I closed my eyes and tried to focus on what they were saying. “Brant, we have to leave. Get up. I can’t carry you. You’re in danger. It’s not safe here. The FBI is watching the building. They know what Rocky is up to. Get up. I don’t want you to go to jail. I know this FBI agent who can help us. Please come with me. I forgive you for what happened with Tammy. I need you to come with me.”
“Get the fuck off me, Cassie. You’re too good for me. I fucked up. I can’t do this anymore. We don’t want the same things. You should just go home to your family. It’s what you want anyway.”
“No. I won’t leave you. Aren’t you hearing me? The FBI task force is coming to arrest you. They probably have the house surrounded.”
“Get my gun. It’s in my duffle bag under the bed. Ain’t no one taking me out of here.”
Her boyfriend’s words were unnerving.
Panic struck me when I realized how loud they were talking. It was only a matter of time before James heard them and realized he was about to go down. I had to get inside of that house.
I didn’t care if I was spotted as I darted across the back lawn to enter through the rear. Then I saw him, James loading a gun as he listened from the next room over. My eyes widen and focused on the coffee table where a silencer sat in front of him. He slowly began screwing it on, giving me only seconds before I could get inside and attempt to save them from their impending fate.
Chapter 17
Cassie
I was desperate and enraged. I’d arrived to discover Tammy and Brant fucking on the bed we’d shared. I should have known he was drunk from the way he smiled, as if being caught was funny to him. I slapped him several times while giving Tammy a piece of my mind. I shouldn’t have expected her to be trustworthy. I’d known all along she was only out for herself.
She tried to say Brant had come onto her when we first arrived. She claimed they’d had sex several times while I was in the house with them. I didn’t know who to believe.
Then I remembered why I’d come back, and what I needed to do to convince Brant staying was a bad idea. Tammy was still giving me hell about not being good enough to satisfy my boyfriend, so I did what every country girl would have done when they felt threatened. I jacked her ass up, smacking her hard enough where I sent her down to the floor. She fell so hard her high heel broke in half and flung across the room. She kicked off the other shoe and whined about them costing more than I was worth, before running out the door to avoid me killing her with my bare hands.
Once we were alone, I went after Brant, desperate to convince him we needed to get out of there. In those moments I didn’t care about him cheating, or what our relationship would be going forward. I just needed to know he was away from Rocky.
I shook my boyfriend while trying to get him to sober up enough to hear me. “Brant, we have to leave. Get up. I can’t carry you. You’re in danger. It’s not safe here. The FBI is watching the building. They know what Rocky is up to. Get up. I don’t want you to go to jail. Please come with me. I forgive you for what happened with Tammy. I need you to come with me.”
“Get the fuck off me, Cassie. You’re too good for me. I fucked up. I can’t do this anymore. We don’t want the same things. You should just go home to your family. It’s what you want anyway.”
“No. I won’t leave you. Aren’t you hearing me? The FBI will arrest you. They probably have the house surrounded.”
Finally, I had his attention. His eyes widened and after staring at me for a second he pointed toward something. “Get my gun. It’s in my duffle bag under the bed. Ain’t no one taking me out of here.”
I rushed for his gun, only to realize what I was about to do. Did I want a shoot out happening between my boyfriend, Rocky and the FBI? Would I be caught in the crossfires? I handed him his gun, but refused to let go of it. “Wait. Don’t do this. We can leave out the back and the agents will protect us. My agent friend is right outside. He’ll keep you safe if you just tell him what you know.”
“I’m not a rat, Cassie.” He aimed the gun at me after jerking it out of my hold. “What have you done? Do they have me on tape? Did they see what we did? Do they know it’s going down right now?”
I threw up my hands to keep him from pulling the trigger. “No, please don’t hurt me. It’s not what you think. I didn’t go to the police or the FBI. Are you crazy? I wouldn’t do that. I didn’t want to tell them anything. They threatened me. They said I’d go to jail if I didn’t tell them what Rocky was up to. They don’t know anything. They have no idea about anything tonight.”
“What did you say to them? Do you have any idea what you’ve done?”
I opened my mouth to answer, but closed it when I heard Rocky’s voice coming from outside of the room. “Yo, Brant. Can you come out here for minute? I think we need to discuss the future of your relationship with your girlfriend. I warned you about what would happen if either of you fucked this up for me.”
Brant shoved me out of the way and left the room. I covered my mouth and tried to remain calm. Rocky had heard what I was saying. He knew he was in a ton of trouble, and blamed it all on me.
Rocky wanted me gone. He was threatening to kill me, and Brant was defending me still. I didn’t know what to do. I wasn’t even sure if Agent Campbell knew I’d arrived and gone inside the house. The other agents didn’t know who I was. They could have thought I was someone there for the party. All of a sudden it got quiet.
I peeked around the corner to find them gone.
Then I could hear the conversation still going on. It was getting louder again. I prepared to run in and plead my case to Rocky, begging for him to spare us because I didn’t have a choice. Even if he was a cold-blooded killer, he had to have a conscience. If this was the last thing I did in my life I wanted to die because I was trying to save someone I cared about.
The voices were close again. There was arguing and then a loud gunshot, my body startled and became full of worry.
I waited to see Brant come back into the room. I thought he was the one who’d shot Rocky.
Then I heard a man’s voice, and I knew Brant wasn’t the one coming to rescue me. Rocky was alive.
“Brant!” I called out.
“Sorry, your boyfriend had to go. I told him it was a bad idea to bring you along. He said you wouldn’t be any trouble. Girls like you are always the problem, Cassie. Do you have any idea how hard I’ve worked to be successful? You think the cops are going to come in and haul me away? Even if they do, I’ll be out of jail in a matter of days. They can’t stop me. I’ve got a few of them in my pocket. This is way bigger than you think, little girl.”
I had to find a way out of the house. He’d be coming for me next. He knew my being alive jeopardized everything he’d worked so hard to protect. He needed to tie up loose ends, in order to continue with his plans. I knew at any minute he’d find me hiding. His gun would discharge and put me out of my misery. As hard as it was to focus, I began to pray for someone to save me before it was too late. I begged for an angel to guide me into the light when it happened. I didn’t want to die within the darkness, alone, without the family I longed to be able to see one more time.
Then I heard my savior’s voice in almost a whisper. He’d come to rescue me from my impending fate. His hand was reaching for mine, while the other held up a revolver locked and loaded for protection. “I’ve got you, Cassie. It’s going to be okay. I’m getting you out of here.”
I clung to him as he lifted me out the bedroom window. Once my feet hit the ground another agent was there to take me to safety. I turned back around to make sure Agent Campbell was following, but he disappeared back inside.
I heard yelling again, but couldn’t make out what was being said. Another team of agents kicked in the front door and entered the home. I watched it unfold from behind a car.
There were more gun shots and then a lot of silence. I covered my mouth and tried to hold in the tears, but was unsuccessful. My heart was being torn into a milli
on pieces. Before I knew what was happening, my delicious burger made a second appearance. I vomited all over the ground and my feet. My knees became weak and I fell down to the side of my puke. This wasn’t happening.
My ears began to ring, and I was losing my ability to think rationally.
Had this really happened? Was my boyfriend, the man I supposedly loved, dead inside of the house? Had I been the reason he’d been shot?
I already knew the answer, and it made me feel sicker. I couldn’t handle what I’d done. I wished I’d been the one who was shot.
While struggling, I heard someone calling my name. It was hard to recognize at first. It wasn’t like I’d known him long enough to familiarize myself with it.
Agent Campbell ran up toward me, lifting me to a standing position. I watched an ambulance pull into the driveway and the paramedics rushing inside the house. I glanced at Agent Campbell, and then back to the house. Being escorted out in handcuffs was Rocky.
Once I knew he couldn’t hurt me, I made a dash for the front door, desperate to find Brant unharmed. I knew it was unlikely, but still hoped for a miracle.
There was blood everywhere. A pool was forming under his body as the medical workers did their best to revive him. They were doing CPR and calling out for him to breathe. I sank down beside him and fell apart. I thought he was my future. We’d run away to start a life together, only to have it be the end of his. I couldn’t contain the excruciating emotions that overwhelmed me.
Every second that went by left little hope for Brant to survive. As I waited for the verdict, I felt someone come up behind me and touch my shoulder. I already knew who it was, though I didn’t turn to address him. If he wanted to take me to jail for interfering I deserved it. There was nothing else to live for now. I’d lost my hopes for a future. I’d not only caused the death of my boyfriend, but I’d lost hope for my own life. I’d never be able to forgive myself for what I’d done.
The moment they announced his death I knew nothing would ever be the same. When Agent Campbell lifted me to stand again, I held out my wrists and prepared to be detained. This time I’d take that call, and I knew exactly who I needed to reach out to.
Chapter 18
Logan
I wished it didn’t have to end this way; with her surrendering as if she’d been a part of this from the beginning. Instead of cuffing Cassie, I pulled her into my arms and let her cry. She was unresponsive for a few seconds, and then finally broke down.
There was nothing I could say to ease the pain. She’d lost the person she thought she’d spend the rest of her life with. Regardless of what he’d done, she’d forever blame herself. I knew I was to blame, at least for her part in it all.
As much as I’d tried to protect her, some people just don’t want to be saved. For Cassie, it was more of her needing to make up for her mistakes. She wanted to do the right thing and save her boyfriend. Unfortunately she was unable to convince him they were better off leaving. Brant was probably too messed up to understand what was happening. Maybe if he’d been sober she could have gotten to him in time.
While I stood holding the girl I barely knew, I watched the paramedics preparing Brant for transport. He’d be taken the morgue and from there someone would have to claim his body. I wondered if it would have to be Cassie. Would she have to suffer the pain over and over again until it consumed her? Would she revert back to drug use to alleviate the pain?
A part of me wished it were that easy. I’d buried my feelings deep inside of me and let them linger for far too long. By the time I started to feel better, I had so much pent up anger I needed to take it out on something. I destroyed property, and beat my drunk friend to a pulp. After that night something inside of me changed. I knew I couldn’t inflict harm on others just because my life sucked.
I had a choice, and I chose to get myself together.
I’d prided myself in being a sort of hero. On this night I’d been the reaper. My involvement had left one man dead. As I held onto the woman who loved him, I wondered if she’d ever see me as anything more than the person who caused this to happen. Blaming me would come easy for her, and I couldn’t expect it to be any other way. It was my burden to carry, and hers to overcome.
“Come on. Let me get you out of here.”
She pulled away and walked in the direction of her bedroom, from what I assumed. I followed her, watching as she gathered her things. Her sniffles indicated she was still crying, even though I was unable to see her face. “Do you need help?” I offered.
“No. I think you’ve done enough.”
“Cassie, I never meant for anyone to get hurt. You know that. I begged you not to come here tonight.”
“Don’t.” She pointed at me. “You don’t get to scold me. I know exactly what I’ve done.”
“I wasn’t going to scold you.”
She rushed by me. “Just get me out of here. I can’t stand around staring at the blood for any longer.”
I don’t know why I kept pushing. It was obvious she needed time to take it all in and understand what came next. She had a long road ahead of her, and I wished there was something I could do to make it easier. I hated having something to do with her pain.
That’s when I knew I was going to watch out for her, at least until she could get back on her feet, or finally be able to call her family and ask them to forgive her. Cassie needed support, not someone pushing her to do the right thing.
I’d caught my guy. While he was behind bars, we’d tear his life apart until we found enough evidence to keep him in jail for the rest of his days.
Chapter 19
Cassie
Dead.
Brant was dead.
It kept repeating in my head, including the sound of the gun going off. After seeing Rocky being carted out I realized he’d been injured. I wondered if Brant had gotten a shot in before being gunned down. I hoped it were the case, because at least he didn’t go down without trying.
Agent Campbell drove us away from the scene. I didn’t really care where we were going. I knew I’d been clean for long enough where drugs weren’t in my system, but I still felt dizzy and out of control. My mouth tasted like puke, and my stomach was back to reminding me it was yet again empty. I stared out the window, watching the miles distance me from where I’d witnessed something horrifying. I didn’t know the first thing about overcoming such a devastating loss. I honestly didn’t even know if I wanted to. I felt responsible. So many times I could have said something to Brant. If I’d only acted sooner he would have still been with me.
Then I thought about the cheating, and the way he’d abandoned me in my time of need. Would we still be a couple if he’d lived? Could I have forgiven him for being unfaithful?
I didn’t think so. I’d made too many sacrifices to be able to let something so serious go without punishment. I didn’t want to be in an uncommitted relationship. I craved stability and faithfulness. If Brant couldn’t be monogamous, why had I wasted my time?
I suppose I should have suspected it. He’d been keeping secrets since the time we’d arrived. I chalked it up to being about the job, even though I sort of knew it wasn’t the only reason.
In that instant I thought about my parents. Still to this day they were madly in love. If my mom hadn’t gotten her tubes tied they’d probably have a dozen of us kids running around. I appreciated the way my father was also gentle with her. I valued their friendship, and the commitment they shared to be each other’s best friends. Against their better judgment I’d fallen for the wrong type of guy. I think I was drawn to him, or guys with problems. Maybe in some ways I was one of those women who thought they could fix their messed up man.
I’d failed.
I’d sent my boyfriend into an early grave. I’d destroyed hope that we’d have a future. We had nothing to show for, except a huge mess I couldn’t begin to fix. My future may have been unwritten, but I couldn’t begin to imagine ever being happy again.
When we arrived back at Ag
ent Campbell’s house I was a little confused. “With Rocky locked up am I still in danger?”
“Cassie, we’ve learned Mr. James hasn’t been working alone. While we were involved in his arrest, the operation was going on in different places. We managed to obtain his books from within the home. Until we can figure out how many suspects are involved, you’re our only witness. It’s my duty to keep you safe.”
“Oh great. Are we going to watch eighties movies and paint each other’s nails?”
“Look, I’m sorry about what happened to your boyfriend. I know it must be hard for you. I’m not trying to make you angry. I’ll do my best to keep my distance.”
“Whatever,” I said as I climbed out of his sedan.
Once I’d stormed to the front door, I realized I had to wait for him to unlock it. He came up beside me and put the key into the hole. For a brief second he glanced in my direction. Our eyes met, and I had to turn away. He was the reason all this was happening. I realized the investigation was above his pay grade, but if he hadn’t come into my life Brant would still be alive. I needed someone to blame and he was the easiest target.
His house was exactly as we’d left it. Even the lights were still on in the kitchen and dining room. While I sat down on the couch and cried to myself, Agent Campbell got right on his phone and started briefing his boss on everything that had transpired.
I listened to his every word, looking for more reasons to hate him. Of course, the topic of me running away and barging into Rocky’s house came up. Right away I felt guilty. He’d told me to steer clear of the property. He’d tried to keep me safe.
I was so confused.
The pain didn’t subside, and as the minutes turned to hours I remained in the same position on the couch. Agent Campbell never checked on me until he was ready to go to bed. He brought me a pillow and blanket, waiting until I got comfortable before cuffing me to his end table. “Seriously? Is this necessary?”
Cassie (The Mitchell/Healy Family #6) Page 11