in an attempt to get away now he’d collected all the money. His hair fell over his eyes, hiding his expression, making it harder than ever for Everet to read the situation.
    Everet’s heart raced faster and faster, but somehow he kept his voice level. “It’s going to be okay, Kane, but it’s important that you look at me.”
    Finally, he obeyed. Their eyes met. Kane’s gaze was completely unfocused. It quickly darted quickly away.
    “Hurts.”
    “Yes, sweetheart. I know it