Page 77 of Defending Casey

Chapter 13

“Brian!Oh my god! I need your help!” Casey was almost overwhelmed at the rush of adrenaline coursing through her veins. “My dad-”

It was a kind of seismic shift under her feet.

The very ground under her listed to the side, making her heart leap into her throat.

“You’re late, Casey.”

Her ears popped as if she’d just come out of the clouds. “I am?”

“Your dad said you’d be here, and I waited.” He lifted his hand and fingered a lock of her hair. “I waited for you, Casey. And you came.”

Her thoughts spun. She had no control over their direction. It was hard to focus when your world was crashing down around your shoulders.

Brian had been waiting for her.

Her father, unconscious and bleeding.

And Nora.

Oh God!

Nora was outside in the car.

“Case?”

Panic was coursing through her veins, but instead of having to decide between fight or flight, there were so many other considerations.

To Nora. Away from Nora.

And her father! Was he even alive?

“Casey!”

Pain tore through her head and her eyes flew to Brian’s face.

Red, ruddy skin.

Eyes narrowed and a little too bright.

And strands of her hair dangling from his fingers.

“Are. You. Paying. Attention?”

“Y-yes.”

“Good.”

Casey wanted to say… something.

But she didn’t know what.

She wasn’t used to this kind of manic behavior.

Not from Brian.

Not from anyone.

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