Page 62 of Whispers of Redemption

Wade rose from his seat, but didn’t move. “I was only trying to do the right thing, Cassie.”

She looked at him then, her green eyes boring into his.

“Everything isn’t always just black and white, right or wrong, Riley,” she snapped. “And it’s not your job to try and control everything. Ani is my sister and my responsibility. You should have respected that. But you didn’t. Believe it or not, I got along just fine before I ever met you.”

She watched him wince as her next words sliced into him like shards of glass. “I should have stuck with my instincts. I never should have trusted you. I never should have gotten involved with a cop.”

She looked straight ahead again, still holding the door open. He moved slowly toward it in a daze, like he could barely believe this was happening. At the door, he turned, his voice almost a whisper. “Cassie, are you...breaking up with me over this?”

“What do you think?” she said. And slammed the door in his face.

CHAPTER 24

“Yo, partner! Are you even listening to me?” Hugo waved a hand in front of Wade’s eyes.

“What? Oh, uh, sorry. What’d you say?” Wade looked over at Hugo as they sat together in the patrol car.

“I said, I got you your healthy turkey-and-avocado sub.” Hugo pushed the paper-wrapped bundle toward Wade.

“Thanks, I’m not hungry,” he said.

Hugo unwrapped his own Italian sub and the smell of hard salami, red onion, and mustard filled the car. “Wade, you’ve been acting weird for the past two days. Are you gonna tell me what’s going on?”

How could he even begin to explain all the emotions, thoughts, and confusion churning through him right now? He’d been riding such a wave of joy these past weeks with Cassie. They’d grown so close. He’d never felt this way about anyone before in his life.

But then thoughts of their encounter two days ago flooded his mind again, and he mentally cringed as he recalled Cassie’s anger and her sharp words.

... you have no business getting involved with this... It’s not your job to try and control everything... I got along just fine before ever met you... I never should have trusted you...

He thought about the way she had so abruptly dismissed him from her home. The door slammed in his face.

Now shock and sadness dragged at him, heavy like a lead weight in his belly.

The sound of Hugo crumpling up his wrapper pulled him from his reverie. And the lingering smell of Hugo’s sub made Wade feel nauseous.

“If you’re gonna throw up, can you do it outside?” Hugo said, observing Wade’s pale, drawn features.

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