Page 52 of Sinister Secrets

As much as I appreciate that, cherish having a partner who’s willing to constantly deal with the endless chaos that surrounds me, I’ve been using him as a crutch. Now that I’m an active agent again, that has to stop. This time I need to handle it myself. It feels like an important step, one that I need to take in order to rebuild the pieces of myself I lost in that basement.

I pray that the smile I force is more believable than the one he faked moments ago as I make a decision I know he won’t understand. “I’ll just miss you, is all.”

“It’s just for the next week. I promise.”

“How can you be so sure?”

“Because the project deadline is next Friday. I’ll either have managed to save the deal by then or not. Either way, I’ll be back here with you where I belong by then. Just try to keep me away a second longer.”

“Do you have time to stay for dinner? I grabbed some takeout.”

He grimaces. “I better not.”

“At least take some with you?”

Jake holds my gaze for a long moment before nodding, as if knowing that I need this one victory, as tiny as it might seem. “That would be great. Thanks.”

I head back out to the kitchen to split the food up, unable to bear watching him pack. Telling myself that I’ll be fine on my own. After all, I spent decades alone. Dealt with the loss of my partner, the initial trauma of having been held by a serial killer, and so much more over the years by myself.

Besides, this is a good thing. A chance for me to prove to myself that I can stand on my own again. Not to mention that until I figure out what’s going on, Jake will be safer at a distance. I tell myself it’ll be one less thing to worry about, even if my brain doesn’t believe the lie.

Because it doesn’t matter what spin I put on it. Something feels wrong about this.

The sight of Jake as he emerges with his bag packed and slung over his shoulder feels more traumatic than seeing the photos of myself—of the brand that had been seared into the flesh of my back—that had been taken at the hospital after my ordeal.

Though the parting kiss he gives me is full of promise, his lingering embrace making it clear where he wants to be, there’s no denying that I feel hollow as I watch him go. And that a little piece of me is worried that he won’t be back.

CHAPTER 29

Hours pass. Day cedes to night. Long shadows drift across the room until they join hands, casting the room in darkness. And yet I don’t move. Don’t turn on the light. Don’t wrap up the leftover food that remains in the Styrofoam containers before me. I just sit alone in the gloom, sipping from the glass of vodka cradled in my hand, occasionally pouring myself another.

Beeps sound as someone enters the code into the keypad, and for a brief second, I feel a jolt of hope pulse through me. It vanishes an instant later as the sound of Chelsea humming softly to herself grows louder as she approaches the kitchen. Her palm smacks against the switch on the wall, illuminating the room.

“Oh!” She jumps back, a hand pressed to her chest. “Cassie! I’m sorry, I didn’t know anyone was home. Is everything okay?” She takes a step backward, as if planning her escape.

“Everything’s great.”

Her mouth twitches. She eyes me warily like I’ve been bitten by a zombie, and she expects me to turn any second. “Then why are you sitting here alone in the dark?”

“I had a headache.”

“Do you want me to turn the lights back off?”

“No, it’s fine. It’s better now.”

She snags a fry and pops it in her mouth. Makes a face as she chews cold potato. Gesturing to the rest of the food, I say, “You might want to heat it up, but please, help yourself. It’s just going to go to waste otherwise.”

Chelsea eyes me suspiciously. “Won’t Jake want some?”

“He had to leave to take care of some loose ends on the deal he’s been working. He won’t be back for a few days.”

“On a Saturday? That sucks.” A grin splits her face a moment later as her gaze lands on the handle of vodka on the table. “We should totally have a slumber party!”

“I don’t think so.”

“Oh please, Cassie, say yes. It’ll be fun!”

“I should get some sleep.”