“Cassie...”
“Shane Edward Chase, let it go. Your daddy made a big enough mistake, don’t compound it. She’ll talk to you about it later.” Polly narrowed her eyes at him and he backed off with an annoyed shrug.
Maggie changed the subject quickly to the trip she and Kyle were taking in the spring to Italy and Cassie sent her a grateful look. Penny was there with Ryan, he’d come to town once or twice since the Grange night and had spent quite a bit of time on the phone and email with her. Cassie approved, she’d never seen Penny so glowing before.
After dessert and a game of cards so cutthroat that Cassie just watched in awe, they made their way back to Shane’s. They’d promised to be back at seven the next morning in exchange for not sleeping over. Cassie felt self-conscious enough, she really didn’t want to sleep with Shane at his parents’ house.
On the way out, Edward took her aside. “I do apologize, honey. I didn’t mean to put you on the spot like that. I just spoke while thinking about it and then realized that you must have felt nervous with all those new people and all. I know it seemed nosy of me, but I care about you like one of my own. I was just concerned. I hope you’re not mad at me.”
She kissed his cheek. “Thank you for explaining. I feel a lot better now. I do appreciate you caring about me, honestly. I’m not angry. It takes a bit of getting used to, being part of your circle, I’m trying.”
“You’re not part of our circle, honey, you’re part of our family. You’re one of us. Even if it was only that Shane loved you we’d think of you that way. But we love you too. You’re an eminently lovable woman. Now go on, Shane’s going to want to hear all the details along with your brother. We’ll see you first thing.”
All she could do was nod. It was a simple thing, the acceptance and love from the Chases, but it meant so much more than she could ever begin to put into words. Swallowing back her tears, she smiled and walked out, garnering hugs and kisses from a whole host of Chases before she reached Shane who waited for her on the porch.
* * *
In the car she got belted in and held up a hand as they pulled away from the curb. “I will tell you everything. I was shopping and felt odd. Like a cold chill. I looked around but there wasn’t a damned thing wrong. Your father bumped right into me, asked if I was all right. I assured him it was and we had lunch. That’s it.”
Shane sighed hard. “All right. But I want you to tell me this stuff right away. Call me from the restaurant.”
“Me too! Damn it, Carly—Cassie, I can’t be here, the only way I can keep from worrying to death over you is your assurance that you’ll tell me what’s going on.”
“Brian, you were on a plane. And Shane, I wasn’t going to call you from the restaurant over a funny feeling. I was with your father and you know why I was a bit busy later on. If it had been important I would have called you immediately. Now it’s Christmas Eve, let’s talk about something else, please.”
Chapter Sixteen
The beginning of February had Penny and Cassie heading to Atlanta to pick up more supplies for Cassie’s blooming jewelry business. With Valentine’s Day approaching, Cassie found herself nearly out of the findings she needed for earrings and she wanted to pop in to a little bead shop she’d ordered from online.
Ryan joined them for lunch after they’d spent too much money on beads and clothes. The roads were a bit slick but not icy so they wanted to get back before it got too dark and cold.
Cassie had a sense of foreboding all day. She’d attributed it to the anniversary of her divorce from Terry and the news from a week before that Terry had been sighted in New York City and that it appeared his family had been helping him financially.
Shane had insisted on their driving his giant truck and in retrospect later on, it probably saved their lives. Halfway between Atlanta and Petal, Cassie noticed the lights of an SUV that had been with them for the last ten miles. It stayed right on her tailgate and felt aggressive. Not so unusual really, people drove like idiots all the time but she couldn’t ignore her increasing nervousness. On top of that, Penny was in the car and Cassie didn’t want to ignore something that could hurt her friend.
Swallowing back fear and nausea, Cassie reached out and touched Penny’s arm. “Penny, I want you to get on that cell phone and call Shane. There’s a car following us. A big SUV, Georgia plates. It’s probably nothing but it makes me nervous. Crossed a few lanes to keep up with us several times.” Putting her hands firmly on the wheel, she wrestled the demon of her terror and read the plate number to Penny, who calmly made the call.
Shane stayed on the line with her and patched a call into the state patrol to check the plates. He urged Penny to tell Cassie to stay watchful. They’d entered a more rural part of the drive back to Petal and there weren’t many off ramps. So rural that even at most of the few off ramps there weren’t any services or places to go for help.
The SUV backed way off and Cassie breathed a sigh of relief and wanted to kick herself for her paranoia. She turned to tell Penny everything was all right when she caught the lights moving toward them from the next lane at a high rate of speed.
The truck skidded on the rainy road and flipped over twice into a ditch on the side of the road finally landing right side up.
Cassie returned to full awareness as the paramedics were cutting her free of the seatbelt and pulling her out of the car.
They spoke to her, asking if she was all right and what hurt where.
All she could think about was her friend. Sick dread coursed through her. “Penny! Is she all right?”
“Your friend? She’s fine.” One of the paramedics pointed over to the side. “She’s there. Some cuts and bruises but she’s conscious and alert. She said you might have some prior head wounds?”
Numb, Cassie recited her past history. They took her vitals and were discussing the need for hospitalization when she caught sight of the huge body of her man moving purposefully toward them. The lights of the ambulance and police cars glinted off the bracelet she’d made him for Christmas that, much to her relief, he seemed to love. Two state police officers stood in his way, speaking to him.
“That’s my girlfriend and I’m going to her. Period.”
The deep bass of his voice echoed up her spine and she felt safe then. So safe that the fear came over her in a wave so shocking she began to tremble violently.
“Ma’am?” The female paramedic touched Cassie’s forehead. Cassie heard them speaking to her but the panic attack took over. Her teeth chattered and in moments Shane’s voice vibrated off her skin as he reached her, kneeling at her side. Strong, gentle arms pulled her to him, encircling her with his body as he rocked her slowly back and forth. The prick of a needle and then the sting of medication hit her as she fell into the dark calm of unconsciousness.
* * *
It wasn’t until he’d brought Cassie back to his house afterwards that it all began to hit him. The terror of what could have happened felt clammy on his skin.
Running a hand through his hair and over his face, Shane hung up after speaking with Brian for nearly half an hour. Cassie’s brother was understandably upset and feeling helpless. He was grabbing the next flight out to Atlanta and would be arriving the next afternoon.
He’d also spoken with the state police at the hospital while he waited for Cassie. The car that Cassie had given him the license plate for had been stolen. They’d done a fingerprinting check but the investigating officer felt that the prints they’d found were the owners’ but would let them know once they heard back officially.
The hospital waiting room had filled up with Chases as they’d all waited to hear back. Kyle held on to Maggie tight—the scene was scarily reminiscent of the one several years before when Maggie had been kidnapped and assaulted by a stalker.
Polly click-clacked over and hugged her son tight around the waist, Edward held on to the other side. “She’s
going to be all right, Shane.”
Shane had felt five years old again as he’d slumped into a chair and his mother stroked his hair away from his forehead and kissed his temple, speaking softly to him. His father’s strong hand at his shoulder, Shane realized once again how important his family was to him and how much they meant to his life. They’d refused to leave his side at the hospital, knowing he needed the support.
Even at that moment Matt was downstairs, camped out on one sofa, Marc on the other. Both had refused to leave. Penny was recuperating in one of the Chases’ guest rooms with Ryan in another. Family meant more than just being there when things were good.
After they’d examined Cassie at the hospital and watched her for a few hours, they’d sent her home in his care. There hadn’t been any sign of a concussion but her therapist had come to the hospital and had advised them to sedate her. She’d also told Shane to expect some flashback behavior and perhaps some greater occurrence of panic attacks and jumpiness that Cassie had shown when she’d first come to Petal.
Standing in the doorway to his bedroom, he watched her, reassuring himself she was indeed all right. She lay in his bed sleeping soundly, a bruise marring the left side of her neck and face where the seatbelt had dug into her. He thanked her quick thinking and his insistence that she take his truck. The other car had struck just behind the passenger seat. The scene investigators told him the other car had to be going at least seventy miles an hour to cause that much damage and the rollover.
His fingers dug into the doorjamb. It could have been a coincidence. Punk kids stole cars and caused accidents in them on joyrides every day. The car was stolen in an area of Atlanta that had suffered a rash of car thefts in the last week. Still, it was hard not to think Terry was behind this.
Truth was, Shane was pretty sure that it was his presence on the scene that lent credence to Cassie’s story and not her history. The state police were looking into it more carefully than they would have if it had been a clear-cut joyriding case. He didn’t like it but the fact was, it was just all a coincidence and she hadn’t received any threats and there wasn’t a reason to believe that Terry had found her.
The way he’d felt when Penny had called hit him. He closed his eyes against the helplessness he’d felt, knowing Cassie was in danger and he was too far away to help. It had taken all of his strength to keep his voice level and talk Penny through as he’d called the state police on his other line. He’d wanted to hear Cassie’s voice himself but he knew it was more important for her to keep focused on driving and being safe.
And then the screams and the dead air after the crunch. The phone line had remained open, the call never broke so he heard the shattering glass, the groan of metal, the screams and the sobs of pain. He’d stood up, yelling Cassie’s name. The state dispatcher assured him the ambulance and response cars were on the way as he’d run to his city vehicle and headed toward the scene with the sirens on.
And when he’d arrived, seeing the glitter of broken glass on the pavement and the flashing red and blue against the bent metal, it was nothing compared to the feeling in his gut as he’d caught sight of her being treated on the gurney.
Single-mindedly, he’d moved to her, the staties let him move past. He could see her trembling start from all the way back where the staties had stopped him. He needed to get to her to help. Seeing her that way again, the panic attack sending her so deep into herself that she could barely register what people said to her, sent protective feelings warring with anger through him.
No, not anger. Anger was too mild a word. Murderous. Rage washed over him, made him see red until he clenched his fists imagining Terry Sunderland’s neck there. It was war and there was not a fucking chance in hell Shane would walk away the loser. His woman’s life was at stake for real and he would not stop until Terry Sunderland was in prison or dead.
He went to her quietly, brushing his lips across her temple, tucking the blanket around her. Her pulse was normal and her breathing was calm. Blinking back hot tears of impotent rage, he backed out of the room and headed downstairs.
Neither brother was sleeping and Kyle and Maggie had joined the group. Everyone looked up as he entered the living room.
“You all can go home, she’s sleeping soundly. Her doctor said the sedatives would keep her sleeping deeply for several more hours. There’s nothing anyone can do right now. I’m going to go to sleep in a bit too.”
Maggie handed him a cup of hot tea and pushed him down onto the couch. “Nothing anyone can do but be there. Drink that. It’s chamomile, it’ll help you sleep. I imagine you’re pretty wound up.”
“Not every day your woman almost dies.” Kyle watched Shane through knowing eyes. Leaning over, he poured a liberal helping of whiskey into the tea. “That’ll help more than chamomile I expect.”
Maggie sighed. “Why don’t I go up and sit with her for a while? I’ve got a good book with me and you three can plot and not worry.” She kissed his cheek. “I promised Mom I would. She wanted to be here so badly but Penny needed some TLC too. I’m her stand-in.”
Shane squeezed her hand. “Thank you so much, honey. I’ll be up shortly, I promise. I’m just keyed up right now. I don’t want to disturb her. But you must be tired...”
Maggie shook her head. “I slept already. I have tomorrow, or today I suppose, off. Kyle is going to make me brunch later on. Now go on, wind down and let me help. She’s my friend, you know, I love her too.”
Shane nodded. “Thank you. Really.”
After she’d gone upstairs the brothers all looked at each other with perfect understanding. One of their own was threatened, no one hurt a Chase and got away with it. Cassie was Shane’s therefore she was theirs too.
“Brian’s plane comes in at two. He’s driving straight here. I spoke with him a few minutes ago. Terry hasn’t been sighted since last week in New York but his mother admitted to a friend that she’d seen him and given him a significant amount of money. More than enough to move around the country.”
“How did he find her? She changed her social security number and name.” Matt punched the arm of the couch.
“Money talks, Matt. You know that. If he knew where she was getting her domestic violence victim advocacy, he had a way of getting to people. I don’t know anything for sure, but I do know that this is not a coincidence. He’s found her.”
“She can’t stay here. We have to get her to another city and right away.” Marc looked to his brothers.
Shane chuckled ruefully. “I wish she would go for that. But if you think Cassie would agree to it, you don’t know her very well. She’s not going to let him chase her away. And he’d just find her again anyway. No. We need to draw him in and take him down before he gets her.”
“Her apartment isn’t safe.” Matt watched Shane through serious eyes.
“Nope. She’s moving in here. I’ve asked her, hell I’ve been asking her for months now. I’ve got a great security system here. I’m going to do all I can to protect her and she’s going to have to deal with that or I’ll sic Momma on her.”
“You aren’t going to get married? Momma’s gonna be hot.” Kyle chuckled.
“What? You and Maggie lived together! And anyway, if I thought she’d say yes, I’d marry Cassie tomorrow. She’s gun-shy, you know that. We’ll live together and then I’ll ask her to marry me. I’m charming, she won’t be able to resist me.”
“You let us know what to do and we’ll do it. Nothing is going to happen to her.” Matt looked to his brothers who all nodded solemnly.
“We’re taking Terry Sunderland down. It has to happen. Scum like him has to be taken out. What kind of man beats his woman? What kind of man hurts the person he should be cherishing? He had the best thing in the universe and he threw it away. He tried to kill my woman and I am not having it. It’s her or him and I know how it’s going to end.”
* * *
Cassie awoke, sore and disoriented, mouth dry. Within moments, the night before came back to her in disturbing clarity. Terry found her and tried to kill her. Again.
The trembling started in her hands and she gripped the sheets to stop it. She was not going to fall apart.
“Darlin’, I’m here.”
A hand cupped her cheek and she turned to face those green eyes. She let herself fall into his warmth, allowing herself to feel safe with him, to relax. The shaking in her hands subsided a bit.
“Nothing is going to happen to you. I’m here and the alarm is on. You know where the handgun is on your side of the bed, right?”
Cassie opened her eyes and looked at him again. “You’re very calm for a cop telling me where my handgun is.”
“Cassie, if he breaks in to this house you will shoot him before he can shoot you. Or beat you with something, he seems to like the up close and personal, fucking bastard. It is you or him now, I have no qualms about wanting it to be you and telling you so. Do you have qualms about that?”
“About what? How would you feel about me if I told you I wouldn’t feel bad if I killed him? He’s making it me or him.” She sat up with a wince and he put pillows behind her. Carefully, he reached across her body to get her pills and a glass of water.
“I’d feel reassured that you’re willing to protect yourself. Now, the doctor said you’d be sore. There’s no major injury. You’re bruised. Your therapist said you may have some panic attacks for a while and to take medication if you need it to sleep and keep calm.”
She shook her head and pushed away the pills but drank the water. “No. I don’t want that. I need to be clear headed now.”
“There’s no shame in it, Cassie.”
“Don’t you tell me what there’s shame in, Shane Chase! I will not be sedated right now. My life is at stake. This man wants to kill me. He’s tried and he almost succeeded. He’s been controlling my life all these years. Making me afraid to even live. No more. Damn it! No more. I will not. If I need to sleep, I’ll take the pills but I will go to work and live my life and I swear to you right now that if he tries to hurt me I will make sure he can never harm me, ever again. However I have to.”