Harry jotted in his notepad and looked back up at me. “We can check security cameras. What happened next?”

I drew in a breath to fill my lungs and began reciting the events of the attack, my eyes cast down to the belt of my robe the entire time. The heat returned, searing my stiff body in place. I couldn’t even lift my head to peek at Logan, but the fury radiating off him was evident.

“Kurt was mad at me. He blamed me for…” I stopped, remembering his words about Logan paying off guards.

“Blamed you for what?” Harry pressed.

I tucked that secret away and lifted my head. “For his arrest outside Haven.”

Harry wrote it down, seemingly convinced, and continued with more questions that left me uncomfortable and fidgeting under the pressure to relive the events so soon.

“I’m sorry I have to ask this, Cassandra, but it’s important.” The sheriff’s brows dipped as he glanced from me to Logan, then back at me. “Did he sexually assault you?”

I shook my head without thinking, not wanting to reveal those details, and bit down hard on my bottom lip. Logan’s hand grasped mine tighter; I moved to pull it away, but his grip didn’t falter.

My scalp prickled, my entire body scorching from the heat of what I wanted to avoid. My throat went dry; all attempts to swallow and clear it were in vain.

“No,” I answered hoarsely. “He tried, but Logan arrived in time to…to intervene. He didn’t rape—” My breath cut off.

“Yes, but was there sexual assault?” Harry asked, choosing his words carefully.

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The shock of what I’d been trying to deny was setting in slowly. I wasn’t raped, but I was terrified, threatened, and hurt by what Kurt had almost done—what had almost happened.

Almost. A pounding began in my temple, cruel emotions seeping through.

“I don’t know.” I shook my head again, willing the tears away. No, I can’t crack. I didn’t want to feel it yet. I preferred the numbness.

Logan dropped my hand and released an exasperated, drawn-out breath, startling me. I thought he was going to jump to his feet with how quickly he sat up vibrating with rage, but instead he pumped his hands into fists at his sides, his knuckles ghost white.

“Yes, he assaulted her. I told you already. He had her on the goddamned floor with his pants open. Her panties were…”

Logan pressed his lips together as though he was enduring physical pain before continuing through gritted teeth.

“He would have raped her! You’re gonna charge him with sexual assault on top of attempted murder. His intent and threats were clear, so you better put together a list against that piece of shit long enough to keep him locked behind bars for the rest of his pitiful fucking existence, or I swear to God I’ll…” Veins bulged in his neck.

I stared at him, unable to look away. Logan could never really scare me, but I still trembled at his intimidating tone and the excruciating hurt in his eyes.

“I understand this is difficult, Mr. West, but you need to remain calm,” Harry said carefully, trying to defuse the ticking bomb beside me. “We will, of course, do everything in our power to ensure he remains off the streets.”

“You’re damn right you will. My family has a long-standing relationship with the district attorney. I won’t let this case fall through the cracks of a backwoods buddy system.”

Harry cleared his throat, his irritation evident, and sat up taller. Shit, here it comes. One thing I knew about Harry was he wasn’t someone you wanted to cross.

“Mr. West, I can assure you that my office has no buddy system in place. We abide by the law—backwoods or not.”

Logan’s knee jolted, frustration seething from his features. “Really? Then how did Kurt get released?”

“The same way any inmate does: His bail was posted. He was out free while he awaited trial.”

“Don’t patronize me! I was to be notified if that happened, yet my guy knew nothing about it.”

Harry cocked his head to the side, more interested in than annoyed by Logan’s admission. “And who would your guy be?” Harry asked.

Logan said nothing, his expression frozen with fury. I’d never seen him like that before. He looked different—threatening and dangerous—but I knew it was because he cared about me and wanted to protect me. But still, the knowledge that he’d paid guards the first time Kurt was arrested didn’t sit well with me. Was there a dangerous side to Logan I didn’t know about?

I suddenly remembered my mother warning me about an arrest on his file.

Harry tapped his notepad against his leg. “It seems you have your own buddy system, Mr. West. As for the district attorney, I will make sure they have everything they need to properly prosecute this case.”

Logan opened his mouth to respond but I spoke up, ending the exchange before it got any more heated.

“Thank you, Harry.”

Harry’s smile was sweet and genuine as he looked to me. “Cassandra, I promise you we’ll do everything we can. You’re family to the station—to me.”

Logan sighed when I placed my hand on his leg, but it did nothing to relax his set jaw and hard stare focused on the floor.

“All right.” Harry closed his notepad and stood. “I think we have all we need for today. I’ll be in touch.”

He tipped his hat, then turned toward the officers pooled in the hall to leave the room just as my mother burst through the front door. I leapt up, wanting to cry at the fear in her bright-red eyes that glistened with unshed tears.

“Cassandra, thank God, Cassandra!”

I flew up and fell into her arms the second she reached me. My head dipped to her shoulder and her embrace tightened, just like it did when I was hurt as a child.

“I should have had George keep an eye on that scumbag. I should have known he was released. I didn’t think he would—”

“It’s okay. I’m fine.”

“No! It’s not okay, and don’t give me that line. I know you. I know when my daughter is fine, and right now you are anything but.”

“Mom…” I didn’t know what to say. She was right, and deep down I knew it.

“I’m going to take care of this. George is working tonight, and I called him on the way over. He’s got an eye on that fucker!”

“Mom!” I gasped, surprised at her language. She only cursed when she was extremely stressed. I pulled back, choking down burning tears.

She placed her fingertip delicately under the bandages on my cheek and sighed. She closed then opened her eyes, a determined gleam emitting from them. “That’s it—you’re coming back home. You can move into your old room for at least the next few weeks.”

I scoffed, wanting to laugh at how ridiculous it sounded. But I had to admit it also sounded comforting.

“No, I can’t have anything else happen to you,” Mom continued, her voice cracking. “You have no idea how it feels to hear your daughter’s address over the radio. And after everything we went through on New Year’s.” She pulled me close again, smoothing my hair. “You’re burning up. Are you feeling okay?”

I stepped back. “Yeah, it’s just warm in here.”

She wiped her eyes. “When I heard your address, I…I couldn’t get here fast enough. I was in the middle of a traffic stop, and the guy had a warrant. I was going crazy not knowing if anyone was getting out here to you.”




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