Lillian opened a yogurt. “From everyone? Or just one someone?”
Cassie stared out the window. “Everyone is so good to me. I can’t believe my whole family is here, but, yes, ma’am, I don’t understand what Ian sees in me.”
“Stop being so hard on yourself, Cassie. You sustained severe physical trauma. More than one. You were in a coma. You almost died on more than one occasion. Your brain needs some time to recover.”
Cassie said, “I don’t understand.”
Lillian sat on a stool beside her. “Your heart stopped four times. You were unconscious for more than a month. You fought off life-threatening infections, and they were with you the whole way. These men care about you. They’re attached to you, and Ian thinks the world of you. Why wouldn’t you deserve their care?”
Cassie sighed. “Ian is such a good man. Too good. How could he want someone like me?”
Lillian stood. “That is a question to ask Ian. I can tell you the heart wants what it wants. Here’s a question for you to think about, think with the logical brain hiding in there. No conditions—just a straight yes or no.” Lillian ran her hand through Cassie’s hair. “Would you like Ian in your life?”
“Yes.” Tears filled her eyes.
* * *
The ambulance carrying Martin pulled up at the pool house at the same time Declan arrived with Sophie, both vehicles under heavy escort. Tucker walked alongside Martin’s stretcher. “Home sweet home, for a few days.”
Martin looked up at her window. “I’m fine. Just tell me Cassie is all right.”
Tucker smiled. “She’s safe. We need to worry about you. Heads don’t mix well with the A-frame of a Navigator. You were out for four hours. You have a gash on your forehead that took some plastic surgery so you wouldn’t look like Frankenstein. Another chunk was taken out of your forearm, and both your thighs are purple. We need to put you on an anticoagulant and watch for clots.”
Declan assisted Sophie out of the car. “Mr. Chase, I didn’t know. Is Martin okay?”
“Nothing a little sleep won’t cure, Sophie. Come inside.” Declan grasped her elbow for support. Once inside, he settled her on the living room couch.
Ian joined her. “Hey, Soph. How are you feeling?”
“I’m so sorry, Ian. I never saw it coming. All of a sudden, there was a hand around my neck, then a needle stick. What did they give me?”
“Sodium amytal.”
“What if I told them she was here?” Sophie asked.
“Don’t worry, Sophie. Right now, I want you to rest, either here or up at the main house. We’ll all get together and talk about things at a family dinner.”
* * *
Cassie became very distraught when she saw the ambulance unload Martin. She wanted to know everything.
Sean explained he’d been in a car accident but avoided explaining why the accident occurred. “Think of it as another patient for company. As soon as he can have visitors, you can visit him.”
Cassie jumped at the sound of the door.
“Hey, sweetheart.” Ian kissed her on top of her head, and Cassie reached for his hand. “Detectives Andy Blake and Javier Ruiz are here to speak with you. Are you up for talking?”
Andy and Javier shook her brothers’ hands as they left the room, and Kieran followed the detectives into the room. “Cassie, this is my brother Kieran.”
Kieran smiled. “Hi, Cassie. I don’t want to upset you. Would it be okay if I stayed to listen?”
“I guess.”
“You’re safe, sweetheart. No one will hurt you.”
“Hi, Cassie. I’m Andy. Do you remember me?” Javier stood against the wall.
“Hi, Andy and Javi.”
