“Not anymore, apparently.”
“Is he here?”Her jaw flexed, dark eyes flashing fire.“In the area?”
“They don’t know.They’re still trying to find him.”
Her mom got up and started pacing, rage pouring off her in tangible waves.“That bastard.That fuckingbastard, coming after you—”
“Mom.Please sit.You’re making me even more anxious.”
She immediately stopped, gathered herself, and came back over to sit down again.Huffed out a hard breath.“I hate him.”
“Me too.”And her mother didn’t even know what he’d actually done.It was enough that he’d hurt her baby girl.
“The people at your office are aware?”
“Yes.”Walker would know by now.He would tell Ryder and Callum.Maybe Tristan after that?She cringed at the thought.
“Shouldn’t they be giving you protection?”
“I’m sure they’ll talk to me—”
“What about your friend you work with all the time?Tristan.He would look out for you, wouldn’t he?”
Cassie went silent.Opened her mouth to say something.Closed it.Yes, he would look out for her.But at what cost to them both?
Her mom started to frown again, then paused.“Ohhh, is he...He’s more than a friend.”
Shit.Her face flushed hot.“He’s...”
“It’s clear you think a lot of him.Bristol says he’s really handsome and that he has a twin.An identical twin?And you’ve always made him seem like he’s a good person.”
“He is.”One of the best she’d ever known.But she’d thought that of Rob, too.And now he might be out there looking for a way to end her.
“Then why the but?”
“It’s really complicated and confusing.”
“Why?Because you work together?”
“Yes, and...other stuff.”Personal stuff she didn’t want to get into.Things she was too ashamed to tell her.
A beat of silence passed while her mom studied her.“You mean things from your past.Because deep down, you don’t trust yourself when it comes to romantic relationships.”
Cassie looked at her in surprise.Didn’t answer.Didn’t know what the hell to say, caught off guard by her mother’s unnerving and completely unexpected insight.
She sighed.“I’ll take partial responsibility for that.”
Okay,what?Who was this person, and what had she done with her mother?
Her mom shook her head at her.“Cassie.It’s no secret that you and I have both made not-so-healthy decisions with men in the past.And that we both tolerated lots of things we shouldn’t have while we were with them.The truth is, you probably chose that sort of man because of your dad walking out on us...and also probably because you saw me stay with toxic partners for all those years.”
Ho-lyyyyy shit.She barely kept her mouth from falling open.She never—literally never— thought she would hear those words from her mother.“Maybe,” she allowed, feeling uncomfortable.
“Don’t look so shocked.You don’t think I’ve worried about you repeating the cycle because of my poor example?”Her mom continued, apparently on a roll now.“But dammit, Cass, it doesn’t have to be like that for you anymore.You and I are both survivors, and itispossible to learn from mistakes and change things for the better.Look at me now, married to a kind, responsible, and financially sound man who adores me and treats me right and loves you like you’re his own.If I can change and find that after four decades of horrible relationships, then you can too.”
Cassie continued to stare at her, still stunned.But then a grin tugged at the edge of her mouth and grew until her teeth were showing.Her day had turned to shit the instant she’d heard about Rob, but this...This was incredible.
“What?”her mom said.
