Page 166 of Only Be Mine

His expression flickered - surprise, then something like pride.

“Cate…” he started.

“I want to hear it from him,” I said, and my voice didn’t shake this time. “Not filtered. Not managed. Not… softened.”

Seth held my gaze for a long beat. Then he nodded once, decisive. “Okay. But I’m staying. And you should put it on speaker.”

I swallowed. “Okay.”

I picked up my phone, scrolled, and found Detective Marshal’s number from the call log, still there like a bruise you couldn’t stop pressing.

My thumb hovered over the button. My pulse pounded in my ears.

Then I hit call.

The ring sounded too loud in the controlled quiet of Trevor’s house.

Once.

Twice.

Seth’s knee bounced once, then stilled.

A click.

“Detective Marshal.”

My breath hitched and I steadied it.

“This is Cate,” I said. “Cate Reeder.”

Seth’s eyes flicked to me, quick.

I corrected myself before the detective could.

“Cate Larkin,” I added quietly. “I… I need to talk to you.”

There was a pause on the line. Not long. Just long enough to feel like he’d been waiting for my voice.

“Ms. Larkin,” Marshal said, gentler than before. “I’m glad you called. Are you safe right now?”

I opened my mouth just as a sound caught my attention.

A key turning in the lock.

My whole body went rigid.

Seth’s head snapped toward the door.

The deadbolt slid back with a quiet click, and I stared at the front door as it began to open.

And somewhere on my phone, Detective Marshal was still waiting for my answer.

Chapter 61

Cate

Present