He heard a tapping on the door and got rid of the gloves before going out to see who it was.

Matt stood there and held up a six pack and a bag of pretzels. Kyle held up a dish of chicken and Marc held a cobbler. Shane let them in and put his finger to his lips.

“Cassie is sleeping. Come on through.”

They followed him into the television room and flopped down on the couch. No one said a word until beers were cracked open and the pretzels passed around and chicken tasted. Shane put the cobbler aside for Cassie.

“How is she?” Matt asked.

“She’s exhausted but sleeping. I thought the nightmares were just about the abuse. Shit, he broke in while she was sleeping. It’s a wonder she slept at all.” Shane ran a hand through his hair.

“You’ll find him, Shane. Tell us what we can do to help.” Kyle sighed and sat back.

“I will. Now that I’ve got a name that’s a start. I’ll call the officer in charge of her case tomorrow and see what he’ll tell me.”

“How are you?” Marc asked. “I can’t imagine it’s easy for you to know the woman you love has gone through something so awful.”

“I’m better now. I punched the bag for a while, did some judo. I’ll get down to the range tomorrow and I want her to come too. She’s a strong woman, I’m betting she’ll feel even better with some basic proficiency with a weapon. She’ll feel in charge and I’ll be helping her. God knows how touchy she’d be if I just did it all for her.”

“You really love her, don’t you?” Kyle smiled. “I’m sorry she had to endure all of that. But she’s a damned strong woman and she’s good for you. Maggie wanted to come over but she’s with Momma, holding her back.”

Shane nodded, understanding. “Momma must be like a bumblebee in a jar right now.”

The brothers laughed, thinking about their mother in protective mode but being unable to leave to come and comfort Cassie and her son.

“Thank you.” Shane looked to each of his brothers, jerking his chin at the food on the table.

“You love her. She loves you. That makes her one of us now.” Matt shrugged his shoulders matter-of-factly.

Chapter Twelve

The next week went by in a blur. Shane spent every moment he could with Cassie, getting to know her better, falling in love with her a bit more every day.

Holding a bag of sandwiches and cream sodas, he headed up the stairs to her apartment and froze as he saw her on the landing, hugging another man. She clung to him tightly, her face buried in his neck.

Shane saw red and then his heart broke into a million pieces. It was Sandra all over again. He’d fallen in love after so many years and it happened to him again. He wanted to fall to his knees and howl at the unfairness of losing a woman he’d thought cared about him as much as he did her.

“Fuck all if you didn’t totally fool me with your act. I’m as damned as you’re faithless apparently. If you’re going to cheat on me, Cassie, you should do it out of the public eye.”

Cassie froze and looked around the man. And when the man turned Shane saw three things. The look of horror and pain on Cassie’s face; his brother Matt standing in the doorway of her apartment behind them and that the man looked a lot like Cassie. Shit.

He moved quickly toward her but she pulled back into the apartment and shoved the man inside who looked about ready to punch Shane. Of course, judging from the look on Matt’s face, he’d have to stand in line.

“Cassie, I’m…”

“Let me guess, you’re sorry? Shane Chase, this is my brother Brian. He’s here to meet the man I fell in love with and to tell me that Terry has been sighted.” She tried to slam the door but he put a hand out.

“Cassie, I’m sorry. I thought…when I saw you with another man…it just…I’m sorry. Please. Can’t we talk about it?”

“No, I don’t think we can.” She put a hand on his chest, shoving him back and slammed the door in his face. He leaned his forehead against the frame and let out a ragged breath.

“Oh honey, I don’t know what to say.” Matt sat down and watched Cassie as she fought back tears. He was so angry at Shane he held his hands together between his knees to keep from shaking. The man found this woman who loved him so much, who’d never do anything so bad, and he might have just thrown it all away.

“I appreciate you coming over, Matt but I think my sister needs to be alone right now.” Brian stood and went to the door.

Matt looked back at Cassie. “He loves you, Cassie. He tries to pretend like what Sandra did didn’t hurt him that bad, but it wrecked him. He couldn’t trust anyone for years. I’m not saying he was right, but I want you to try and understand why he jumped to conclusions the way he did.” He went to the door. “We’ll see you tomorrow night at dinner then.”

“Oh no you won’t.”

He sighed. “Cassie, don’t. Please don’t shut him out. You’re good for him and he’s good for you.”

“I can see how good he is for her. Accusing her of being a whore on her doorstep, making her cry. Fabulous.” Brian crossed his arms over his chest.

“It was wrong, I’m not saying it wasn’t. But my brother loves her. He’s a good man and he deserves a second chance. Everybody makes mistakes, Cassie.”

“Yes, and they always tell you they’re sorry after they hurt you. Until they do it again. There’s always an excuse. I’m not her anymore. I won’t go back to being her.”