“Okay, amhuirnín, here we go.” Jamie listened to her lungs and began to pound her back.
Ian winced at the sound, unable to stop himself from wrapping a protective arm around her waist. Within seconds, Cassie coughed on reflex.
“Good job, Cassie.” Jamie placed her on her side. As he went to retrieve more medication, Cassie cried out. “Talk to her. It helps.”
Ian took her hands in his and began rubbing small circles on the back of one of them with his thumb. “Sweetheart, open your beautiful eyes for me. It’s going to be okay. Don’t cry.” His voice was filled with emotion. “C’mon. Let me see your eyes.”
* * *
In the mental darkness, Cassie heard a familiar baritone voice. She crawled through a long tunnel, trying to reach him, her eyelids weighed down.
“You’re safe, Cassie. Sweetheart, open those beautiful eyes. You didn’t miss your chance.”
Cassie rasped, “Ian.” She coughed hard, the pain making her curl into him.
“I’ve got you.” Ian braced her pained body against his.
Jamie returned with a syringe and a bag of antibiotics. “Hang in, luv. The pain will pass soon.”
She sighed into Ian's arms as his hand rubbed her back. A sense of confusion added to her pain.
“Where?” Cassie’s throat felt raw.
“You’re in the hospital. You’re safe, sweetheart.”
Cassie’s eyes flitted to the large shadow crossing in front of her. Taking one look at Jamie, she grasped Ian. “He won’t hurt you.”
“Cassie, my name is Jamie. I’m a physician’s assistant, here to help you.” He moved closer.
Despite her discomfort, Cassie struggled to sit up. Ian pressed her back into the mattress. “Ian.”
“Shh, Cassie. Rest.”
She squeezed Ian’s hand. “Where?” She repeated the question over and over. Soon the pain meds pulled her lids down again. He placed a chaste kiss on her lips. “I’ll protect you.”
Cassie mouthed, “Safe.” Her breathing deepened and found the natural rhythm of sleep.
* * *
Ian excused himself to return to the main house, where he made a sandwich and popped open an IPA. A press of the remote flicked on the TV in the kitchen.
“Today, trespassing teenagers notified US Park Police they found the body of a young female now identified as the missing socialite, Phyllis Wilson, along the banks of Hains Point. Ms. Wilson, the daughter of publisher Adrian Wilson and his wife, Theresa, was twenty-three years old.
“She was initially reported missing by her boyfriend, Robert Bynum Jr., son of Senator Robert Bynum from Virginia, after she failed to meet him for their regular morning date at the Beans R Us coffee shop in downtown DC five days ago. The cause of death is pending an autopsy. The Wilson family and Robert Bynum Jr. were unavailable for comment.”
Before the report concluded, Kieran’s number popped up on his phone. “Did you see the news?”
“No ‘Hello, how are you?’ Hell, I’m in the kitchen. Come have a snack.” A smile touched Ian’s lips. The banter between the brothers had disappeared when Cassie was hurt.
“Damn it, Ian,” Kieran grumbled.
“All right. Yeah, watching it now.” Ian took a long pull on the beer.
“Phyllis Wilson was the woman assigned to Cassie’s seat.” Kieran’s typing on his laptop followed his voice. “I’ve already sent Linc to investigate.”
Ian put down the bottle and rolled back the live broadcast to freeze on Phyllis’ picture. “I wonder where Robert Jr. is?”
“Matty is checking into that.”
