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What was happening in New York?
Was Trent okay?
“Can I get my purse? I left it by the door when I came downstairs, it’s right inside. I need to call Trent. I have to find out what—”
Cade’s jaw ticked as he looked away from me. “You can call whoever you need to once we get to the hospital,” he bit out.
“Right.” I shivered in the cold and looked down. “Oh, my feet are gross. I don’t have any shoes. Where did my slippers go?” I must have left them upstairs in the closet.
He swept me into his arms and carried me to his police SUV. Trevor followed behind with my purse and opened the door. “You’re going to be okay, Charlotte. We’re going to make sure of it.” Cade bent and set me on the seat while Trevor turned to walk away.
I had to stop him. I had to come clean.
“Trevor, wait. Cade! Oh god. I, um. I have a stalker. His name is Douglas Winthrop. I left New York to get away from him. I have a restraining order—”
“Damn it, Charlotte!” Cade bit out and I flinched.
“Cade, take it down a notch.” Trevor’s voice was soothing as he tried to calm us both down. “Do you want me to drive her to the hospital?”
“No. You find this Winthrop guy. You take the lead on this. If I find him, I’ll fucking kill him. I need to stay far away from this case. I can’t be the one, Trevor.”
“Yeah, okay. I think that’s for the best. Charlotte, do you want an ambulance? Or for us to call your father? Or Dahlia? Or I could drive you myself.” Trevor’s eyes darted to Cade then back to me.
“No, I’ll be fine with Cade.” He wasn’t angry with me. I knew it because I knew him. He was frustrated and protective and he cared about me, and he had also sensed all along that I had been hiding something from him. This had to be driving him crazy. “Thank you, Trevor. I appreciate you helping me.”
“It’s okay, honey. Try not to worry. We got this. You’ll be safe with Cade.”
“I know I will. I’ll be all right.”
“But before I get back out there, are you familiar with a man named Howard Winthrop?”
“What? No. My stalker’s name is Douglas Winthrop. It’s in the restraining order and police reports in New York.”
“Maybe a brother or a cousin?” he suggested.
“I have no idea. I, um, after it happened, I mean, after he appeared in person rather than just sending me letters, I called the police and got the restraining order. My friend Trent has been keeping an eye on him and as far as I know, he’s been in New York this whole time. I thought everything was okay . . .” Tears filled my eyes as my words trailed off. I had no idea what to say or what was going on anymore, and where in the hell was Trent?
“The crash,” Cade burst out.
“What?”
“You thought it was him following you that morning? Is that right?”
“Yeah, but it wasn’t him. Also, later that day, Trent spotted him at the McDonald’s near his apartment in New York and we found out it was Bethany Rhodes who was behind me. So, it couldn’t have been him that morning.”
“I’ll get in contact with the NYPD and go from there.” Trevor interjected. “Meanwhile, we’re all on overtime. We’ll catch him, Charlotte. What does he look like? Was he threatening? Could you tell if he was armed tonight? Did he ever hurt you in New York?”
I told Trevor and Cade everything I knew about tonight and what he looked like and what he had done in New York. “I’m so sorry. I should have said something when I first got back to Sweetbriar, but all I wanted to feel normal again. I just wanted my life back.”
“None of that. No apologies.” Trevor’s voice was soothing as he tried to calm me down. “We work forward from now on, all right? If you think of anything else, tell Cade. Or text me.” Trevor passed me his card. I had Rose’s number but not his. “Cade, let me know if something comes up. If you think of anything else, Charlotte, please let me or Cade know. I’m out.”
I felt terrible. I had put people in danger.
Cade circled around to the driver’s seat and started the car to drive me to the hospital.
“Why weren’t you at your dad’s place? Trevor texted him earlier to take you home.”
“I don’t know anything about that. But my dad never has his phone. He probably left it at home. I’m really sorry.”
“Don’t be sorry, baby. All I care about is that you’re okay. And safe. I’m not letting you out of my sight until Winthrop is caught—Douglas and Howard, because they both have some questions to answer.”
I leaned my head against the side window and watched the streetlights flash in the window as Cade drove.
I couldn’t think anymore.
Cade reached across the console and gripped my thigh. His warm palm was comforting, I covered it with my trembling hand and held on to him.
As long as he was with me, I would be safe.
