Gradually, her sobs tapered off, and Jim pulled back to look at her. She stared at the floor, embarrassed and ashamed, but he wasn’t having any of it.
“Hey,” he said softly. “Look at me.”
She took a breath, lifted her chin.
“You’re not in this alone, baby. Not anymore.”
“I know,” she whispered, tears threatening again.
“And I’m not leaving you on your own until Dallas knows exactly where this asshole is. You hear me? I’m going to do whatever I have to do to make you feel safe.” His eyes were blazing at her. “That means staying here, sleeping on your sofa, taking you to work, picking you up. When we’re sure that twisted prick’s safe and sound in Foxburg Falls, then we’ll see where we are. OK?”
She nodded, her throat too tight to speak.
Jim stepped back now, and she tried to smile a
