Just how close had they gotten over the past two weeks?
“I see,” she said softly.
“Cassie…”
“No, it’s fine. I’m fine, really.” She cut Chris off, forcing a reassuring smile. “Really.”
Devon massaged her shoulders gently. “I’m sorry I didn’t tell you,” Chris said, his gaze momentarily darting to the window. “I just… I just needed a break.”
“A break?”
His smile was wan as he ducked his head. “Your emotions, and Devon’s, weren’t exactly easy to deal with, and I couldn’t keep them shut out.”
“Oh,” Cassie said dully. And if Devon was here watching over her, then Chris would be bombarded with both of their emotions, even when Chris was at his own house. She glanced back at Devon, noting the stiff set of his jaw, and the arms now folded firmly over his chest. He didn’t look comfortable with the issue of his emotions being spoken about so freely. “Sorry.”
Chris grinned at her. “It’s quite alright, the giant plasma TV more than made up for not being able to stay at my own crappy house.”
Cassie blinked in surprise then glanced questioningly at Devon. “Not mine,” he said with a casual shrug. She quirked an eyebrow but refrained from saying anymore. “I have to go, but I’ll be back in a little bit.”
He bent to drop a quick, soft kiss on her cheek. Cassie’s hand lingered on his face, gently stroking over its much loved contours. She had a bad feeling about him leaving, her worry still lingered, but she did not want to seem like a needy, clingy girlfriend. Even if she desperately did need him. “Be safe.”
A soft grin teased the corners of his mouth. “Stay inside.”
“Oh you can count on that,” Melissa said softly, shivering slightly. “Damn weather.”
Devon kissed her again, squeezing her hand gently before leaving the room. Cassie turned back to the window, watching as he hurried to his car. He was huddled deep into his jacket, his hands shoved into his pockets against the cold. She instantly missed him; an ache bloomed in her chest. Shaking her head, she turned away from the window. She was being ridiculous; he would only be gone for a little while.
But they had spent too much time apart, and she had only recently gotten him back in her life. She wasn’t ready to be separated from him now, even if it was for a short period of time. Cassie rubbed the bridge of her nose as she stepped away from the counter, trying to ease the tension inside her. Chris tapped the stool beside him, gesturing for her to sit down.
“I’ll deal you in.”
“Sounds good,” she mumbled.
***
Devon pulled his car into Luther’s driveway and turned off the headlights. He sat for a moment, not ready to know what Luther had learned, if anything. Luther’s text had simply said that he needed to speak with him as soon as possible. That didn’t mean that Luther had learned something, he may simply want to speak with Devon when no one else was around. Luther didn’t know that Cassie was with him again. That she was doing better now.
And all of that might be about to change.
Sighing heavily, Devon shoved his car door open. It couldn’t be avoided; he had to know what had happened while Luther was gone. Trudging through the snow, he huddled into his coat, dreading every step he took. He was almost to the door when Luther opened it.
Luther’s normally neat hair was in disarray. The fine lines around his mouth and eyes were drawn tight and pinched. His glasses were already in hand. One look at him told Devon that he was not going to like what the man had to say.
It was not the cold of the night that was causing the chill in him now. “You learned something,” he said flatly.
Luther slid his glasses back on, nodding briskly. “I did. You had better come in.”
Devon braced himself, fighting back the dread that rolled through him. Stepping inside, he waited as Luther closed the door behind him, shutting out the storm beyond. Devon followed as Luther moved into the living room. Neither of them sat as Luther began to pace. “Is it what I feared?” Devon asked quietly.
Luther pulled his glasses off again, squeezing his nose with his fingers. “I think it may be worse,” he replied tightly.
Devon felt as if someone had socked him in the stomach. Terror filled him as his jaw clenched tight and his hands fisted at his sides. He was prepared to fight for Cassie, prepared to die for her, but he could not defend her from herself. And that was who he feared she would need the most protection from.
***
“What was that?”
Cassie lowered her cards, frowning as she strained to see or hear whatever it was that had caught Dani’s attention. The small girl was standing by the backdoor, the light on as she watched the swirling snow. “What was what?” Chris asked around his mouthful of chips.
“I thought I saw something.”
A shiver raced down Cassie’s back, foreboding crept into her stomach, knotting firmly. She glanced at Chris and Melissa, who were as frozen as she was. Dani took a small step back from the door, glancing fearfully at them. “I know I saw something,” she whispered.
The lights flickered out. Cassie jumped, nearly knocking her water over as she bumped the table. She righted it quickly as the lights flared back on and then flickered out again. Cassie rose swiftly, striding purposely to the back door. “Cassie,” Chris said warningly.
“I’m not going out there,” she replied sharply.
Dani stepped beside her, she pointed toward the thick copse of oak trees at the edge of the backyard, just beyond her old tire swing. Narrowing her eyes, Cassie focused all of her attention on that area. Then she saw it, a flash of moment to the right that snapped her head in that direction. Dani jumped in surprise, bumping into Cassie as she took a frightened step back. Chris and Melissa were already on their feet; their eyes were wide with worry and fear as they edged closer.
“Go,” Cassie urged Dani, pushing her away from the threshold, nudging her back toward the house.
She had a very bad feeling she already knew who was out there, and she didn’t want Dani anywhere near them. Glancing back, she froze, horror curdled through her stomach as ice crept through her veins. Her hand tightened on Dani’s shoulder, unintentionally holding her in place as her legs became blocks of cement. Isla had appeared in the backyard, her auburn hair was coated with flakes of falling snow. The low cut black dress she wore floated about her in the wind; the wet material clung to her curvaceous figure.