Page 72 of Mine to Protect

“How’d—”

“Later they told me he spotted her and charged, leaving a clear shot for her.” I cleared my throat. “So your answer is there’s no way he could be a part of his. He’s dead, really dead. And considering no one came forward to claim the body or charge Beth in a civil suit, I assume he didn’t have any family.”

“Peters will confirm,” Cas said, still on the other side of the room.

My stomach sank at the distance between us.

“Anyone else know about what happened in Texas?” Peters asked.

Summoning up a bit of courage, I glanced over my shoulder. Cas stood with a shoulder against the wall, looking out the back window.

“John, I guess. I told him about it, and my friend Sarah, but she’s in Denver now. Only those two. I don’t open up about it a lot, but I trust them.”

“We’re done,” Cas stated, still focused on something out the window. “You have enough to go off of, and the original file you gave me. Go do your motherfucking job and find out what this is all about.”

Shocked at his rude tone and words, I swiveled around with a scowl, expecting to find a pissed-off Chandler, but it was the exact opposite. Smiling, he stood from the couch and tucked his T-shirt deeper into his jeans.

“Yep, I have what I need, and looks like you do too, fucker.” Eyes locked with mine, his smile grew. “And you know what? I’m happy for you. Don’t fuck it up.” On his way to the door, Chandler stopped beside me. “I’ll be back later tonight, but don’t worry. We’ll catch this guy.”

“I’m as confused as you two. Why me? He didn’t put this much effort into the other women.”

“Maybe you’re special,” Chandler said, his happy smile dipping to a frown.

“I’m so fucking tired of being special,” I whined. “I want to be normal. What is it about me that attracts men like this?”

“It’s not about you.” He gripped my shoulder and squeezed. “It’s about them and power, nothing else. There’s nothing you could’ve done differently. My guess is he saw you at a crime scene and has decided to have a little fun with you before attempting to snag you.”

I pulled the blanket up to my mouth in hopes to cover my whimper.

“We won’t let anything happen to you,” Chandler said with a steely look of determination in his eyes. “And that guy”—he tipped his head toward the corner of the room where Cas stood, arms crossed, watching us—“is the best I’ve ever had the privilege of serving and working with. No one will get past him.” A nod to Cas and he was gone.

Seconds after the door shut, I reached for the locks.

Once.

Twice.

At the third click of each deadbolt, I turned to lean my back against the door. Cas’s dark eyes caught my immediate attention. Intensity pulsed between us. The air in the cabin shifted, heating my core as we gazed at each other in silence.

He moved first. Shoving off the door, I matched him step for step until we collided in the middle of the room. Arms around his waist, I nuzzled against his chest as he rested his chin on the crown of my head. The still mysterious unlimited warmth soaked into my skin, heating me to the bones.

“It’ll be okay. We’ll find out who’s doing this, and I’ll kill them.”

My muscles tightened at the coldness in his words, so at odds to the firm, steady beat of the heart pounding in my ear.

“I don’t want you to kill whoever’s doing this.”

His near scoff tightened his chest muscles beneath my cheek.

“I’ve seen what it does to someone. Each life you take, a piece of you fades, and I don’t want that for you. Not for this. Not for me.”

I gasped in surprise as he shoved me back and his fingers gripped my chin, holding me in place. Eyes blazing with an intimidating fury, he gritted out, “I’ll go to Hell and back to keep you safe. Don’t worry about my soul, Lady. It’s already gone. But you.” His dark eyes softened. “You’re the one worth saving.”

An ache radiated from my chest into my belly. “How could you even say that?” My eyes searched his, hoping to find some humor there, but I found none. “You’re not gone. None of us are. Until we’re dead in the ground, none of us are past the point of saving. Even you, Cas Mathews.” Sometime during my passion-filled words, I had gripped his black T-shirt and fisted the soft cloth between my fingers.

Sadness engulfed his features, almost resembling pity. “Lady, I love your optimism. I do. But I know the truth. I was nothing when I came into this world, and I’ll be nothing when I leave it. You’re the only good thing I’ve had in my life, and even that’s temporary.”

Tears welled. “You think I’m good?” After everything, I needed to know a piece of me was still pure, still good.

---