Page 240 of Only Be Mine

Controlled.

Like this was just another inconvenience.

I didn’t look back, because if I did, I might remember the version of him who held me together. And that version was dead now.

Just like John.

The cruiser door opened and Marshal waited.

“Cate,” he said quietly, “I need to ask you something before we leave.”

I nodded.

He studied me carefully. “Did you find something?”

My breath caught.

He knew.

Not what, but that something had changed.

I swallowed, hard. “Yes.”

Marshal nodded once. “Good.”

Chapter 80

Cate

Present

The backseat of the cruiser smelled like vinyl and stale air.

Marshal didn’t cuff me. He didn’t touch me at all, not unless I counted the way his hand hovered near the door as I slid in, steady but careful, like he didn’t want to startle me.

He didn’t close it.

The door remained open beside me, wide enough for air, for escape - technically.

Still, my lungs didn’t understand the difference right away. My breath came shallow, too fast, like my body was waiting for the next command.

Marshal leaned in through the open door. His face was calm, but his eyes were sharp, present, watching me the way you watch someone standing too close to the edge of a roof.

“Do you need medical?” he asked quietly.

I shook my head. “No.”

“Okay.” He nodded once, filing it away. “I’m going to ask you a few questions before we move.”

I swallowed, throat dry. “Okay.”

He glanced toward the porch. Seth stood near the bottom step, hands loose at his sides, trying to look neutral and failing. He wasn’t looking at Trevor. He was looking at me.

Marshal followed my gaze and softened his voice. “He’s staying right there.”

A small relief loosened something in my ribs.

Marshal’s eyes returned to mine. “You said you don’t feel safe.”