Page 56 of Change of Heart

“Maybe a brother or a cousin?” he suggested.

“I have no idea. I, um, after it happened, I mean, after he appeared in person rather than just sending me letters, I called the police and got the restraining order. My friend Trent has been keeping an eye on him and as far as I know, he’s been in New York this whole time. I thought everything was okay...” Tears filled my eyes as my words trailed off. I had no idea what to say or what was going on anymore, and where in the hell was Trent?

“The crash,” Cade burst out.

“What?”

“You thought it was him following you that morning? Is that right?”

“Yeah, but it wasn’t him. Also, later that day, Trent spotted him at the McDonald’s near his apartment in New York and we found out it was Bethany Rhodes who was behind me. So, it couldn’t have been him that morning.”

“I’ll get in contact with the NYPD and go from there.” Trevor interjected. “Meanwhile, we’re all on overtime. We’ll catch him, Charlotte. What does he look like? Was he threatening? Could you tell if he was armed tonight? Did he ever hurt you in New York?”

I told Trevor and Cade everything I knew about tonight and what he looked like and what he had done in New York. “I’m so sorry. I should have said something when I first got back to Sweetbriar, but all I wanted was to feel normal again. I just wanted my life back.”

“None of that. No apologies.” Trevor’s voice was soothing as he tried to calm me down. “We work forward from now on, all right? If you think of anything else, tell Cade. Or text me.” Trevor passed me his card. I had Rose’s number but not his. “Cade, let me know if something comes up. If you think of anything else, Charlotte, please let me or Cade know. I’m out.”

I felt terrible. I had put people in danger.

Cade circled around to the driver’s seat and started the car to drive me to the hospital.

“Why weren’t you at your dad’s place? Trevor texted him earlier to take you home.”

“I don’t know anything about that. But my dad never has his phone. He probably left it at home. I’m really sorry.”

“Don’t be sorry, baby. All I care about is that you’re okay. And safe. I’m not letting you out of my sight until Winthrop is caught—DouglasandHoward, because they both have some questions to answer.”

I leaned my head against the side window and watched the streetlights flash in the window as Cade drove.

I couldn’t think anymore.

Cade reached across the console and gripped my thigh. His warm palm was comforting, I covered it with my trembling hand and held on to him.

As long as he was with me, I would be safe.

Chapter21

Cade

Istood outside the curtain while Charlotte was being examined. I had called her dad on their landline at home while they settled her into a bed. He was on the way, along with her brothers. Lord help either one of the Winthrops if they dared to show their faces in front of her family. I halfway hoped he would show up so I could walk away and let whatever happened happen. But my father had taught me better than that; if I wanted to represent this town as its Chief of Police, I had to go by the book just like he did. Always and for everyone, not just when it was convenient. I believed that too, which is why I stepped back and wasn’t out hunting Winthrop myself. I was too close to be objective and too angry to be fair.

“Where is she?” Footsteps pounded on the white linoleum as her family bounded through the emergency room doors. “Cade, where’s my baby girl?” her father shouted.

“Through the curtains. She’s going to be okay. They’re checking her out right now.”

“What happened? Who hurt her? And where the fuck is he?” His voice was a low, dangerous growl. Mr. Cassidy was a sweet man. A gentle giant. But nothing about him was gentle right now. He looked as if he wanted to tear Winthrop apart with his bare hands.

It was exactly how I was feeling inside.

“Give us a name, Cade,” Hunter, the oldest, demanded.

“I can’t do that, and you know it.”

“She’ll tell us,” Brody gritted out through clenched teeth. His fists were balled at his sides, and he looked ready to punch a hole in something. Or someone.

“Every officer in Sweetbriar is out hunting him down. He’ll pay. But it’s going to be done the right way.”

“Fuck that. That’s our baby sister in there—” Tucker bit out.

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