AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“Who’s okay?” Jason sat down next to her. Took her hand. Squeezed. “What’s going on?”
“Someone attacked Adelaide.” When Jason’s eyebrows pinched together, she forced herself back to the present. “Detective Harris. She’s watching Bear and Apollo while I’m down here. Someone broke into my house. Tried to kill her.”
“What?” Jason’s whole bodied stiffened. The grip on her hand became painful. “Why? Were they after you?”
That hadn’t occurred to her. “I don’t know. She thinks it’s because she’s looking into David’s death.”
“But she’s okay?”
Cassie nodded. Swallowed. Slipped her hand out of Jason’s grip and shook it out, hoping the feeling would return sooner rather than later. “She shot him. Bear took a chunk out of him and got kicked in the ribs. She’s gonna take him to the vet to be safe, but she doesn’t think he’s seriously injured. The guy got away, but Harris doesn’t think he’ll try again.”
“She has no way of knowing that.” Jason shook his head. He looked angry. “She shouldn’t be staying at your place. What if they come back in a couple days, once she’s gone and you’re there, defenseless?”
“I’m not defenseless.” Cassie stood. She wanted comfort from him, not a lecture. “I’m pretty good at surviving.”
Jason’s face went slack. He stood, too. “Cassie, I’m so sorry—”
“It’s fine.”
“No, it’s not.” He took her hand. This time, the touch was gentle. She allowed him to hang onto her. “You’re smart and strong and capable. I didn’t mean to imply you weren’t.”
“But?”
“But sometimes someone else is smarter and stronger and more capable.” He shook his head. “I’m glad the detective is okay. I know you can handle yourself. And it sounds like Bear is an excellent guard dog. But that doesn’t mean I’m not going to worry about you. Even some of the best fighters, the best soldiers”—he hesitated for a fraction of a second—“or the best cops die.”
“I know.” Cassie tried to ignore the wound David’s death had left behind, but it was still painfully raw. “She was lucky.”
“I assume she’s going to look into whoever this guy was?”
“She’s got some of his blood. They’re going to check hospitals for anyone who fits the description. He was wearing a ski mask, but a bullet wound and a dog bite will stand out.”
“And she’ll keep you updated?”
Cassie nodded. “She promised she’ll play it safe, but I don’t know if I believe her. She’s taking all of this pretty hard.”
“And what about you?”
“What about me?”
“Your best friend died.” Jason’s voice was low and soothing, but it still made Cassie bristle. “Another friend was just attacked. Your dog was injured. And you’re down here, away from it all, helping me look into my cousin’s death.”
“So?”
“So”—Jason ducked his head to look straight into her eyes—“that’s a lot to handle. A lot to pro
cess. You’re surrounded by death every day. It’s bound to get to you sometimes. And that’s okay. But you should talk about it.”
“I have a therapist for that.”
“Do you talk to her about your abilities?”
Cassie smiled, but there was no humor in it. “No. If I did, she’d probably lock me up.”
“Fair enough.” He sighed and stroked her hand. He kept his eyes on her while he weighed his words. “The last thing I want to do is presume you’re not okay when you are. But worse than that, I don’t want you to feel like you have to pretend you’re fine. For my sake or anyone else’s.” He took a step forward. “You’re not alone in this anymore, Cassie. You have your parents now. Your sister. Detective Harris.” He smiled. “Me.”
Cassie fought back the emotion rising in her throat. She’d felt alone for so long. It should’ve been a relief to know she didn’t have to deal with any of this by herself ever again. Instead, she felt lonelier than ever. Her friends and family could try to comprehend what she saw and heard and felt, but they would never know. They’d never truly understand.
But she couldn’t tell Jason that. So she smiled and said, “Thank you.”
