I leaned in, my voice sharp, unshaking.“Do you have a daughter?”
He blinked, clearly not expecting that.A long pause stretched before he finally said, “Yes.”
“Then imagine this.”My throat tightened, but I pushed the words out, heartfelt, each one steadier than the last.“A man sixteen years older than her pursues her.Lies to her.Promises her the world.Makes her believe she’s the only one.And then, when she tries to pull away, he follows her.Threatens her.She blocks him, changes her numbers, her locks.But he still manages to break into her apartment.Tries to rape her because he thinks she’s his..."I choked on the words, I could feel the tears gathering, and on instinct, I tried to push them down, tried to swallow them.But then I locked eyes with the man, the police officer, who was trying to silence me, trying to let a man who tried to hurt me walk free.I let them fall.I let himsee."He almost rapes her because he thinks he has a right to her body any time he wants.”
His jaw worked, but he said nothing.But I could tell by the flare of his nostrils, the way his knuckles whitened on the edge of the bar, that my words were affecting him.
“Now imagine two men walking in on that.Men who love her.Men who would do anything to protect her.And instead of killing him on the spot, they restrained themselves.They pulled him off of her.They kept her safe.Instead of beating that man to a pulp, they merely restrain him.Tell me, officer...”my voice caught, but I didn’t look away “...what would you have done?”
Silence fell between us, heavy and unyielding.His eyes flickered, something breaking through his practiced calm.He didn't speak, but he didn't break eye contact either, as if he was searching for an answer, as if he was working through something within him.
Finally, he gave a short, almost imperceptible nod.Without another word, he turned, left money on the counter, and walked out.
My hands were trembling when I picked up the mug to clear it, but for the first time in a long time, I didn’t feel small.
I felt like I stood my ground.I spoke for myself.I didn't back down.
The night passed by in a blur after that.
And when I finally made my way to bed that night, an over-glittered Valentine Card sat on my nightstand with messy writing that said "You’ve got a pizza my heart".And after everything, I fell asleep with that card clutched to my chest and a smile on my face.
Chapter 35
The café was warm and bustling, the clink of mugs and low murmur of conversation wrapping around me like a blanket.I’d taken over a corner table, Mason leaning across from me while I walked him through the spreadsheet I’d set up.
“You colour-coded everything?”he asked, eyebrows raised as he traced his finger along a row.
“Vendors in green, payments in blue, overdue in red.”I tapped the screen, then flipped my notebook around so he could see the flowchart I’d mapped out by hand.“This is the schedule Clara can run off weekly.No surprises.Everything transparent.”
Mason let out a low whistle, dragging a hand through his hair.His face had more lines than it used to, exhaustion carved deep, but there was relief too.“You’ve done so much for us.You saved me, us.I don't even know how to repay you.You are like our own personal guardian angel.Cass, I...”
“Don’t,” I cut in softly, though not unkindly.“You and Clara have enough weight to carry.This was just… a mess that needed sorting.I like fixing messes.”
What I didn’t say: I liked feeling useful again.Needed it.
Needed to focus on something that wasn't me.
Needed to see my sister whole again.Give my nephew his parents back, together, as a team.
Mason leaned back, shaking his head.“Clara’s lucky to have you.Weare so lucky to have you, Cassidy.”
The bell over the door chimed.I looked up, and there were Chase and Adam.They made their way to the counter, where Clara met them.
Seconds later, the bell chimed again, but I was too focused on the cells Mason was highlighting to look up.The warm buzz that tickled across my skin told me before my eyes confirmed it.
Brody.
He walked in like a storm front, carrying the cold with him, his eyes locked on me from the second the door opened.No smile.No casual nod.Just a look that made the hairs on my arms rise.
“Uh oh,” Mason muttered, following my line of sight.
I froze.My heart picked up speed.
Brody didn’t stop at the counter, didn’t greet Clara or our brothers.He came straight to me.His boots echoed on the tiled floor, each step deliberate.
When he stopped in front of me, his voice was low, rough.“Tell me you didn’t.”
I blinked, my mouth parting.“You’re going to have to clarify that.”
