Chapter Twelve Zenovia
(Four Weeks Later)
Evy runs from one side to the other side as she delivers the lunches to the police officers in the bakery.
We have been extremely busy the last few weeks.
Evy has also been staying with me since it was her father and stepmother who died.
She doesn’t have anyone else to go to, and I had the space.
She’s almost eighteen, which counts for her, in a way.
Jaylen still doesn’t believe that it is homicide/suicide. He feels it’s too much of a coincidence that this is the second homicide/suicide in the past few months. He has been digging deeper into this but hasn’t found anything.
The police officers and detectives have been having lunch and breakfast here from time to time. I’m not sure if it’s Jaylen’s way of keeping me safe, or if they just really like the bakery.
“I’m done for today.” She smiles as she leans against the counter.
I wipe my eyes with the palms of my hands.
I feel a little dizzy. I’ve been feeling dizzy on and off the last few days.
Nothing like this. My whole body is covered in cold sweat, and it feels like the room is going full merry-go-round on me.
“Zenovia? Are you alright?” She grabs a hold of my arm, but the whole bakery spins around, and my legs feel like jello.
“Zen!” Jaylen’s voice is the last thing I hear before everything goes dark.
***
I groan as I try to move, but something or someone is holding me down. I slowly open my eyes to see Cassian right next to me with his arm over my stomach and his head on my thigh. In the corner, Jaylen and Jordan are sharing a small blanket on the couch, and next to them on a chair is Evy.
I run my hand through Cassian’s hair, and he flies upright. His bloodshot eyes meet mine. My heart stops at the sadness in his eyes. The way he looks at me scares me a little.
“Baby, you’re okay. I was scared of losing you.” He gets up and peppers my face with kisses.
“Wh–at ha-pp-ended?” My voice cracks as my throat burns. I try to swallow, but my whole throat feels raw.
Cassian holds out a glass to me and I take a few sips.
“You were poisoned. You threw up, and that’s what’s causing your throat discomfort.”
He rubs his thumb over my bottom lip. “They aren’t sure what type of poison you’ve ingested. What we do know is that you’ve been taking it in for a few weeks.”
He smiles sadly at me, and I don’t like the look in his eyes.
“What?” I bite my bottom lip to keep it from trembling.
“You were targeted because of me. This person, student, or whoever the fuck they are wants me, and she’s going after you. I can’t let that–” I put my hand over his mouth and shake my head. He is not going to do this.
“No… You…” I swallow again. I have to push through the pain.
I won’t let them win. “I won’t let you end it like this. If you don’t care and don’t want to be with me, say it. But do not let this sick bitch win.”
I cough and catch the attention of Jaylen.
He gets up and stands next to Cassian. He pats Cassian’s back before he leans forward and kisses my forehead.
“I told you, she’s going to kick your ass.” He winks at me, and Cassian looks at the two of us with so much adoration. I’m sure he’s thankful for having Jaylen here. “We will not let her win. We will find her and end this.”
Cassian kisses the back of my hand before he puts it on his chest right over his heart.
“You feel that.” I nod. “It beats for you. If I ever were to lose you, my whole life would be over. My heart would cease to exist. You, my sweet girl, are everything to me.”
He leans forward. “I love you so much,” he whispers against my lips before he claims them as his.
As he pulls back I smile up at him. “I love you, too. Don’t ever scare me like that. I can’t lose you.” I cup his face with the hand that doesn’t have an IV in it.
***
I look down at the cupcakes I made for Cassian’s class.
He wanted something for Halloween, and I decided to make him some cupcakes with white frosting and red droplets to make it look like blood drops.
I found the cutest, yet very Halloweenish cupcake holders at my online store.
The cupcakes now look like a witch is holding them.
I think Halloween might be one of my favorite holidays.
I get to play around with things that would normally scare kids, but they love it around this time.
Cassian couldn’t get enough of the cupcakes, but three of the kids in his class are allergic to the colorant I used. I had to use a specific one to make it look real, and now, I’m making Halloween cookies for the class instead. It was a last-minute change that we only decided on a few hours ago.
I’m in my kitchen making some ghost, pumpkin, and tombstone cookies for his class while Evy is at her friend’s house getting a few decorations done for the dance tomorrow.
Evy has become a little distant in the last few weeks.
Ever since I fainted in the bakery. We think it might remind her of her stepmother and father’s death.
It might be a trigger to her losing them.
I glance at the cupcakes once again. I’ll hand them to trick-or-treaters tomorrow night before I join Cassian at the dance. He has to chaperone, and I’ll be his date. He needs to be there when the students arrive at the dance, and I will join him just before it starts.
The oven timer goes off, and I pull out the batch before putting in the next one. As I wait for them to cool, I take one of the cupcakes to do a little taste test. I’ve been craving it since I made them. I want to taste the gooey cherry center.
I moan a little as I savor the smoothness of the icing on my tongue and the tangy taste of the cherry center. I have to save a few for Jordan, Jaylen, and Cassian. They will love this combination.