Her Guardians Lost(52)

“Getting better every day, thanks. I’ll need to speak to Simon about coming back to work soon, I think.”

Paul frowned. “Don’t push yourself too hard. It’s not every day someone around here gets shot by some crazed lunatic.” He saw me wince and took a step back. “Sorry. I’m not doing very well today. I better go before I say or do something else I’ll regret.”

I offered Paul a gentle laugh. “Paul, don’t worry about it. I’ll see you soon.”

With a wave of his hand, he was gone. I started to frantically clean myself up. Poor uncle Billy must be wondering where the hell I was.



*****



The walk to Billy’s house was soothing. There was nothing like a brisk walk to relax your muscles and give you time to think things through. Seeing my uncle gave me a sense of happiness I knew I had lost this morning. I could tell Billy things because he already knew about Michael and Stephen. I really needed to tell someone what was going on. It killed me to not have anyone around who I could talk to. It was hard being alone, especially now that I had only one angel left in my life.

Sighing, I finally reached Billy’s door, timidly knocking. The door opened and Billy was smiling his welcoming smile.

“Cassie, come in. I have something I’ve been meaning to show you. A little present, really.”

Intrigued, I stepped through the door and frowned. “What is it?”

“Have a seat and I’ll get it for you.”

I settled myself on the sofa. The room was warm, as it always was, containing the soothing aroma my uncle seemed to emit.

“Here,” Billy said, making me jump. He held a wrapped, rectangular object. It looked like a book, but it was a very big one if it was.

Laying it on my lap, he expectantly looked at me. “Well, don’t keep me in suspense.”

Smiling, I took my time unwrapping it. It was a little difficult considering I only really had one hand. “You didn’t need to get me anything.”

Once open, I knew what it was. I felt the outer edge of the smooth photo album. It was brown, cushioned, and had the most intricate patterns around the edges. “It’s beautiful,” I whispered.

“And you haven’t even opened it yet.”

Seeing that as my cue, I opened it to the first page. A gasp escaped as the pain edged into my throat. I felt the burning sensation coming and I knew I had to fight it.

No more tears. No more tears!

Staring at the picture, I traced the outline of Michael’s beautiful face. It was the two of us standing on the platform in Billy’s studio. I had forgotten all about the photos.

It felt like my heart was ripped in two as I gazed upon the faces of two people who were so wrapped up in each other back then, they couldn’t see beyond that. How things had changed.

In the photo, I was tilting my head, looking up to Michael as he lovingly gazed down into my eyes. I remembered the feeling of wanting him to kiss me so badly, I thought I would burst.

“You don’t like them,” my uncle finally said, breaking the spell I was under. He knew my choice for Stephen, because he was the one who made me see it, but he didn’t know what had happened since.

“He’s gone.” Briefly closing my eyes again, I opened them only to stare back at Michael’s sweet face.

“Gone. Gone where? Who’s gone?”

He sounded confused. Anyone would be. I wasn’t even sure I knew what the hell was going on myself anymore.

“Michael’s left. He’s with Stephen now.”

Laying his hand on my arm, Billy made me look up at him. “What do you mean, Cassie? Stephen and Michael were at the hospital.”

Shaking my head, I felt the tears. “That wasn’t Stephen. It was his twin brother. Stephen saved me, Billy. He took a bullet for me. If it wasn’t for him, I’d be dead.”

Gasping, Billy clutched his hand to his heart. “But, Cassie, you chose him. He’s your one. Your soulmate.”

Your soulmate, a voice whispered in my head. That voice. It seemed to whisper it over and over again like it was trying to ingrain it into my head.

“Stop!” I shouted.

“Stop what, Cassie?”

Shaking my head, I smiled at Billy. “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to frighten you. I’ve just not been sleeping very well.”

Watching Billy sigh, I knew he was gearing up for a good lecture. “Cassie, you’ve been suffering, yet you take it on alone when you have people here who love you. We’re your family, Chris and I. You know whatever pain you’re in, we suffer with you.”

“But that’s not fair.”

Straightening his posture, Billy shook my arm. “What’s not fair is hiding in the shadows and suffering in the darkness. What’s not fair is keeping Chris and me out so you can hide in the dark on your own. You have us, Cassie, and whatever is going on in your life, we need to know. You are the only family I’ve got, and it’s selfish of you to keep things away from me.”