Captivated: A Mafia Romance (Carfano Crime Family Book 6)

~ Chapter 10 ~

Cassie

I wake up early and quietly sneak out so Sean won’t see me leave in the Range Rover.

This car is nice.

In fact, I love it.

It’s too bad I can’t keep it, because she drives like a dream and I could totally see myself in the summer with the windows down, wind blowing through my hair, and music up loud as I drive to a destination yet known.

But that’s not my reality. I can’t even see past the next few days, let alone think about a summer filled with good times and sunshine.

Late last night, I found a place that will buy my car for cash as early as today, but I’m going to the closest dealer that sells Range Rovers to see how much they’ll offer me before I commit.

I sold my other car at a local used car lot, but since this one is brand new, I’m going where I can get the best deal.

“Hi, who can I talk to about selling my car? I received it as a gift but don’t want it.”

The woman at the front desk looks at me skeptically, and then looks out the window at where I just parked.

“The red one?” she asks.

“Yes. It’s not my style,” I lie. “And the person who gifted it to me refused to take it back. So, here I am.”

“I can bring you to a sales associate and they can help you with a trade so you can have something you prefer.”

“No, I don’t want to trade,” I say politely. “I want to sell it. Today. Do you not buy back cars here?”

Her brows pinch together. “We do. It’s just not a request we usually get. One moment, please. Let me get someone who can help you.”

I look around the dealership showroom and feel greatly out of place. I definitely didn’t dress to belong, but that’s nothing new for me. I don’t really belong anywhere, so why try and act like I do?

“Good morning, Miss.” A middle-aged man in a light grey suit greets me with his hand held out for me to shake.

“Good morning.”

“I hear you’re looking to sell a car you received as a gift?” he questions, and the note of suspicion in his voice isn’t lost on me.

“Yes, I am. I got it yesterday, and the paperwork is in my name, but I don’t want it. I was told I could do with it whatever I wanted, so I’m selling it. I need the money, not the car.”

He gives me a once-over, and I keep my face neutral so I don’t show my disgust. “I can help you, but I can’t guarantee sticker price. Shall we go take a look?”

“Yes.” I nod, and lead the way outside.

“Wow, she’s a beauty. How many miles on her?”

“I think ten.”

“Oh, so it’s brand new.”

“Yes. And while we’re outside, away from the eyes and ears of your bosses, I’m looking for a cash deal. I know this is at least a hundred-thousand-dollar car and I already have an offer somewhere else. I came here to see if you can beat it.”

“Smart.”

“I thought so.” This guy looks over at me with a grin I’m sure he uses to close deals with women all the time, but all I see is an arrogant man who is gaging how much he thinks he can get away with cheating me without being obvious about it. I just smile like I don’t know his game, and stand to the side as he inspects the car.

“I can offer you seventy-five.”

“Ninety,” I counter, and his grin widens.

“Eighty-five.”

“Ninety,” I repeat, seeing if I can get him to raise.

He chuckles. “Eighty-five.”

“Fine. Deal.” I stick my hand out and he shakes it firmly. “I never got your name,” I add, and he grins like he just won something.

“Of course. My apologies. It’s Lucas.”

“Cassie.”

“Nice to meet you, Cassie. Shall we get the paperwork started?”

“Yes. Thank you.”

I follow Lucas inside and spend the next forty-five minutes signing papers and waiting for my check.

He hands it to me and lingers for a moment before letting me take it. “I hope you buy yourself something nice with this.”

Yeah, my brother’s freedom.“I will.”

“How about I take you out this week and you can tell me the story behind the car.”

“That’s sweet of you, but I can’t. The guy who bought me the car probably wouldn’t like it. He’s a little crazy.”

“Oh, uh, right, okay,” he stammers, and I give him a bright smile.

“Thanks for all of your help, Lucas.” I give him a wink and walk away.

He was easy.

I was able to get ten grand more than the online service was going to buy it for, so now all I need is fifteen grand to save Sean.

I take the check right to the bank and deposit it into my account for safe keeping. I can’t cash it out and have that much money laying around the house. I wouldn’t be able to sleep for fear someone would miraculously know I had that much cash and rob me. Or Sean would find it and gamble it all away.

On the taxi ride back to the house, I look up the club Sam told me to check out. Pandemonium.

It definitely doesn’t look as nice, classy, or dare I say, clean, as Dark Horse. But beggars can’t be choosers.

I’m dropped off in front of the house and walk down the block so I can make my phone call in peace.

“Hello?”

“Hi, is this Mitch?”

“Yes, and you are?”

“My name is Cassie. Sam, the manager of Dark Horse, said he’d contact you and put in a good word for me.”

“Yes, he called. He also said you might come with some trouble.”

“No. No trouble. I handled that situation. It was all a misunderstanding.”

“He didn’t tell me any details, but he said you’re a good dancer who will bring in customers once they see you. We have enough girls tonight, and it’ll be slow since it’s Monday, but if you want to come in tomorrow around five or six, I’ll see what you’ve got and we can go from there. Sound good?”

“Yes, thank you. I’ll see you then.”

Hanging up, I close my eyes and take a deep breath, lifting my face to the sky to feel the cold air on my bare skin.

A storm is coming. I can feel it. The sky is darkening and the air has that smell to it that brings back memories of my childhood in Boston. I love the snow. It’s always been a comfort for me. It gives me an excuse to stay inside and snuggle under a blanket with a cup of hot cocoa and a slew of movies to pass the time.

I walk back to the house and call for my brother. “Sean! You want anything from the store? I need to grab some things.”

He doesn’t answer, so I climb the stairs and knock on his door. When we came to live with our aunt, Sean and I shared a room for a few years until I started sleeping on the pull-out couch one night, and just never went back. I didn’t mind. I wanted my own space, but I wasn’t going to kick my little brother out of our room.

When our aunt passed, it took me a few weeks to gain the courage to go into her room and clear her things out. But since then, I’ve turned her room into mine.

“Sean? Are you awake?” I ask softly through the door. I don’t get an answer or hear any movement from inside, so I pop my head in. He’s not here.

Shit.

Where did he go?

I quickly send him a text. I don’t need him getting into any more trouble.

Me:Sean, where did you go?

Sean:Don’t worry about me, Cass. I’m going to fix what I did.

Oh, no. What the hell does that mean?

Me:Please don’t tell me you’re gambling to try and win your debt.

Sean:I know what I’m doing, Cass.

Me:You don’t. What money are you even using? Look, I got you $85,000 to give them, and I’ll get the rest. Please just come home.

Sean:How the fuck did you get $85,000?

Me:It turned out that new Range Rover was mine, so I sold it this morning.

Sean:Again… What the fuck, Cass? How was that yours and you didn’t know?

Me:Someone thought it was an appropriate gift and it wasn’t. So, I sold it. Don’t ask questions, Sean. Just get home. Now. Don’t dig a bigger hole we’ll never get out of. That’s how we got in this mess.

Sean:Fine. I’m on my way.

I breathe a sigh of relief and collapse onto the couch.

I can’t believe him. Well, maybe I can. This is who he’s been for the past year and I’m only finding that out now.