Page 60 of Gin & Jewels

“I can’t let—”

“It’s fine, Cass. I already told her it was your last day.”

She arched a brow. “You did?”

“Yes. Shit is going to go down, and I need to know you’re safe.”

“I know, but I have to at least give her two weeks.”

“Trust me, it’s okay.” I took a bite of the chicken with a chunk of blue cheese.

“How?”

“They handled the diner before you arrived. I’m sure they can manage until they find someone else.”

“I don’t want to look bad in your mom’s eyes.”

“Once we tell her everything that’s happening, she will understand.”

“Right. Well, my shift is over in thirty minutes. Maybe we should leave now?”

I stood. “Mind boxing my salad up while I let my mom know?”

Cassie nodded. “Sure.”

Ten minutes later, Cassie was getting into the passenger seat of the rental car. “I can’t believe this is happening,” she said, buckling her seatbelt.

I grabbed her hand and laced our fingers together. “Everything will be okay.”

“I need to tell you something else before you start driving.”

“Okay?” I turned slightly to face her, our hands still locked together.

“The guy who shot you—Micky?” I nodded. “When you dropped me off from the wedding, he was pissed and thought you were a cop. That’s what triggered everything.”

“Okay?” I prompted again.

She swallowed. “He was so angry, thinking that I was going to turn him in, that he snapped and started choking me.”

“What?” I growled. My blood was instantly on fire as I envisioned the guy with his hands around her slender neck.

“My brother stopped him before he could do anything serious to me.”

“Choking youisserious. He should haveneverput his hands on you.”

“I know, and I think that is also why my brother chose to leave.”

“Cassie—”

“Look,” she sighed, “I’m just telling you because I want you to know everything.”

“And you’re going to tell the police this too?”

She nodded. “Yes, of course.”

I pulled her to me and wrapped my arms around her the best I could with the center console between us. “Everything is going to be okay.”

She nodded against my chest, and I held her for a few moments before turning and putting the car into reverse. Once out of the parking lot, I looked in the rearview mirror and saw a car that looked like the one her brother owned pull out of the parking lot behind me. It wasn’t there when we got into the rental—I’d made sure of it—so I didn’t know if he had driven up as we’d climbed in or what. I didn’t say anything to Cassie because I didn’t want to worry her. No matter what, I could handle her brother. I might not have officially met him, but I’d had him in a chokehold once, and I could have ended his life then if I’d wanted to—I was trained for it—but I wouldn’t do that to Cassie. Killing her brother, even if it were self-defense, would crush her, but that didn’t mean I didn’t know other means to diffuse situations if the need were to arise.