Page 92 of Shadows of You

“You don’t have to hide anymore,” I surmised.

“No. I’ll still have to be careful and figure out ways to shield Cady as much as possible. But I’m ready to stand my ground. We’ve built a beautiful life here, and I’ll fight for that.”

Seeing a bit of her fire and strength reemerge soothed something in me, but the terror still ate away at my insides. “You’re going to be okay.”

“Why don’t you look like you believe that?”

I cursed the fact that Aspen was always so damned perceptive. “I do.”

She was quiet for a moment and then gripped my hand tighter. “Grae told me what happened when you were younger. That you were a suspect in Wren’s attack. That people in Cedar Ridge turned against you. This has to bring a little of that back. If you want to talk about—”

“I don’t,” I snapped.

Aspen stilled but didn’t let go of my hand, didn’t let my temper or scowl scare her off the way it did with others. “If you don’t talk to me, talk to someone. Don’t let it take you under.”

Pressure built down deep. So much of it, it felt like I might combust. “I don’t want anything to happen to you.”

I felt her stare boring into my face, carrying a million silent questions with it.

“Got jumped when it all went down.”

Aspen’s hand spasmed around mine. “Grae didn’t say anything about that.”

“She doesn’t know.”

“Because she was younger when it happened?”

I shook my head, keeping my gaze on the animals in the pasture. “None of my family knows.”

Aspen sucked in a sharp breath. “Why?”

“They had enough going on. Holt and Grae were a wreck with Wren in the hospital. Nash felt guilty as hell because he’d made Holt late on his way to meet Wren. Lawson was new on the force. My parents were just trying to keep us all afloat.”

“But how could you cover up something like that?” she whispered.

I shrugged. “Told the doctor and them I’d fallen off my mountain bike. Doctor didn’t believe me, but I was over eighteen. He couldn’t do a damned thing.”

“You were alone in it.”

I turned at that, searching Aspen’s gorgeous face. “The same way you were.”

She threaded her fingers through mine. “You never reported it?”

“I couldn’t see who it was. They got me from behind on my way home. I had a house in town back then. One of them hit me so hard on the head I blacked out. Think that’s what saved me. Not any fun to beat on someone who’s unconscious.”

Aspen paled. “Roan…”

“I was fine. Concussion. A few broken ribs, broken arm. Eye swollen shut. Black and blue.”

Her fingers tightened their hold. “But you had to live not knowing who hurt you. The cops got the guys who hurt me when that reporter leaked where I worked. They got some serious jail time. You haven’t had any closure. That has to be terrifying.”

My jaw worked back and forth. “I’m careful. I watch my back. I’m good.”

“You aren’t good. You’ve completely isolated yourself from the rest of the world.”

“It’s better that way. Easier.”

“For who?” Aspen challenged. “You must get lonely. And the rest of the world misses out on the gift you are.”

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