Chapter Seven

Pushing unsteadily to her feet she made her way to the sink after flushing the commode. She braced her hands along the porcelain before turning on the cold water and rinsing out her mouth.

“There some reason you keep staring at me, hoss?” She stared at him in the cracked mirror.

“Your friends just died.”

Pain lanced her. “Point?”

“You are in danger.”

“Ain’t no reason for anyone to want me dead. I was fine before you showed up.”

“I did not harm your friends.”

She narrowed her gaze, anger zipping along her skin. “You better hope if you’re lying I never find out.”

His gaze darkened dangerously. She wasn’t scared though. Breaking eye contact, she splashed some more water on her face before making her way to the bed. However, once there she hesitated.

She shook from the exhaustion that owned her. His bed seemed so inviting and she took a step toward it before changing direction and sinking into the straight-backed chair. The urge to vomit came again and she struggled not to give in.

Eyes closed, she retreated into herself as she’d done the day she lost her grandparents. Not even the warm tears leaking free brought movement from her. She let them fall.

Dyana woke to someone knocking at the door. She opened her eyes and discovered she currently lay on the bed. Casimir opened the door and admitted Markus.

The sheriff stared at her, eyes narrowing as he took in her position. She sat up, not backing down from the look. “Markus?”

“We need to talk. In private.”

She glanced at Casimir, his expression gave nothing away. I still doubt he’s going to leave me alone with Markus.

“What’s there to say? If you have information, spill it.”

He looked at Casimir. “Give us a minute.”

“No.”

It wasn’t as if the man shouted the word for he hadn’t but the unmovable decision in it shocked her.

“What do you mean, no?” Markus faced Casimir fully.

“I mean no.” There was no modulation in his tone.

“Yana?”

She didn’t have the energy to deal with male posturing. Lying back, she curled up on her side. “Just spit it out, Markus.”

He began to talk and her mind drifted. To her friends. The amazing times they had and how very much their absence would leave a huge gap in her life.

Markus talked and asked questions. She’d fallen into a state of shock and none of it truly registered. Aside from the fact Casimir never left her alone. He kept his consul but she knew he was attuned to all that went on.

She declined food and curled back into a ball after Markus finally departed. The loud roar in her ears wouldn’t cease no matter how hard she tried to block it out. Later when she woke, she was shocked to find she’d slept for over a day. Casimir looked at her and headed for the shower.

Feet on the floor, she wiped the sleep from her eyes and waited a few minutes before leaving the room. Outside, a familiar truck pulled up. No words were needed as she slid into the passenger side and they drove off.

More pain filled her as the vehicle halted beside the remains of both house and car.

“Want me to come with you?”

“No.” She climbed out, shut the door, and leaned in the window. “Thank you for the ride, Markus.”

“I’m always here for you, Yana. You know this.”

She bit her lower lip and nodded. “I know but this…I have to do alone.”

He stared before nodded. “Call me when you’re ready to leave.” He drove away.

Therein lay the problem. She didn’t want to leave. Ever. She wanted to join her friends. She walked to the shed which still stood and opened the door. Clicking on the light, she stared at her Dodge Charger. The pearl black car had been her splurge purchase.

Trailing her fingers along the exterior she made her way to the trunk and opened it with the keys that had hung by the light switch.

Her bag still sat there perched beside her case. More liquid pain fell from her eyes as she touched the case. She knew exactly what she would see if she opened it. A picture of her, Shyla, and Regina. A swath of them actually.

“I miss y’all so much.”

She couldn’t bring herself to lift the cover and so instead slammed the trunk and left the shed. The moon-almost full-reappeared from behind a slow-moving cloud and illuminated the man standing there.

“You are here for what?”

The light gleamed off his eyes similar to how it would an animal. A wild animal.

“You are my wife. You need protection.”

“Whatever,” she muttered, turning away from him. She walked to the house and ducked beneath the tape. Soon she held a flashlight in her hand and she picked her way through the rubble. While she had some thought it may still be hot, she had no concern. Markus wouldn’t have left her there if it was dangerous.

She felt him enter. Him. Her husband. He remained silent but his words weren’t needed for his intense presence to be noticed.