A Taste of Spring novel Chapter 48

DEZMOND

He spun Spring around but she batted and swung at him with her closed fists. She landed several hits but her fight was hindered by her shoulder bag strap. Dez called her name again but he was certain she didn't hear him. The fear he saw in her haunted eyes told him she wasn't even aware that it was him.

"Spring, calm down sweetheart. It's me, Dezmond." He managed to get hold of her face. She started to push at his face and chest but he moved in so close that she could only beat at his arms and shoulders. "Baby, it's me," he whispered as he kissed her face over and over again. "It's me. I've got you. You're safe."

Dez sighed when her hits began to decrease. He eventually pulled back. What he saw damn near broke his heart. Spring's wide terrified watery eyes regarded him with horror. Her hair was disheveled and strands were plastered to her face. He felt each panicked breath she inhaled and exhaled over his skin.

"Dez?"

He leaned in and kissed her forehead. "Yeah, it's me. You're safe." Dez saw the first tear blink from her eye before Spring shifted away from his hold on her face and laid her head on his chest. Her arms wrapped tightly around him and she squeezed as if her life depended on how tight she held him.

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SPRING

The heat from the coffee cup she held with both hands was more comforting than painful. She wasn't a coffee drinker but the taste of the bittersweet concoction seemed to calm her. Spring raised the cup to her lips and took another long sip, enjoying the feel of the hot liquid traveling down her throat and filling her empty stomach.

Earlier, when she found out the details of what actually happened in the apartment she and her sister shared, she lost what little food she was able to munch on today. It took about thirty minutes for the dry heaving to completely subside and still she feared the reflex would return. But the coffee seemed to help keep her sour stomach at bay.

A flash of movement from beside her caused her to track Dez's hand. He placed it on her thigh and started to stroke her leg in a comforting caress. She looked over at him, their eyes meeting. His eyes conveyed understanding and a silent promise that he was with her. At least that's what she wanted it to mean. Hers...she was sure blasted fear and vulnerability.

She hated being scared. She thought her days of living in fear were over when Grams took her and Summer to live with her. She hated being scared.

"Springy."

The sound of Summer's voice had her heart pounding in her ears and tears falling from her eyes as she frantically looked around the police station for the source. She felt, rather than saw, the coffee being pulled from her hands as she stood up. She was a ball of sobbing tears by the time she made eye contact with Summer who was running at full speed toward her. They hit hard, both of them visibly shaking as they embraced.

Summer pushed away from Spring and did some kind of hand check over her body until she was cupping her face. Familiar hazel eyes stared back at Spring, and for the second time tonight, her world felt safe again. Even if only for a moment.

"God, Two..." Summer pulled her in for another tight hug. "God, thank you."

"I was so scared." Spring felt her sister squeeze her tighter.

Summer pulled away then took Spring by the hand. They walked to where Dez still sat with her coffee. That's when Spring noticed Fallon. He stood off to the side, not quite close enough to Dez, but not too far away.

"What happened?" Summer asked. She motioned for Spring to sit next to Dez.

Spring sat down but there was no way she could talk about it. Her throat felt raw and her chest started to ache. Just as more tears began to fall, she felt a soothing hand on her back.

"From what we've learned, it seems that the Blue Candy Killer targeted Spring. He found your extra key and entered your apartment. The Police think he was lying in wait for her to return. They think that once he gained access to the apartment, he returned the key under the mat."

Spring felt Summer's grip on her hand increase.

"But it wasn't Spring who showed," Dez said quietly. "It was your friend Troy Parker who dropped by, used the key, and-"

"Troy?" Summer's voice cracked. She looked at Spring. "Oh baby," she said as she pulled Spring into another hug.

"He's gone, One." The pain of it all returned with such force it threatened to smother her. "Troy's gone." Spring whimpered into the crook of Summer's neck.