Present Day
My eyes flew open, as if someone had said my name.The room was dark still.It wasn’t morning yet.I glanced at the clock on the bedside table to see it said three fifteen.I felt it then.The presence in the room.
Turning over, I sat up quickly, and my eyes began to scan the darkness.When they landed on the figure sitting in the chair to the right of the bed, I covered my mouth to muffle my scream.Because I knew that face.I’d been dreaming about him.
Was I still asleep?I had to be.He couldn’t be in my bedroom in the middle of the night.
“You still talk in your sleep.”That familiar voice soothed me, although I knew it shouldn’t.
I slowly removed my hand from my mouth as I stared at him.This felt real.Like I was awake.But how could I be?
“Kash.”I whispered his name.
“You know any other fucker who could sneak into your bedroom at night so successfully?”
No.Only him.
“Wh-what are you doing here?”
He smirked.“Hell if I know.I’m a stupid motherfucker.I’ll blame it on the whiskey.”
“How did you find me?”
A low chuckle filled the silence.“Come on now, Songbird.You know that answer.Did you think you could hide from me?Right under my nose at that.”
I shook my head.“I wasn’t—I mean—I …” I stammered, not sure what I was trying to say.
His words confused me.Had he meant my living in Madison again?
He leaned forward, resting his elbows on his knees.“Why don’t you start with telling me why you’re living at Aunt Glenda’s?”
Aunt?I frowned.
“What?”
“You heard my question.”
“Aunt … Glenda?”I repeated hesitantly.
He nodded his head.“Not my aunt exactly.She’s Bane and”—he paused for a moment—“Crosby’s great-aunt.”
Cash.Bane and Crosby Cash.Oh my God.
“Grissele …” I said her name slowly.
“Yeah.What about Grissele?”he asked.
He knew her.
That meant, “She’s Bane and Crosby’s mother,” I said, guessing the truth.
He nodded.“Yep.Now, why’re you living at her aunt’s house?”
I stared at him in shock.“I … I don’t know,” I whispered, trying to put everything together in my head.
Had Grissele known who I was that day in the diner?Was this a coincidence?Or not?
“Let me ask this another way,” he drawled.“How do you know Glenda?”
