Chapter Cassidy
CASSIDY
“It what, Cass?” he grits out.
My grip on his hand remains firm as I deliver my truth. “He took Noah from me; he told me he was selling him.”
He freezes, then blinks as he stares back at me with pure fury. “Where the fuck did he take him? When was this?” His voice rises, and while I know it’s not aimed at me, I don’t like it. “Who was he selling him to?”
“I-I don’t know. I think it happened a couple of years before we were rescued. We weren’t allowed a clock or calendar, Colton.” He softens the moment I say his name. “Noah said he was kept in the dark. It’s why he doesn’t like it now.”
He drags his free hand over his head. “Fuck, Cass.” This time, it’s me comforting him. I stroke his thumb until I feel like I can continue, then I pull my shoulders back.
“He brought him back to me like he was presenting me with a gift, and I guess he was, the most precious gift in the world. I never tried to run again after that. I just wanted to keep my baby safe.”
“Where’d he keep him?” He clears his throat. “Did he ever bring anyone around the house?”
“I don’t know where it was. The farmhouse we lived in, he once said it was his granddaddy’s house.
It was old and in the middle of nowhere, with fields all around it.
The other side of the field there was a barn, and, on some nights, when the wind blew in the right direction, I could hear men talking at the barn, but I was too scared to go and see.
I never saw a soul, only heard them. I swear it. ”
“This place is it the same one as the police found you at?”
“Yes.”
He nods, deep in thought.
“But you never saw anyone?”
Irritation burns beneath my skin. “No,” I snap. “I’d tell you if I had.”
“I’m sorry. I just—” He lets out a long breath. “He kept you for years, Cass.”
“I know that. Do you think I don’t know that?”
“Of course, I’m sorry.” He brings my hand to his lips again. “I just, you never saw another person all this time. I hate that you were kept so fuckin’ isolated, baby.” His words reassure me enough to continue.
“I saw my mama on television. He liked to taunt me with her press conferences.” A heavy ball of anxiety grows in my stomach whenever I allow my mind to flicker back to the image of my mom pleading for my return.
“It was so horrible to watch.” I swipe at the tears on my cheeks, and Killa is quick to hold my hand again.
“You told me your mama died.”
My breath is stolen from me at the memory, and all I can do is nod.
“He took her television and used it to show me the news of her death. The news of his achievement,” I spit out with venom.
He growls and stares back at me in horror.
“He said it was my fault for trying to escape and that he’d heard enough of me crying for my mama.
That if she wasn’t here anymore, I couldn’t cry for her.
” I twist the bedsheet in my free hand with anger.
Anger at him for hurting her, and anger at myself for giving him the power to destroy someone so important to me. “Can you believe that?”
Shock mars Killa’s features. “He killed her?”
“Y-Yes. Because of me,” I choke out on a sob, so he hauls me into him, and I fall willingly into his arms. His safe and loving arms.