“Only…?” Gideon raised his brows. He choked out something that sort of resembled a laugh.
“I didn’t mean it like that.” Cassidy turned her eyes to the ground.
Crack. She swallowed hard, hugging herself with her arms. She’d never heard anything like it before, was sure that the noise would haunt her dreams…make that, her nightmares.
Gideon nodded. “I know you didn’t and I’m sorry. It’s a harsh punishment and all of us are on edge right now.”
Crack.
The big vampire visibly started, it was weird to see such a strong man affected like that.
“Why doesn’t he react? He should scream or groan or something. Surely?” Her voice was a little shrill. She noticed that they had both picked up the pace. She couldn’t stand to hear it any more. The noise seemed to reverberate through her bones.
“York is a great warrior. The best we have. The elite pride themselves on their control…at all times. By doing what he did with you, he showed a total lack of control. It is his way of making amends. Besides, only pussies show pain. York is no pussy!” He growled the last.
Crack.
Cassidy sucked in a deep breath, holding it inside herself for a few beats. Vampires were harsh, base creatures. It was one of the things that had attracted her to York in the first place. Right now she hated that side of them though. Needed to get as far away as possible.
“Please do not try and contact York again.” There was a hard edge to Gideon’s voice. “A relationship between the two of you is forbidden. Any type of contact would only end in heartbreak.” He swallowed hard, his throat working overtime. For a second, a look of sadness crossed his face. It was gone almost as soon as it had arrived. “That type of suffering is not worth it in the long run. Please take my word for it. The two of you have not spent much time together, it is still possible to go your separate ways.”
She wasn’t really sure what he was talking about. Gideon spoke as if there was genuinely something between her and York, which was not true. He had used her plain and simple. Unfortunately she was wired to feel something for someone she had slept with so she did harbor feelings for him but after just one night together, those feelings were nothing. Less than nothing.
Crack.
Cassidy squeezed her eyes shut, trying not to picture York’s bloody back, his anguished face and failed dismally. “You have it all wrong,” she finally said. “It was just sex.” She shrugged. “I was curious and he had something to prove…simple.”
Gideon nodded, his eyes held a glint of…humor. Like he didn’t buy it. Well, let him think what he wanted, she knew better. There was no rational explanation for York tearing into Griffin like that, but she was not going to fool herself into thinking it had anything to do with her.
Crack.
Vampires were no better than animals. They probably went at each other all the time.
They made it to her beat up little car and she found herself praying it would start. The good news was that she had money. Lots of it. True to his word, Brant had deposited the agreed upon sum into her account.
Cassidy should be happy. She’d essentially earned money for doing nothing. Instead, her heart felt heavy. Her mind worked overtime, dissecting all the events of the last two days.
Crack.
“Thank you for everything.” She said, trying to move as quickly as possible.
Gideon deposited her bag in the trunk. “Please take my advice.”
Cassidy nodded. “You have nothing to worry about.”
Gideon closed the trunk “I’m not worried for myself…nothing good will come of it. Trust me…I know.” He sounded like he spoke from experience. A look of hurt crossed his face again.
“I’m leaving, not only here but Sweetwater. I’ll be gone within a day or two. York and I don’t have each other’s contact info. I told you it wasn’t like that…at least not for him.” She sucked in a breath. What had she just said? “Or for me.” She quickly added. “It wasn’t like that.”
Crack.
The sound ripped through her and tears welled in her eyes. Why was she feeling like this? Over a guy that had used her…hurt her.
Crack.
The falls of the whip were coming faster now. Her tears threatened to fall and her lip wobbled so she bit down on it. “I really have to go now.” She whispered while getting into the car and rolling down her window.
Gideon nodded. “Good luck. Don’t worry about him, he will be fine.”
Crack.
Her whole body jumped and she put a hand to her heart, quickly starting up her engine. It clanked and rattled but it turned over and continued to run even when she revved it a few times.