“How are you doing, Sutton?” he asked, crossing the room in three long strides.
“Feeling better now.”
“Did you find anything?” Cope demanded.
Trace gave his head a small shake. “Crime scene techs are still combing the scene.” He glanced back at me. “Your wallet was gone from your purse. Thea got us the card numbers from the emergency file you gave her, and we got those canceled. Your bank is issuing new cards as we speak.”
My stomach churned, acid swirling there. “Were there charges?”
“A few, but your bank already reversed them. You won’t be responsible for any of it,” Trace assured me.
“Thank you,” I whispered. I suddenly felt small. And more than that, dirty. All I wanted to do was scrub the places that man had touched and remove all evidence of his hold and the pain he’d inflicted.
Cope seemed to sense the shift and took my hand again, weaving his fingers through mine. Trace didn’t miss the move, but I couldn’t read his reaction to it.
“Everyone but Arden’s out in the waiting room. She said Luca’s still fast asleep. I know everyone will want an update. What did the doctor say?” Trace asked.
“They shouldn’t have come out in the middle of the night,” I muttered.
Trace’s mouth curved the barest amount. “If you haven’t realized it yet, you’re an honorary Colson. If anything happens, good or bad, we show up en masse.”
Something about that hurt worse than the head injury I was currently nursing. Because I wanted it to be true so badly. Needed to belong to a family as wonderful as the Colsons. But it somehow seemed out of reach.
Cope leaned in, his lips brushing my unmarred temple. “They care about you. Let them.”
My eyes burned, and my throat tightened. When was the last time someone had shown up for me like this? Probably when I got an awful case of the flu in college. My gran had driven five hours to come take care of me in my dorm room.
But I hadn’t had that unwavering support since then. Not really. Roman had thrown money at problems, but looking back on it, he’d never solved anything with only his presence and energy.
Pleasure and pain warred within me, but I did everything I could to hold on to the good. “Will you thank them for me? And tell them I’m okay. They’re going to let me go home in an hour.”
Trace nodded. “Of course. I need to get a statement from you. But you get to decide whether that’s tonight or tomorrow.”
“Tomorrow,” Cope growled. “She’s been through enough.”
I squeezed his hand. “No. I want to get it over with so I can leave it all behind.” Because I knew I needed to share everything with Trace, and it was time for Cope to hear it, too. Even if it was the last thing I wanted him to know.
“I get that,” Trace said, softening his voice. “Would you prefer a female officer to take your statement? I can have Beth do it?—”
“No,” I said quickly. “I’d rather it be you.” At least I knew Trace, trusted him. It would be better than a stranger.
Trace nodded, pulling his phone out of his pocket and tapping on the screen. “I’m going to record this so, hopefully, we don’t have to go back over anything. Are you okay with that?”
“It’s fine,” I lied. I didn’t want this on record. Didn’t want strangers listening to what an idiot I’d been. Didn’t want them hearing all the ways I’d been hurt. Because it all made me feel like a victim again.
Trace laid his phone on the gurney and lowered himself into a chair on my opposite side. “Let’s start from the beginning. Is it common for you to work this late?”
I took a long breath and let it out slowly as Cope kept a hold of my hand. I tried to focus on that source of warmth and strength. “Not common, exactly. Maybe once a week or so when a special project comes in.”
“And what was the project this time?”
“A graduation cake.” Just saying it reminded me that the family would be picking it up tomorrow at noon. “I need to call my client. She’s expecting?—”
“Thea said she’d finish the cake first thing in the morning. She’s got it all under control,” Trace assured me.
The air left my lungs with a whoosh.Good. That was good.
Trace looked down at his notepad. “What time did you arrive at the bakery tonight?”
