Page 47 of Finding English

“Please, Henry?” Cassie laid a hand on his arm.

He looked at her with stern defiance that softened when he saw her fear for him. “Fine.”

Cass smiled, knowing it was a disgruntled agreement.

Leaving him, she went with Jack to sit in the waiting room. For the first ten minutes she was okay but then the fact Henry had been shot hit her, and hot tears pricked her eyes. She abruptly stood and Jack stood too.

“I need to use the bathroom.”

“Fine, I’ll come too.”

Cassie threw her hands up and turned on her heel, following the signs to the ladies’ room, Jack one step behind her.

As she put her hand on the door, Jack stopped her.

“Let me check.” He walked in front of her checking each stall was clear before moving back to the door. “I’ll be outside.”

Cassie nodded, sagging against the wall as he left. Her composure was slipping, and she needed a few minutes to gather her fortitude. Using the facilities, she set her bag on the side and washed her hands before taking a glance in the mirror at her reflection. She looked tired and pale, her warm coloring hiding it from most, but she could see the shadows under eyes.

A sharp piercing noise rent the air, and Cassie looked around, recognizing the fire alarm.

Jack was beside her in seconds. “We need to leave.”

His expression was all business, and she didn’t dare question him in this situation.

As he pulled her out of the restroom the hallway began to fill with smoke. Jack kept a tight hold on her arm as he steered her toward the exit. People were panicking—screaming, jostling each other—and her grasp got separated from Jack.

Turning back, she saw him trying to shove through the throng of people to get to her. She rounded a corner, pushed along with the tide of people and lost sight of Jack.

Passing a door, she felt something sharp dig into her side as the man in front of her turned around, and the face from her nightmares stared at her.

“Finally.”

Those were the last words she heard as her world began to lose focus, her mind on Henry and Michaela and what this would mean for them.