I didn’t think so. I’d made too many sacrifices to be able to let something so serious go without punishment. I didn’t want to be in an uncommitted relationship. I craved stability and faithfulness. If Brant couldn’t be monogamous, why had I wasted my time?

I suppose I should have suspected it. He’d been keeping secrets since the time we’d arrived. I chalked it up to being about the job, even though I sort of knew it wasn’t the only reason.

In that instant I thought about my parents. Still to this day they were madly in love. If my mom hadn’t gotten her tubes tied they’d probably have a dozen of us kids running around. I appreciated the way my father was also gentle with her. I valued their friendship, and the commitment they shared to be each other’s best friends. Against their better judgment I’d fallen for the wrong type of guy. I think I was drawn to him, or guys with problems. Maybe in some ways I was one of those women who thought they could fix their messed up man.

I’d failed.

I’d sent my boyfriend into an early grave. I’d destroyed hope that we’d have a future. We had nothing to show for, except a huge mess I couldn’t begin to fix. My future may have been unwritten, but I couldn’t begin to imagine ever being happy again.

When we arrived back at Agent Campbell’s house I was a little confused. “With Rocky locked up am I still in danger?”

“Cassie, we’ve learned Mr. James hasn’t been working alone. While we were involved in his arrest, the operation was going on in different places. We managed to obtain his books from within the home. Until we can figure out how many suspects are involved, you’re our only witness. It’s my duty to keep you safe.”

“Oh great. Are we going to watch eighties movies and paint each other’s nails?”

“Look, I’m sorry about what happened to your boyfriend. I know it must be hard for you. I’m not trying to make you angry. I’ll do my best to keep my distance.”

“Whatever,” I said as I climbed out of his sedan.

Once I’d stormed to the front door, I realized I had to wait for him to unlock it. He came up beside me and put the key into the hole. For a brief second he glanced in my direction. Our eyes met, and I had to turn away. He was the reason all this was happening. I realized the investigation was above his pay grade, but if he hadn’t come into my life Brant would still be alive. I needed someone to blame and he was the easiest target.

His house was exactly as we’d left it. Even the lights were still on in the kitchen and dining room. While I sat down on the couch and cried to myself, Agent Campbell got right on his phone and started briefing his boss on everything that had transpired.

I listened to his every word, looking for more reasons to hate him. Of course, the topic of me running away and barging into Rocky’s house came up. Right away I felt guilty. He’d told me to steer clear of the property. He’d tried to keep me safe.

I was so confused.

The pain didn’t subside, and as the minutes turned to hours I remained in the same position on the couch. Agent Campbell never checked on me until he was ready to go to bed. He brought me a pillow and blanket, waiting until I got comfortable before cuffing me to his end table. “Seriously? Is this necessary?”

“Are you really going to ask me after what happened before? I can’t take chances, Cassie. You’re under my protection.”

“I won’t go anywhere. I don’t even have a place to go.”

“That doesn’t stop you from running away from the investigation. Like it or not, you’re going to have to testify, and until I know you’ve kicked your habit and can manage on your own, I’m not letting you out of my sight.”

“You suck. You know that right?”

“I’ve been called worse. If you need anything,” he paused. “It can wait until I get up.”

“What if I have to pee?”

He scratched his head. “Hold it.”

I watched him walk down the hallway and disappear into one of the bedrooms. As upset as my stomach was I knew I couldn’t possibly eat anything. For several hours I laid awake trying to come to grips with everything. I shed more tears, and tried to remember all the good times I’d had with Brant. Each memory left me feeling worse than the one before it. I even tried to watch television, only to fall apart when I saw any shows with couples in them. Well into the morning I suffered inconceivable agony and grief.

The sound of someone coming in the front door startled me. I worried someone was coming back to finish the job Rocky hadn’t been able to do. Key’s jingling caught my attention and then I spotted a female rounding the corner at the top of the stairs. She froze when she saw me sitting there, cuffed to the table.

“You must be Cassie.”

“Are you the roommate?” I inquired.

“Yeah. I’m Charlie, well it’s what I like to go by now.”

I could tell she was a tomboy, and maybe even a lesbian. She had a short men’s hairstyle and wore her pants like a man would. “Agent Campbell went to bed a while ago.”

“Agent Campbell. I’m not used to hearing people call him by his last name. Around here he’s just Logan.”

“He’s made it clear I’m a witness, not a friend.” I started to break down. “Tonight I watched my boyfriend die. Now your roommate won’t let me go. He’s afraid someone might be after me.”

She sat on the edge of the furniture. “Logan is good at his job. You’re lucky to have someone like him looking out for you. If I were in trouble he’s the first call I’d make.”

“I’m sorry. I probably seem like a crazy person. You don’t even know me and I’m telling you my business.”

“I’m a nurse. I hear it all, honey.” She looked down at the cuffs. “I see you’re limited to where you can go. Are you thirsty? I think we have water, soda and maybe some milk.”

“Water would be nice.”

She reached over and felt my forehead. “How are the withdrawals? Are you managing okay?”

I shrugged. “I haven’t had much time to dwell on the symptoms. I’ve been too distracted.”

“That might be a good thing, at least for that part of it. I know drugs can be a bitch to quit.”

After grabbing us both a drink, Charlie came back and sat with me again. She told me about how she’d come to Vegas and gotten in trouble. She met Logan years ago, and he offered to help her get back on her feet.

It wasn’t that I didn’t respect Agent Campbell, I just had a bunch of pent up feelings regarding our ordeal. Plus, without Brant, I was completely alone. Since I didn’t want my family knowing about the drama, or the fact that Brant had been shot while I was in the next room, I refused to call home.

When Charlie decided it was time to go to sleep, I was able to rest for a little while. The smell of coffee woke me. Logan was sitting on the table in front of me with a cup in his hand. I sat up abruptly, feeling as if he was stalking me. I knew he wasn’t, but it was odd to wake up and see someone was watching you. “Holy crap. What are you doing?”

“You’re peaceful when you sleep.”

I noticed he’d removed the cuffs from my wrist. “You can get up and move around, Cassie. I hope you know I only did that to make sure you stayed put.”

“Yeah,” I managed to say while sitting up. “I get it.”

“What do you like to eat for breakfast? I usually make a shake and run five miles, but we’ve got plenty of food here.”

I felt hungry for a brief moment until everything from the night before came back to me. “I don’t want anything.”

“You need to eat. I know your stomach is empty. Do you want pancakes? I’m good at making them.”

In that instant I lost it. Pancakes. It was like a silent trigger in my brain. Pancakes reminded me of home and being safe; everything I wasn’t at the moment. “I’m sorry. I’m not usually such a cry baby.” I covered my face with my hands for a second. “I can’t believe this is happening. When did my life start falling apart? I thought we were meant to be together. I thought we could prove everyone wrong,” I explained to Logan, while my sobs became uncontrolled again. “I’m sorry. I know you can’t begin to understand. You think I was crazy for loving him?”