Page 151 of Only Be Mine

The room went very still.

My mind snagged on Seth’s voice, his words. Someone close.

Before I could respond, Trevor leaned forward slightly.

“That’s a heavy implication,” he said calmly.

Marshal didn’t look away. “It’s a necessary question.”

Trevor turned to me then, his expression softening, grounding. “It’s okay,” he murmured. “Just answer honestly.”

I searched myself, thinking through all the people we had known, the people I now knew.

“No,” I said finally. “I never thought that.”

It was true. Or at least, it had been.

The detective nodded, but his pen didn’t move.

“One last thing,” he said. “We may need to speak with you again. Separately.”

Trevor’s hand stilled in mine.

“I don’t think that’s necessary,” he said politely. “If you have further questions, I’ll be present.”

Marshal met his gaze. The air between them tightened, subtle and electric.

“That may not be possible,” the detective said evenly.

Trevor smiled, but it didn’t reach his eyes.

“We’ll see.”

The detective closed his notebook.

“For now,” he said, standing, “that’s all.”

Trevor rose immediately, pulling my chair back before I could move on my own.

I stood, but my feet didn’t follow. Something held me back, sharp and insistent, deep in my chest.

“Wait.”

Trevor’s hand tightened slightly at my back. “Cate…”

I turned anyway, my voice quieter than I meant it to be. “John’s really dead?”

For the first time, something in Detective Marshal’s expression softened. “Yes,” he said. “I’m afraid so. I’m sorry for your loss.”

The words felt heavy and final and something inside me fractured.

Trevor’s hand pressed more firmly between my shoulder blades, guiding me toward the door before I could respond. “Thank you, Detective,” he said smoothly. “We’ll be in touch.”

Chapter 56

Cate

Present