Chapter 19

Loraine was startled awake by a sharp pain in her lower back. She was having one of her very few peaceful nights and it came to an abrupt end when Reno kicked her in the back. She turned around to face him, wincing at the pain.

“Jerk ass, you kicked me!” her voice heavy with sleep.

“No…mama…” the words came out in a whisper but she could hear the pain in his voice loud and clear. She never thought the tables would turn and she would be on the receiving end of a bad nightmare.

She reached out for him in the dark and her hand landed on his shoulder. “Reno, wake up.”

He thrashed harder, his cries growing louder. Loraine quickly sat up in bed and turned on the bed side lamp, flooding the room with low light. She looked down at Reno and sucked in a startled breath.

His body was wet with perspiration; even the light sheets were plastered to his belly. It was a hot night and she’d opted to sleep in t