“Cassie?” Elizabeth realized she was shaking, trembling from head to foot as her daughter raised her head, shame and fear contorting her little face.
“I’m not bad, Momma,” she whispered desperately. “I swear, Momma. I swear, I’m not an animal. I’m not.”
“Oh God.” She felt faint, in shock, seeing the truth in her daughter’s eyes as she huddled so miserably on the bed.
Elizabeth rushed to her, pulling her into her arms, feeling her daughter’s thin little arms wrap around her as sobs shook her body.
She couldn’t breathe. Elizabeth fought the dizziness wrapping around her as she rocked the little girl, fighting the hysteria edging into her mind as Cassie’s panicked voice echoed around her.
“I’m sorry,” she was screaming against her mother’s breast. “Momma, please. I’m sorry.”
“Cassie.” She fought her own tears as she pulled her daughter back, staring into the little face, seeing so much pain, so much realization of the cruelties of the world. “Why are you sorry, baby? Cassie, you haven’t done anything wrong.”
“He said you won’t love me.” Cassie was shaking so hard her teeth rattled. “Said I was an animal. Said I needed to be penned. That you wouldn’t want an animal. And you don’t like puppies. Or even cats. And he said you wouldn’t want me.”
Cassie’s hands were clawing at her neck as Elizabeth stared down at her in such overwhelming shock she feared she was losing her mind. Cassie was screaming, crying, so hysterical Elizabeth knew she would make herself sick soon.
“Enough.” Elizabeth shook her firmly. “Cassidy Paige Colder. That is enough.”
She used the voice Cassie called the ‘no chocolate’ voice. Firm, chastising, guaranteed to grab her daughter’s attention.
Cassie’s eyes widened, the tears still flowed, sobs still tore from her chest but she wasn’t screaming, wasn’t terrifying Elizabeth with her complete hysteria.
“Cassidy. Why are you crying?” She fought the need to cuddle her baby, to rock her, but she saw the complete shock filling her child’s eyes and knew Cassie would never hear the gentle words.
Cassie blinked. “I’m an animal, Momma.” The pain in her voice was hard to hear.
“Is Tanner Williams an animal, Cassidy Paige? Callan Lyons? Are they animals?”
Cassie’s breath hitched. “Is that little baby Callan’s wife is having an animal, Cassie?” she questioned her daughter fiercely. “Is this how you see them? Those men and women who fought for their lives and their hearts, so perfectly beautiful. Are they animals?”
Cassie stared up at her in surprise. “No, Momma.” She shook her head fiercely.
“Have I said they are animals, Cassie?” she snapped fiercely. “Haven’t I always cheered for them right along with you? What makes you think I would believe you are an animal? Young lady, you are very close to losing chocolate for a month.”
Cassie’s mouth gaped open, her eyes widening as Elizabeth stared down at her with a mother’s righteous anger.
“Maybe two months,” Elizabeth amended. “Because if you know anything in this world, you should have known how much I love you, Cassie.” Her voice broke then, tears filling her eyes, clogging her throat as she stared down at the vulnerable, almost broken child. Dear God, she could kill Dane herself for what he had done to Cassie.
“He said I was an animal.” She shook her head slowly, the tears finally easing.
“No, Cassie.” She gripped the girl’s face, staring down at her with an inner rage that seared her soul. “You are my baby. And whoever your natural father is, wherever he is, I can only thank him for giving me a child as precious, as smart and as loving as you are. Do you understand me, Cassie? Do you hear what I’m saying?”
Cassie blinked up at her. In a second the little girl was in her arms, clinging tightly to her neck, a hard, desperate kiss plastered to her cheek.
“I love you, Momma,” she whispered at her ear. “I love you.”
“I love you, Cassie.” She could rock her baby now. Could hold her in her arms and cuddle her, comfort her.
Elizabeth closed her eyes, fighting her own screams, her own sobs, as she held her daughter tightly to her breast. She pressed her lips to Cassie’s head, sheltered her in her arms and prayed to God that they could find a way, some way, to protect her now.
It didn’t matter that the Tolers were standing in the doorway. That Dash was watching them with hungry eyes. All that mattered now was Cassie. Her protection. Her safety. And Elizabeth knew that only Dash could assure it.
She raised her eyes to him, fighting her tears, knowing Cassie could never handle seeing her mother fall now. But Elizabeth knew she was damned close to doing just that. She was shaking on the inside, lightheaded, weak. Dear God, what were they going to do now?
Mike and his wife slowly left the room as Dash neared the bed, his eyes bleak and filled with pain as he stared down at Elizabeth.
“Cassie.” He sat down beside her. “You were eavesdropping, weren’t you?”