Page 7 of Cade

CHAPTER THREE

Cassidy felt the stabbing pain as her attacker thrust inside her. She felt the pain and the burning, screaming into the dirty t-shirt wrapped around her mouth. Tears were streaming down her face. It was gone. The thing she’d held onto for so long, praying to find the right man. It was gone.

He wrapped his hands around her throat, cursing at her, spit flying out of his mouth, and hitting her face. Light faded in and out, and then suddenly, the darkness was gone. It was replaced by a shadow. At first, it was unrecognizable, then she saw the face.

“It’s okay, baby. I’m here,” whispered Cade. He cut the tape holding the t-shirt in place, then at her wrists. Bleeding and naked, he pulled the blanket from the hotel bed, wrapping her securely in it, lifting her in his arms.

“C-Cade,” she gasped.

“It’s alright, honey, it’s alright. I’m gonna get you home,” he said. He was so filled with anger, he could barely see. His brother directed him to leave with the others to get Cass back to Belle Fleur and her family.

Holding her in the backseat of the SUV, he wiped away the blood on her face, whispering to her the whole time. At one point, she passed out, and Cade leaned over her.

“You can’t leave me, Cass. We have too much to do, too much to talk about. You have to stay, honey, please,” he whispered. She opened her eyes briefly, then closed them again as he handed her off to the medical team.

It was hours later that they came out to tell them she would be okay. Her outsides would heal, but the rape wouldn’t be so easy for her to get over. She was broken. Broken in a way that he wasn’t certain anyone could fix. When they told him that she was asking for him, he couldn’t believe it. Nodding, he walked toward the back slowly. He was afraid of seeing that battered body and face again. Afraid he might do something foolish.

“Hey, sweet girl,” he grinned.

“C-Cade,” she said in a raspy voice.

“It’s alright. Don’t talk,” he said, kneeling beside the bed. “I just need for you to get well, so we can dance together at your sister’s wedding.”

Cassidy stared at him, her eyes filling with tears. Tears and something he never wanted to see. Defeat.

“Thank you for being there, Cade.”

“Nowhere in the world I wanted to be except right there for you. I’m only sorry I didn’t get there sooner.” She shook her head.

“I egged him on. I made him angrier,” she said, biting her lip. She realized her mistake as her lip began to bleed again. Cade leaned forward, wiping the blood with his finger and licking it off. He grabbed a tissue and pressed it gently against the cut.

“You didn’t do anything wrong, Cass. Nothing. I just need you to get well, baby.”

“I think I’m tired now, Cade. Will you send Mom and Dad in?”

“Of course,” he said, swallowing as he stared down at her. “I’m here if you need me, Cass.”

She spent three more days in the hospital before finally being released to her parents’ care. Carrie and Robbie postponed the wedding two weeks, hoping that she would be healed and feel more like participating. But something had shifted in his bright star. The spark and shine once there was gone.

Cade was surprised when he saw her looking so beautiful at the wedding. But when their eyes connected, he saw it again. The lack of spark. The lack of fight. She was giving up, and she didn’t even know it yet. He heard applause and someone speak.

“Ladies and gentlemen, I introduce you to Mr. and Mrs. Robbie Robicheaux,” said the priest. The entire grove broke into roaring applause as the two kissed. Carrie took her flowers from her sister, kissing her cheek.

“Thank you for being here, Cass.”

“Nowhere else I want to be,” she smiled. Cade watched her carefully.

Her cuts were healed, her stitches gone, the bruises faded, but Cassidy Pechkin was mutilated on the inside where no one could see. She smiled at the crowds as she walked down the aisle, following her sister. She gave a head nod to Celeste and Garrett, then to William and Benjamin, happy to see her big brothers. When she got to the back of the grove, Cade stood there waiting for her. He extended his elbow and grinned at her.

“I’d sure like to be your dance partner tonight,” he said, giving her a sweet smile.

“Cade,” she whispered, shaking her head. “I’m not sure I can dance tonight. I just don’t feel like it.”

“You gotta dance with the wedding party. At least give me that one.” She nodded, and he took her hand, leading her to the buffet. “You need to eat. You’re getting skinnier than your sister.”

“I am not!” she laughed. “Cade, why are you being so nice to me? You did everything right. You don’t owe me anything, and you certainly don’t have to babysit me. Phillipe is gone now. My demon is dead.”

“Is it?” he frowned, tilting his head at her. She stared at him, swallowing, then looked away. “Maybe I’m being nice because I like being nice to you.”

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