Cassandra became embarrassed. She shoved him away and blurted out, “Ryan, you b-”
Then, she spotted the officers who were clearly enjoying the drama. In a split–second save, she changed the ending of her sentence.
“Big pervert!”
She turned what was meant to be a shove into a playful little fist, lightly thudding it against
his chest.
“We’re still in a police station. Try to behave, won’t you?”
Then, right in front of the thoroughly entertained officers, she buried her face into Ryan’s
chest.
From their angle, it looked like she was shy. Ryan chuckled, running a hand affectionately through her hair. “Are you blushing?”
Cassandra didn’t say a word and bit his shoulder.
He sucked in a sharp breath and hissed.
Startled, she let go immediately. She hadn’t bitten him that hard–just enough to vent her frustration. How did it hurt that much?
Wait–he was faking it.
Sure enough, he said gently, “Alright, I’m sorry I was late. You must’ve been scared, huh?”
One of the officers gave an awkward laugh. “Scared? Could’ve fooled me.”
Had Cassandra been scared? He’d been a cop for years. Most young women either came in gal crying or begging them to release someone. But Cassandra? She calmly outlined he position and dissected procedural matters.
Ryan gave a sheepish smile. “Sorry to let you all witness that. My wife’s shy and introverted. She blushes around strangers. Now, she’s too frightened to even speak.
The officers all stared blankly at him. Did Ryan hear himself right now?
The papers were signed, and bail was posted.
Ryan kept an arm around Cassandra as they walked out of the station together. But the moment they stepped out the front doors, Cassandra shrugged him off.
He looked at his suddenly empty arm and shook his head in mock disappointment. “Seriously? Right after I helped you?”
Cassandra walked ahead without turning back. She’d always been someone who kept work and
Chapter 70
2/2
personal matters separate. They’d butted heads plenty before, but credit was where credit was due. Today, he really had saved her.
So, she offered, “Let me buy you dinner. A thank you for your heroic intervention.”
Ryan pouted. “You haven’t even been paid yet. What are you going to treat me with? Cameron’s money? If that’s the case, I’d rather starve.”
“Oh? Feeling bad about spending Cameron’s money? Since you helped me today, I’ll give you some friendly advice. Cameron is straight. He has a kid now, too. You two? It’s never going to happen.”
Ryan shrugged as he strolled behind her. “Can’t you repay me in a more meaningful way?”
Cassandra paused mid–step. “Like what?”
“Have you ever heard of a saying?”
“What?”
“A small favor is paid back tenfold. There’s only one proper way to repay that.”
He looked at her meaningfully. “With your life. Or rather, by offering it.”
It sounded like he was joking, but even he didn’t know just how much sincerity bled through those words. Unfortunately for him, Cassandra missed it entirely.
She squinted at him, concerned. “Are you possessed by something again?”
“…What?”
She looked around dramatically. “This is a police station. Pretty sure no demons would dare to show up here.”
They reached the car. Ryan sighed and flicked her forehead lightly. “Get in.”
Cassandra opened the door and slid into the passenger seat. “So, where are we going?”
Ryan’s expression turned serious. “I picked up Showball’s necropsy report this morning. We have everything we need now. It’s time to give her a proper burial.”
Her eyes dimmed with sadness. “I don’t even know where to bury her.”
She’d thought about it before–what she’d do when that day eventually came. Snowball had been with her for 15 years. She’d always known this moment would come.
