The ache in him grew with every sob that shook her body and rocked his. Dez sat up on his elbow,
gently took hold of her chin, and turned her head so that she could see him. Her tears glittered in the
glare from the open window.
"No," he urged her to understand with his eyes and the conviction in his voice, "That animal who took
Troy is to blame. Not you." He brushed his thumb over her lips. "Not you, now close your eyes."
He waited for several seconds before Spring nodded, then closed her eyes. Before closing his own,
Dez knew he would do everything in his power to protect and give his woman happiness again.
"I'm never letting you go again," he whispered in her ear.
"Promise," she whispered back as she nestled into him.
Dez sighed with relief as he said, "I promise."
(I'll promise Forever when you're ready.)
----------
SUMMER
A month later
The heat from the bright lights above Summer made her quarter sleeve shirt feel constricting. She
rubbed her hands over her thighs then reached for the water she'd been given. As she sipped the
water, she focused on the desk she sat in front of. It was littered with papers, pens, and other office
supplies.
She felt a slight impulse to straighten the massive mess but kept her hands to herself.
The first time she walked through this precinct's doors was the night she thought her carefully
constructed world had toppled. It was the day she could have lost Spring. Summer still kicked herself
for thinking Fallon could have been the Candy Killer.
He was an ass but not a killer. Hell, tagging him an ass was even wrong at this point. Not only did
Fallon not get offended when she accused him of being the killer when she saw those candies in his
car, he drove her around town to look for her clutch that fateful day. Her ID, credit cards, and cell phone
were inside the bag.
"Thank you for coming in today, Miss Lafayette." The voice was deep, commanding. "How have you
been?" The man walked into the office and sat down behind his desk and shifted some of the papers
around.
"Fine." Summer's answer came out slow and questioning.
"I'm Detective Burgess. I know that you're confused about why I asked you to come in today."
"Yes." She moved forward and placed her water on the edge of his desk then leaned back and crossed
her legs. Her nerves started to settle. (You're not a weak bunny.) "Being as your agency has been so
tight lipped about everything and the person who stalked my sister and killed Troy is still walking
around with his life and his freedom, yeah...I'm confused"
"If it seems that we haven't been forthcoming, I promise you that it is due to the ongoing investigation."
Detective Burgess found what he was searching for and held the plastic covered item out to her. "This
was found in your apartment the night of the murder but apparently got buried in evidence"
Summer lifted her hand to take the item. Her fingers tingled and her chest drummed with nervous
energy but she kept her hand as steady as she could and took hold of it. She had to flip the clear
plastic bag around to see that it was an image. One she knew very well but didn't notice was missing
when she packed her belongings up and moved out of that apartment.
"We believe our killer has switched his focus," Burgess told her.
It was a photo of her. What disturbed Summer was the red smudged circles that looked like dried blood
around her face, fashioned like a bullseye.
Until Summer arrives...
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