As if she knows monsters will catch her in the dark, her eyes spring open, wide and frozen with fear. Swiftly, I hold my finger to my lips. “We’re not going to hurt you. I promise.” Her eyes bounce between Cade and me while her breathing hastens. “Are you here for the bad man?” she asks, her voice tiny and frightened. “Yes,” Cade responds, dropping to his knees beside her bed. “We’re gonna make the bad man go away because he hurt her.” The little girl inhales a horrified gasp. Her big brown eyes snapping to me. “He hurts me, too.”
