Part 4

The car parked in the Gant driveway. Casey leaned over the passenger side and shook Veronica gently. She blinked the sleep away from her eyes and looked at her surroundings. "Stay over tonight," Casey said softly.

Veronica turned to her fiancé. "I thought you were driving me home, Case."

"I did. To our home."

"Casey, my dad's waiting for me."

He grinned at her. "Your dad likes me. He won't mind."

She sighed. "I just wish you'd asked before you decided. I don't even have clothes here."

"I took care of all that." He placed a kiss on the tip of her nose. "When I picked up the ice cream and videos I took the liberty of passing by your house and grabbing your stuff." He reached for a bag from the backseat and placed it on her lap.

Veronica opened the bag and froze at the familiar articles of clothing. They were the ones laid exactly on the top of the stack of her closet. He was right. He had picked up a nightshirt, a pair of jeans and a shirt for tomorrow, and underwear. She tried to keep her voice cool when she asked, "Did my dad let you in?"

"Your dad was at work." Casey brushed her hair behind her ear. "You really are exhausted if you've forgotten your dad's schedule. Even I have it all memorized."

She swallowed the lump in her throat. "Casey, how did you get into my house, in my room, and into my underwear drawer?"

"Veronica, I've taken you home more times than you can count. I know where the key's hidden." He sighed. "Is this about privacy? Veronica, don't be a prude. We're getting married."

Stiffly, she requested, "Can you drive me home, Casey? I really don't appreciate what you did."

"Is it so bad that I want to spend time with the woman I'm going to marry? I'm home only for a short time and I want to be with you as much as I can," he explained slowly. "Come on," he cajoled, giving her the smile she loved so much. "It's the first time you're coming in as the next Mrs Gant. Mark your territory, Veronica."

Veronica took the bag in her hands and opened the door. "We are not living with your parents, Casey." Mrs. Gant had always looked at her oddly, and it unsettled Veronica.

"They're going to find their own house when we get married," he assured her.

She shook her head, unwilling to argue. She, Meg and Mac were going to have a long conversation about this. While Meg completely supported her relationship with Casey, Mac had the more logical head. Veronica needed level and objective heads. She glanced at herself in the mirror. There was no reason to give Mrs Gant ammunition to silently judge Veronica with. She checked her makeup and fixed her hair. It was a hopeless mess. Veronica took the scrunchie from the bag and tied her hair in a ponytail.

That was when she saw the hickey on her collarbone. She frowned and rubbed at the red spot. They had not been that playful or physical in the Collective. In fact, she did not remember any incident between the two of them that could have given her that hickey. Veronica glanced at Casey.

"I'm sorry," he said. He leaned over and placed a kiss over her skin. "I couldn't help myself."

"Casey, when did I get this?" she inquired coolly as he went over to her side and helped her out.

"The stoplight between Breakwater Lane and 5th."

"Oh my God, Casey!" she exclaimed. Veronica pulled away, but continued walking towards the house. "I was asleep!"

"You were beautiful," he told her. He opened the door and led her inside. Veronica whirled to face him while they were in the living room. "It's not a crime. Jesus, Veronica, other girlfriends complain about not being given enough attention."

i Mark your territory, Veronica./i

She gasped. "You want me to be like other women, Casey? Find someone else. I am not a house. You do not mark me!"

"What the hell is so wrong with it?"

Veronica felt the tears surface, tears that she had long thought dry. "You know more than anyone how I hate having control stripped away from me," she said quietly.

She saw in his eyes the exact moment when realization dawned on him. "Veronica," he whispered. He walked over to her and took her by her wrists, pulling her close and kissing her knuckles. "I'm sorry."

Veronica looked into his eyes and saw the worry, the anxiety. "You can't do this to me," she sobbed. Casey nodded, then kissed her knuckles. Idly, at the back of her mind, she felt the pain caused by how tightly he held her wrists. She could see his face. His face never lied to her. He regretted it. Veronica felt guilty for burdening him with her own scars. It wouldn't have been such a great deal for someone else. To her, it was catastrophe. "You're hurting me."

Immediately, he let go of her wrists. She saw the tear tracks on his cheeks. He met her eyes.

"We were sleeping. I would appreciate it if you can lower your voices."

Veronica looked over Casey's shoulder and saw Mrs Gant standing in the doorway. Casey turned around. Veronica saw the way his slumped shoulders straightened at the sight of his mother.

"I'm sorry, Mrs Gant," she choked. "I was just on my way home."

Veronica was about to leave when Casey glanced at her. "Please stay."

"I want to go," Veronica insisted in a firmer voice.

"Okay," he agreed sadly. "Wait for me, okay? I'll drive you home."

"There's really no need."

"Veronica."

That was all he had to say. She nodded.

"Can I talk to you, mom?"

Veronica watched from the periphery of her vision as Casey walked up to his mother and the two of them vanished behind the wall. There were quiet voices. She settled onto the couch and closed her eyes. Suddenly, the evening seemed too crammed, and she was suffocating. Her life wasn't her own anymore, and decisions were being made for her. She was stronger than that. That was what she believed. Yet this was the second time this happened. Once upon a time, Logan Echolls also made the decisions, and sidestepped over what she wanted.

It was happening all over again. Maybe she really wasn't as tough as everyone wanted her to believe. Her hand reached up to cover the hickey she didn't want.

iVeronica shivered as she walked through the halls of Kane Software. Jake Kane had called for her, and here she was, prompt and dressed up despite the fact that she did not want to face Duncan's father. It could have been an option to decline. However, he was the grieving father and she was the reason Duncan was dead. She owed Jake Kane at least this.

After giving her name to Mr. Kane's assistant, she was ushered into the office. Behind the looming grand mahogany table sat Jake Kane. Behind his right shoulder stood Logan Echolls, dressed in full black. Veronica's gaze flew to Logan's face.

"Veronica, take a seat. Do you want something to drink?"

She imperceptibly shook her head.

"I know how Duncan's death must be terrible for you as well. Even after you broke up, I know you two continued to love each other. That's what first love does to a person."

Veronica did not want to, but his words and the quiet way he spoke, made her want to cry. He was still there. He never spoke to her outside, never smiled, never acknowledged her presence. He was there and he had taken away everything that could have made her feel better. No embraces or kisses—not even the luxury of hearing his voice over the phone.

"We're all devastated in the aftermath of Duncan's death," she said truthfully.

Veronica closed her eyes, feeling the bite of pain in her scalp when he had used his hand to pull her hair and had made her look into his eyes at the exact moment he tore through her insides. She felt the tears roll down her cheeks, and it only made her remember how his teeth had cut into her lips and she had tasted the metallic bitter sweetness of her blood filling her mouth.

"It was never the same after that," Veronica choked.

When she opened her eyes, she saw Logan's position behind Jake Kane had shifted. He was leaning forward now. If he had been more open with his emotions, Veronica might have thought he was concerned. She shook away those thoughts, because Logan had completely shut her out of his life.

Jake Kane nodded, agreeing with everything that Veronica shared. "This may not be a good idea, because you were so close to him." That brought to Veronica feelings of being submerged in the water, drowning inside, when she remembered how close he had been, how her skin abraded when he rubbed and won't let go. "But I will ask for this, nonetheless. You were able to do it with Lilly."

And she knew what he was going to ask. Her head screamed.

"Investigate this case. I want to know who killed my only son."

"The sheriff's office is all over this, Mr Kane," she answered.

"I want you to do it. I don't trust anyone else to see justice done for Duncan."

"Mr. Kane—"

He turned to the young man behind him. "Logan agreed to be here to help me convince you."

Logan stepped forward, his face shuttered, and said, "Think about it, Veronica. We both loved him very much. This is the last thing we can do for him."

"Just agree to think about it, alright?" Jake prodded.

She wanted to say no, but she looked into Jake's eyes and saw all the pain of a father that she never wanted to see in her own father's eyes. And then she wanted to confess. She opened her mouth, but suddenly Logan was beside her gripping her arm. She closed her eyes because even with his painful hold, she was ecstatic. He was touching her again!

"Say you'll think about it," Logan said quietly.

"I'll think about it," she whispered, ashamed of herself because she could not even disagree with the person who had caused her so much pain.

Logan turned to Jake Kane and told him, "I'll take her to the lobby."

Jake nodded and soon, Veronica felt herself propelled out of the office and into the elevator. Veronica turned to Logan. Before she could speak, he had placed a finger on her lips to quiet her. She pushed him away just as the elevator bell sounded and in walked two more occupants. Finally, as they walked to the lobby and out of the building towards her car, she turned to him, eyes blazing and demanded, "What else do you want, Logan?"

He opened the car door for her. "Get in."

Veronica slid inside and turned to him. Logan leaned down and shut the door. He rested his elbows on the window. "Say you'll think about it, then say yes. Don't give him an answer."

"What were you doing there?" she whispered.

"Making sure seeing Jake Kane broken won't make you tell," he informed her. "We loved him," he admitted. "But he was a psychopath. You're not going down for a psychopath."

Veronica took a deep breath. "Logan, please come back to me."

"Drive away," was his answer.

Veronica started the car. She had nothing left to lose. "I'm still in love with you."

"I won't make this hard for you." Logan turned around and walked back towards Kane Software./i

Veronica jumped up from her seat when she heard the sound of glass shattering. She was about to run towards the noise when Casey walked through the doorway smiling at her.

"Sorry. Mom accidentally elbowed my one of grandma's Chinese vases."

"Oh no," she whispered, knowing how expensive the collection was.

"Don't worry about it." Casey picked up her bag and asked, "Are you ready?"

Veronica nodded. Casey led her to the doorway. On their way out, she glanced back and saw Casey's mother holding a hand towel to her arm, with the maids moving around her. "Should we help them?"

He smirked down at Veronica. "How do you think she'll receive it?"

"You're right," she murmured.

On the way back to the Mars apartment, Veronica watched Casey's face as the headlights from the other vehicles played reds and oranges on his cheeks. He looked almost the same as he did as he read to her during the bonfire.

He was beautiful, and he was kind. She had to remember that. She was not going to ruin her future with the man who picked up the shattered pieces of her heart just because he made a bad choice of poem and he was overzealous. He was right. Other women would kill for what she had.

"Why do you want to contact Logan, Casey?" If she wanted to keep her life stable, she had to take control.

He sighed as he turned around the bend. "It's about the company. You love me, right?"

"Of course, Casey."

"My parents ran the company down. I've done the numbers. We need one bestselling book. I have some good material submitted to me, and it's an unauthorized bio of Logan Echolls. I want him to see it. If we can make it an authorized one, then he's going to save our asses from filing for bankruptcy."

Veronica's eyes narrowed. "Why will Logan's biography be such a hit?"

He turned to Veronica, frowning. "Did I forget to tell you when I arrived?"

"Tell me what, Casey?"

"Logan's under investigation for the murder of Duncan Kane."

tbc