Cassie couldn’t breathe, she couldn’t think. She tried hard to process this information, but it would not slip into place when her world was tilting so precariously at the moment. “He lied,” Devon said gently.
Cassie shook her head. She wondered where her anger was, but it completely escaped her as she could find none when there should be lots of it. There was only a sad acceptance, and a joyful relief that left her shaken and weak. “He’s not my father?” she breathed.
“No.”
Cassie heaved a soft sigh, inhaling shakily as she turned slowly around. “Ok, ok good.”
The man, this stranger that she didn’t know, was watching her with wide, terrified eyes. The others had moved out of the way, apparently having decided that he was now fair game for Julian and Devon. A strangled cry escaped him; he fought desperately against the bonds that held him to the chair. Though she knew he was not her father, she still could not stop the rush of sympathy that swamped her. Because of this man she knew what it was like to feel trapped, helpless, at the absolute mercy of other people. But where he had shown her no compassion, she would show him some.
“Why did you lie?”
His eyes zinged rapidly around the room, apparently looking for something that he would not find. Wild, stuttering noises escaped him, but he formed no coherent words. Cassie’s heart wrenched. She could not do this to him, it was not fair. Devon grasped hold of her arm as she took a step toward the strange man.
“Cassie.”
She touched his hand gently, needing him to understand this, even if she didn’t. “It’s ok.”
He hesitated, his jaw clenching. Devon gave her arm a brief squeeze before slowly releasing her. “Devon!” Julian hissed softly.
Devon held up his hand, holding Julian back when he came forward. “Wait,” he ordered gruffly.
“Are you out of your freaking mind?” At Devon’s head shake, Julian continued. “Is she!?”
Cassie knelt before the stranger. He cowered away from her, but she made no move toward him. Though she did not like his terror, she did feel he deserved at least a little of it. “Who are you?” The man simply stared at her, his breathing rapid, his eyes still bulging wildly.
Cassie rested her hand lightly on his leg, seeking to offer him some reassurance, but he instantly jerked away. For the first time, something other than terror, shone from him. He stared hard at her, his lip curled in revulsion. Cassie sighed as she leaned back. It didn’t matter what she offered him, he was still repulsed and disgusted by her. She found the fact didn’t bother her as much now.
“Fine, you hate me, I don’t care. But we need to know what you know.” She glanced toward where Julian and Devon stood side by side. She was briefly amused by the fact that they probably didn’t realize they were standing identically, with their arms folded over their chests, their legs braced, as they watched her with nearly identical expressions of disbelief. They may not know exactly how they felt about each other right now, but it was apparent that they were still very in tune with one another. “If you don’t talk to me than Julian will be the one to find that out.”
Julian’s full lips curled into a small smile as he gave her a sharp, approving nod. The man sputtered more disbelieving noises that drew Cassie’s attention back to him. “He won’t hurt you…”
“Like hell!” Julian snapped, his pleasure vanishing instantly. Devon placed his hand firmly against Julian’s chest as he held him back. Julian glared fiercely back at him, his eyes flaring red, and his temper heating at the thought of being denied his revenge.
Cassie ignored him as she continued on. “But this is going to happen.”
***
Devon stood silently; watching intently as Cassie leaned forward again, instinctively going to comfort the monster before her before she thought twice of it. She sighed softly; her hands fell helplessly back to her thighs again. He wanted to go to her, to pull her away from that man, to get her as far from the monster as possible. But she would fight him and for some reason, that he couldn’t even begin to fathom, she was bent on comforting the man that had held her captive and tortured her endlessly.
She had always been a bit of a puzzle to him, but right now she was a downright enigma.
She sat for a moment longer, the deep sadness in her eyes almost more than he could bear. But, eventually, she stood slowly away from him. Though Devon wanted to go to her, he remained where he was, waiting for her to come to him. Whatever was going on inside her, she had to sort it out for herself.
Finally, she turned and hurried toward him. Devon opened his arms to her, relief filling him as he enveloped her tightly. Bringing her close to him, he buried his face in her hair, savoring in the delicious scent of her. He would never understand her completely, and she would never cease to amaze him, but he loved her more than he had ever thought possible.
Pushing her thick hair gently back, he kissed her silken skin lightly. She shivered as she pressed closer to him. Her bright eyes met his, a soft smile spread across her full mouth as he kissed her. A tightness began to build in him, he clung to her as he fought the rising desire and lust that built rapidly within him. He pressed his forehead against hers as he pulled away, lightly stroking her face with his fingers.
“I need you to go out back with everyone while I talk to Julian.” She opened her mouth to protest, but he quickly cut her off. “It will just be for a minute, and there is something that we need to discuss. And we need to get those windows boarded back up.”
She frowned for a moment before nodding swiftly. “Ok.” Devon did not want to release her; he did not want her out of his eyesight for even a minute, especially with those things running around. But this had to be done, and it would not be long. She stepped out of his arms, frowning at Julian as she gave him a fierce, determined look. “Don’t hurt him,” she ordered briskly.
Julian quirked an eyebrow as surprise, disbelief, and something akin to amazement flitted across his features. “If he fights it, it will hurt.”
Cassie hesitated for a moment, her gaze darted toward the man watching them intently. “Try your best not to.”
Julian’s mouth dropped as he shot Devon a look that clearly asked if she was out of her mind. Devon shook his head at him, trying to silence him before he could say anymore. Julian’s mouth snapped shut, his arms folded over his chest as he studied Cassie. It was obvious that he was trying to figure her out, but Devon knew that was impossible.