Page 98 of Innocent Intent

“That’s the best you can do?”

“I can take the offer off the table and just go with what you deserve. First-degree murder, which means you’ll die in prison. Decide now.”

Cassidy didn’t bother waiting for her response. She walked out of the interrogation room feeling confident that she had her life back, which meant she could finally breathe.

30.

The first thought that came to mind after ending the call with the district attorney was a sense of calm. So much had changed in such a short time.

Cassidy closed her eyes and exhaled a slow, shaky breath after receiving the update that had been promised once the case was officially closed. Tia Murphy had been sentenced to ten years for manslaughter one.

It’s finally over.

She looked around the bedroom she’d been sharing with Davis since the day Tia confessed. After everything she’d learned, she couldn’t bring herself to spend another night in the house she shared with Niles.

Jerrod Williams.

Dexter Taylor.

After their own research, Cassidy and Davis confirmed everything that Tia revealed. Niles had a wife he’d walked away from and several other women who knew him by various aliases. Thanks to Cassidy, the ones she could locate now had closure. They hadn’t gotten back what Niles had stolen from them, but they got a sense of justice knowing that he paid for his indiscretions.

With his life.

When Cassidy mentioned to Davis that she wanted to sell her house because she couldn’t fathom living there any longer, he offered up his as a temporary solution while she put hers on the market. She almost declined, but he had been very convincing. Now, here they were, her things taking up one side of his closet while his took up the other.

After inhaling one more cleansing breath, Cassidy navigated through the house, taking in the subtle changes that had happened in the short time she’d moved in. Her presence was in the light scent of cinnamon and vanilla, stacks of psychology books, a handful of photos, and a wire wine rack on the counter in one corner of the kitchen.

Davis never complained about her things taking over his space. If anything, he went out of his way to make her feel welcome by adding small touches that acknowledged her presence.

The wine rack had been a gift from him, along with an electric wine opener and coffee pod machine. That one had been an inside joke which made Cassidy smile each time she used it. Davis’s house was slowly becoming their house.

She had his attention as soon as she stepped through the back door. A quick glance over his shoulder before his fists pounded out a combination on the heavy bag.

“Everything okay?”

“You would know if you had stayed in there with me instead of coming out here.”

She had a good visual of his profile and caught the sexy grin he offered before he dipped and landed another combination.

“Thought you could use the privacy.”

“Privacy, why? You already know the details. We were both waiting on that call.”

When Davis finished the last combination, he dropped his arms, allowing them to hang loosely at his side, and closed the space between them. While he moved, Cassidy took her time, allowing her eyes to move down his chest to the black shorts covering his lower half, sitting just beneath his narrow waist.

By the time her eyes were on his face again, that cocky grin was back in place. “You done?”

“For now, yes.”

He chuckled and moved closer, delivering a ghost of a kiss. “What did Greene say?”

“Done deal. Ten years, but she can be out in eight, which means I have at least eight years of peace before I have to worry about her again.”

His expression shifted to one of irritation. “You really think I’m going to let you worry about her ever again?”

“It’s not like you can prevent it.”

“I can if you’re with me.” His statement left no room for rebuttal, but still, Cassidy pushed for clarity.

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