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“It wasn’t your fault. You wouldn’t have come out onto the wet porch in the dark if someone hadn’t been messing with your wind chimes to lure you outside, right?”
“I guess so.”
“Quit blaming yourself for things that are not within your control, Charlotte.”
“Okay, Cade. You’re right.” We stepped away from each other as Trevor arrived with a massive first aid kit and passed it to Cade. They exchanged a look while avoiding my eyes.
Cade removed some gauze and pressed it to my cheek.
Trevor’s eyes were grim. “Take her to your place, or to her family or to the hospital for stitches. No one is going inside that house.”
“What?” I breathed out, shocked. “But I’m in my pajamas—”
“Matt just informed me that it appears someone has been living in your garage. We need to search your house, dust for prints—”
“Noooooo...” I thought of all the things I assumed I’d misplaced over the last couple weeks due to stress or being tired. “Ohhhhh my god, oh, no no no. I’m so stupid.”
“We’re going to the hospital.” Cade removed his coat and slipped it around my shoulders. “I’ve got you, Charlotte. I won’t let anyone hurt you. Do you understand what I’m telling you?”
“Yeah. Okay, yes, I understand.” Slowly my senses were coming back to me. “I need to make a call.” I clutched my cell in the pocket of my pajama pants.
“Press the gauze to your cheek, Charli. Don’t let go of it. I’m going to take you to the hospital to get this taken care of.”
“Okay.” He took his hand away and I pressed my fingertips to the cut. It hurt.
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.”
