Ian approached with slow steps. “Cassie?” Her eyes were wild and unfocused. “Cassie, it’s Ian.” She raised the glass in her hand like a weapon. “Cassie!” He used his stern commander’s voice.
Cassie lifted her head. Shock filled her gaze, but she would not let him get any closer. Tears streamed down her cheeks.
Ian’s voice softened. “Cassie, you’re safe. No one will hurt you.”
Cassie panted. “You don’t understand. No one does. They’ll kill you. They’re coming for me.”
Ian took another baby step. “Help me understand, sweetheart. Tell me, Cassie. Trust me.”
Cassie wobbled against the screen. “It won’t stop. I don’t deserve anything good. Laurie died. Nana died. No one helped them. We had so much fun. We went to the museum. We went in the helicopter. No one helped. Daddy told me to go, to be brave. I wasn’t brave. I was selfish. They died because I wasn’t strong enough. I left them. I should have saved them. I deserve to be punished.”
“You didn’t kill them, sweetheart; no one blames you.”
Cassie started to shake. “That night, I was so happy, you see. I did well at the showing. I met an interesting man. He kissed my hand.” When she tried to lift her right hand to look at it, Ian’s Adam’s apple bobbed in his throat.
“I went to meet Garett. We were going to celebrate. They said I was selfish. No one helped me, so many cruel voices. I asked them why. They said I wasn’t supposed to wake up. It was my fault because I wasn’t a good girl. I didn’t follow their rules; it had to be the hard way. I messed everything up. I’m a frigid bitch.Nastoyashchiy muzhchina vnutri tebya, moya simpatichnaya malen’kaya shlyukha.”
Ian closed his eyes at the vulgar Russian words.A real man is inside you, my pretty little whore.
“Cassiopeia is dead. You see, I was supposed to die. Ian is too good for me. Garett left me. He told me I wasn’t worth it—soiled goods. No one will ever love me or want a whore. At the dinner, Garett told me he left me to protect the baby and me. He still loves me. I know he will tell them.”
Ian inhaled at her words. Tremors overtook Cassie’s body.
“I had to go away. Chris Chris helped me.”
“Tell him, Bunny,” Christian begged as two ropes dropped past the window.
“I couldn’t let anyone see me. They would know I was a whore. I tried to be good. I tried to do things right. I disappointed everyone again. My womb is sullied. I killed him. I am a murderer.” Her eyes were deep black voids. The screen suddenly fell to the ground with a clatter, and Cassie rocked backward in the opening and began to fall.
Ian closed the distance and pulled her into his arms as Cassie fought hard against him. He held her tightly. “Shh.”
Cassie continued to struggle despite her injured shoulder. Ian reached into his sleeve and removed the syringe. She didn’t even flinch at the needle stick. “You deserve to be happy. Your baby’s death was not your fault.”
Her arms were trapped between them. She pulled at the bandages across her chest to expose her wounds and scars. Ian released his hug and circled her wrists with his thumbs and forefingers.
“No man will want me. Love me. Look at me. I’m a dirty, disgusting whore.” Cassie tried with no effect to break his grip.
“Cassie, so many people love you.”
“No! I am scarred and defective. Everything good in my life goes away or dies. Everybody will be better off if I’m dead.”
Ian pressed his lips to the top of her head. “Cassie, your scars show how strong you are. You’re not defective. You… are… beautiful. Cassie, I want you. I want you more than anyone or anything in my life. I love you.”
Ian placed gentle kisses against her swollen eyes, each reddened, tear-stained cheek, and her sweet, salt-tinged lips. “Trust me, sweetheart. Let me help you. Let me keep you safe. You’re not a murderer.” He rocked her in his arms until she succumbed to the medication. The minute she was out, Ian rushed her into the treatment room.
Once she was on the table, Pete forced him into the hallway. “Let us work. I promise you’ll know ASAP. Take everyone downstairs.”
Chapter Twenty-Eight
The minute Ian hit the bottom step; Martin tossed him a clean t-shirt. Ian quickly washed up and returned to the reeling family, where Kieran pushed him down into a chair. “Everyone take a deep breath. I think we have a lot to talk about. We owe this to Cassie.”
Ian looked at his brother. “I’m going to ask straightforward questions. You all heard her. Let’s start. Who is Laurie?” Ian’s voice was emotionless.
Rachel answered, “Laurie was Cassie’s best childhood friend. She died after lightning started a house fire. Cassie and Laurie were both five.”
“What happened to Nana?”
Luke shook his head. “She was old. Cassie worshipped her. One morning, she found her in her studio dead at her easel. Cassie was nine.”
