She collected several steps before stopping right in front of me, eyes shifting back and forth, searching mine.
“What’s wrong?” I asked, taking a step forward, leaving hardly any space between us.
My heart thundered in my chest, her face twisted with fear.
“He’s coming for me,” she said, her bottom lip quivering.
“Who?”
“Vinny.”
“That’s impossible. He’s in prison.”
She shook her head, panic blazing in her eyes. Cassidy handed me a folded piece of paper. “I received this in the mail. Why would he send methatfrom prison? He’s out, Reid, I know it. And he’s coming for me.” Anger spiked in my veins as I read the words on the paper. “This came with it.” She fingered the necklace, leaning forward for me to get a better look.
I recognized it immediately. “Are you sure it’s Bodie’s?”
She nodded, her eyes glistening with tears.
Vinny Rodriquez had been the one tried for Bodie’s murder. Cassidy had identified him as the killer and though she had been afraid to testify, she’d bravely done it anyway. But Vinny had one hell of a defense attorney and they’d ripped Cassidy’s testimony apart, destroying Bodie’s credibility as well, considering he was an addict. Vinny had ultimately been convicted of manslaughter instead of murder one like he was originally charged and was only sentenced to ten years.
Ten fucking years.
That’s it.
I was still convinced the jury or that crooked ass judge was paid off, but I was never able to prove it. It’s one of the reasons I went to the academy, but every lead I had resulted in one dead end after another.
Looking around, I scanned the area to make sure she hadn’t been followed.
“I was careful coming here. As soon as I got the letter, I left. Even my roommate has no idea where I am. She’s probably worried sick by now.”
“Come on, we’ll talk inside,” I told her, unlocking the door. I dropped my keys on the table and flipped on the lights. I walked into the living room, still studying the letter. When I finally looked up, I found Cassidy holding a picture frame, tears brimming in her eyes.
“Where was this?” she asked, dragging a finger down the center of the glass.
Without even looking, I knew which photo she spoke of.
Bodie and I had wide smiles and surfboards at our sides. We’d been in the water all day. It was one of my favorite memories with him.
One of my last good memories of him.
“The point at Noose off the coast of Queensland. Killer waves that day.”
She smiled, but it was weak and full of longing. “I miss him, Reid.” Tears filled her eyes when she looked up at me. “So much.”
There wasn’t a day that went by I didn’t think about Bodie. We met at a surfing competition when we were sixteen and from then on we were inseparable. I often wondered what he would be doing if he were still alive today, but just as quickly as the thought drifted in, it’s snatched away by the painful memories of his death.
“Me too, Cass,” I said quietly.
She placed the frame back down on the shelf and sank into my couch, keeping her gaze trained on her fidgeting hands. “I thought I was safe in Florida. No one knew who I was. No one knew I was Bodie Sky’s little sister. And now, now he knows where I live. I wasn’t sure where else to go. I don’t have anyone I can trust.”
“Shit.”
I took a seat next to her, wrapping one arm around her shoulder, but her arms circled my waist and she pressed in close. Her body trembled but relaxed when I wrapped my other arm around her, holding her tight. “It’s okay,” I murmured against the top of her head, her familiar scent slamming into my chest. “You’re safe now.”
She nodded against my chest, clinging to me, her small fingers curling into the fabric of my shirt. And for the first time in a long time, I felt something other than grief.
And that scared the shit out of me.
