She pushed against his chest again as Mike and Serena left the room. “I have to check on Cassie. Please, Dash. I have to check on her.”He let her go slowly as she fought to dry her face, to stem the tears still rolling from her eyes. She couldn’t go in there like this. Cassie would wake up. She always knew when her mother was upset, when she was crying…God, let her be asleep. She rushed to the room, somehow knowing Cassie was awake.She was. Sitting up in the bed, her own face wet with tears as she clutched the teddy bear Dash had bought her at the diner. Her frail shoulders were shaking with her tears as she rocked to and fro. Silent, heartbreaking sobs that destroyed Elizabeth. How much had her daughter heard?“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.”
