Dean unbuttoned his shirt and hurled it onto the foot of Cassie's bed. "That guy is not coming to the wedding."
He was putting it lightly, considering that there was already a silver bullet with Bryce's mother fucking name engraved on it. Not to mention a whole fucking can of salt and a pack of matches that Dean would personally be watching burn Bryce's bones to dust. Dean didn't know what that asshole was, but Bryce's days were fucking numbered. The fucking number was zero. He was going down tonight. The minute Cassie was asleep.
But he couldn't very well tell Cassie that, especially in the likely case that she was questioned about her friend's disappearance. Dean had to let her maintain plausible deniability.
Cassie laughed, stepping out of her dress. "You're not serious."
Dean watched her, feeling a little guilty knowing that she was going to be losing her dad and best friend in the same month. He could only hope that gaining a husband and then, a child would balance it out.
Wife and kid.
Holy shit.
The idea that he was going to have a family still freaked Dean out, but he was actually starting to get kind of excited about the whole thing, too. It wouldn't be a big, fancy wedding. Who could afford that? He wondered if his father would tear himself away from whatever he was doing to be there. Even if not, even if John was pissed at first, once it was explained, his dad would have to understand. Family is family and Cassie was about to become his family. And their child… their child was blood. Nothing is more important than that.
Dean stepped softly against her and pressed a kiss onto her shoulder. "We can go get the paperwork started tomorrow."
"Dean." She stepped back to look up at him. "You can't be serious."
"I'm dead serious." He tried to enclose her in his arms, but she evaded him.
She shook her head, utterly confounded, "Where is this even coming from? Last night, you were packed to go. Now, you want to…" The laughter sounded as bitter as it tasted in her mouth. It wasn't funny. It was insane. "I'm not going to marry you, Dean … Ever."
Dean Winchester was not marriage material. He wasn't even really mature enough to date seriously. He'd been unpredictable when they first met and was worse now. Staying with him was delaying the inevitable. All this absurd talk of marriage was making that abundantly clear.
Dean just pursed his lips and nodded, "You'll change your mind."
"I sincerely doubt it." Her voice cracked.
Dean squeezed his eyes tight against the wave of anger washing over him.
Seeing how upset he was and hoping to avoid another outburst, Cassie touched his arm. There was no reason for this to become an issue. Their relationship was what it was. Marvelous at times, but not forever.
Sam's eyes popped open.
"Jesus." He panted for air, swiped a sweaty palm down his face and leapt to his feet.
With neck breaking speed, Dean grabbed Cassie's wrist. He swung and slammed her back against the mirror that hung from her closet door. The glass shattered just as Sam flung open the bedroom door. He stormed in, growling his brother's name and raising his hand as if to push him away from Cassie.
Only, he never made contact. Without touching Dean at all, somehow, his older brother flew back against the wall.
Dean's eyes flashed silver more quickly than Cassie could have seen, even if her eyes had been opened. But Sam noticed. He didn't know what the fuck he was seeing. He also didn't know what he had just done, but it didn't matter. He could work all that out later. His only concern was shielding Cassie.
Dean glanced between his nosy fucking brother and this hateful bitch who kept rejecting him. He had seen them dancing together. Had seen Sam's hand damn near gripping her ass. Had seen her gaze up into his eyes like some kind of lovestruck Disney princess. He would end them both. Dean took a step forward, grunting like a rabid animal.
"Dean." Sam's nostrils flared. He tilted his head in warning and took a fighting stance in front of where Cassie cowered on the ground with her knees pressed to her chest and hands covering her ears.
Dean blinked as a flicker of reason tugged at his mind. He shoved past Sam, brushing his shoulder roughly against his brother.
Once he was sure Dean had left the apartment, Sam turned and lifted Cassie over the glass that surrounded her bare and bleeding feet.