Chapter 8
CHAPTER 8
T he party was in full swing. Cassidy was used to these kinds of events, being good friends with the Rahmi Royal Family, but Draven wasn’t a normal royal. The baby’s celebration was so over the top that she could only smile because of the reason. It wasn’t to show wealth or power. It was because Draven was so incredibly proud of Addison and their baby.
The event was outside in the palace courtyard. Thirty or more chandeliers had been hung, giving the allusion of dangling from the trees. Flowers in pink, blue, and white filled the tables. Then there was a section a local animal rescue had set up where the guests could play with baby animals and even adopt them or donate to their care.
Royalty, world leaders, and Keenestonites mingled with several select guests from Bermalia, including Zen, who Cassidy had introduced to everyone she knew. He and his sweet wife could barely talk until Uncle Miles was introduced and they started discussing business planning.
“Cassidy,” Greer said, pulling her from her observations. Greer stood with her husband, billionaire Sebastian Abel, who was also best friends with the president, at her side. He looked ready to protect his pregnant wife from any and all threats while also proudly telling anyone who walked by that he was going to be a father. “I want you to meet Sutton Ramsey. She’s with Birch now.”
Cassidy looked over to the American delegation and frowned. “You said you wouldn’t say anything.”
“I’m not going to, but I want you to have the right contacts in case we need to move and move fast.”
Cassidy sighed, but joined Greer and Sebastian as they greeted the delegation.
“Birch, you and Tate know my cousin Cassidy,” Greer said with manners that would make Grandma Marcy proud.
Cassidy shook their hands and asked about their children before Greer redirected to the other woman in the group. Her brown hair was in an elegant bun with some loose tendrils giving it a more relaxed appearance. Her dress was a beautiful moss green and her eyes were sharp as knives. “Cassidy Davies this is Secretary of State Sutton Ramsey and her deputy, Jacob Alexander.”
Cassidy shook Sutton’s hand and instantly liked her when she cocked an eyebrow. “CIA?”
“Yes,” was all Cassidy said, but was impressed by the read.
“Nice to meet you,” Jacob said, shaking her hand. He was handsome in his tux. His sunshine blond hair made him look younger than he probably was. Sutton was younger than most secretaries and Jacob looked to be just a couple years older than Sutton, so probably around forty.
“You too. Former military?” Cassidy asked.
Jacob smiled. “Diplomatic security.”
“Oh, our friend’s husband was DS. Jameson Duke. He’s now a prince of Rahmi though, after marrying Ari.”
Jacob nodded. “I’ve heard about him. I left DS before he joined. I’ve been in politics ever since. Much more dangerous than DS.” They all laughed and Jacob smiled at her. “Would you care to dance?”
No. She wanted to only be in one man’s arms, but he wasn’t here and he certainly wouldn’t come out of the shadows to dance with her. “I’d love to.”
Cassidy slipped her arm into the crook of his elbow and let him lead her to the dance floor.
It had been harder to get into the party than he had anticipated. He didn’t want to use the invitation Cassidy’s grandmother had given him in case it was an ambush. So, he’d had to sneak in. Now, as he watched Cassidy dance with Jacob Alexander of the state department, he wished he hadn’t come. It was very hard not to step out of the shadows and demand Jacob Alexander take his hands off his woman.
He glanced around, noting all the big time political players here tonight. Birch Stratton, Sutton Ramsey, Jacob, Greer and Sebastian Abel, and more royalty than he could count. Crusina had sent their vice president. By all accounts, Deming was flourishing as a leader without someone trying to tear down everything he was building. It was smart of him to stay in Crusina.
The song ended and another man met Cassidy on the edge of the dancefloor. He clenched his fist as Holt Everett, the country music superstar led Cassidy back onto the dance floor. Holt’s arms slid around Cassidy as if they’d been there before and he itched to end this right now.
He stiffened suddenly at the feel of a sharp knife pressed to his back.
“Turn around slowly and maybe I won’t gut you for being too cowardly to ask Cassidy out,” the low and deep gravelly voice whispered.
He was already thinking of ways to disarm whoever was behind him when it hit him that he said Cassidy. This wasn’t a palace guard. He turned around slowly and blinked in surprise. Ahmed Mueez stood there with a baby strapped to his chest. He held a knife with confidence. The baby held a knife that was clearly a teether, but she also didn’t look afraid to use it.
Ahmed scoffed. “And they say you’re the new me. My granddaughter just snuck up on you. Not too bad for a grandpa, huh?”
Movement in the darkness behind Ahmed drew his attention. Men were moving silently toward them, led by an older gentleman with a cane. “Hello, sonny. How’d you like the jerky?”
“It was very good, Mr. Davies, but not as good as the apple pie.”
The men cursed, their jaws tightening and something akin to panic passing through their eyes.
“She’s onto us,” Mr. Davies said, clearly upset.
“We can’t let them win. We found him. He’s ours,” one of the men said.
He blinked as the men talked as if he wasn’t there and as if Ahmed and a baby didn’t have him at knifepoint. “What is going on?”
The younger of the men turned to stare him down. “I don’t know. Maybe Tammy’s right and Holt or Knox is for her. I don’t want him with Cass if he’s too much of a coward to even ask her to dance.”
“Who are you?” he asked, feeling his anger beginning to rise. This was now the second time in a minute he’d been called a coward.
“I’m her father, Pierce Davies.” Pierce crossed his arms over his chest and glared at him. “And who do you think you are, thinking you’re good enough for my baby girl?”
“I’m not good enough. I’m damaged. That’s why I’m not asking her out.”
One of the men snorted and rolled his eyes with the rest of the men. “Aren’t we all?”
“And you are?”
“Miles Davies.”
Jake Davies threw his arm around his shoulder and pulled him closer to him. “Come here, sonny. It’s time for you to hear some advice. The longer you hide, the angrier Cassidy will get for you not confessing all.”
“Confessing?” he asked, starting to feel nervous as all the men rolled their eyes again. The bald one even groaned.
“Were we this stupid when we were getting together with our wives?” the bald guy asked.
“Marshall was, that’s for sure,” Miles chuckled.
“You’re one to talk,” the one who must be Marshall shot back.
Their father shook his head and they stopped arguing. “Confess who you are and why you’re the Boogeyman.”
It felt like a punch to the gut. Not only had they identified him, but they found out about his past. “How?”
The guys just smiled.
“You’re a good kid,” Baldy said. “But you’re not Keeneston good.”
“Tell my daughter. She’ll understand and want to help. Or don’t and leave now so one of the other men has a chance. My wife wants more grandchildren. If you’re going to screw this up, you might as well get off the field now when we don’t have to kill you for breaking her heart.”
He growled as he saw another man slip his arm around Cassidy on the dance floor. When he looked back, the men were melding into the shadows. He turned back to watch Cassidy dancing with some royal. A royal who was sliding his hand a little too low.
“Oh my! You are a handsome devil. Especially when you look like you want to rip that prince’s arm off and beat him with it.”
Only years of training stopped him from jumping with surprise. He turned to find four sweet looking old ladies smiling up at him. He’d just been snuck up on by a granny squad. What was wrong with him? Cassidy. That’s what. She was distracting him.
“Come here and give me a hug!” the old lady with the purple dress said, grabbing the side of his head and yanking him down with surprising strength.
His face was smothered in her bosom. She held him pinned as he struggled to breathe. His training kicked in and he went limp, not fighting it, when finally, she released him. He stood up, sucking in a giant breath of air before a hand smacked the back of his head.
“Bless your heart, you told the men about our pie. I thought you’d be smarter than that.”
“Sorry, ma’am. I didn’t know it was a secret.” He eyed the woman in purple keeping his distance in case she wanted to hug him again.
The woman clucked. “Too late now. The race is on. If you want more of my pies, you need to do what we tell you.”
“You’re Marcy Davies, right?”
She nodded. “I’m Cassidy’s grandmother and these are my friends, Miss Lily and Miss Daisy. And you just got acquainted with Miss Violet.”
“Before we tell you how much you’ve screwed up with Cassidy, we do want to thank you for helping Kale and Delaney. You were very impressive,” Miss Lily told him.
“You saw me? How?”
The four women looked at each other and snickered. “Bless his heart. He still has so much to learn,” Marcy said, patting his hand as if he were a child.
Miss Daisy glanced at the dance floor, causing him to look too. He clenched his jaw as Cassidy forcibly removed the prince’s hand from her ass. “You have a decision to make, kid. Do you want her or not?”
“Of course, I want her. But I can’t have her.”
One of them smacked the back of his head again. “ Pfft. You think your past makes you broken. You’re not. And if you were, she could put you together again. But we’re not talking about your past or your quest for revenge,” Marcy said. “We’re talking about your heart and your feelings for my granddaughter. Now, don’t lie to us. Do you love her?”
He must be in a coma and this was a weird dream. It was the only explanation.
“It’s not a hard question, boy. You know it, just say it.” Miss Violet told him.
“Yes. Okay? Yes, I love her.”
The four women smiled sweetly. “Good. Now listen up, we don’t have much time,” Miss Lily said.
“My Cassidy is tough and smart, and yet so full of sweetness and love,” Marcy told him.
“I know. It’s why I don’t deserve her.”
“Aww, do you need another hug?” Miss Violet asked and he immediately took a step back.
Marcy ignored her and kept her eyes locked on his. “But, she’s also always felt like an afterthought. Her older cousins treat her like the baby of the family. She’s not called on to save the day, even though she could like Dylan, Jackson, Ryan, and Greer. And she’s not famous for inventing things, like Sophie and Piper. She’s not a local hero like Colton, Landon, Jace, and Wyatt. She’s always just been little Cassidy. She needs someone who can make her the center of their universe. She needs to be romanced and made to feel important for both who she is and what she does.”
“How do I do that?” he asked softly as he really took a look at Cassidy. She was smiling, but it wasn’t reaching her eyes. Her eyes were sparkling when they were together. Maybe Grandma was right.
“Here,” she said, reaching into her bag. His eyes went big as she pulled out a giant dildo with gems on the balls. “Whoops, not that. That’s what Draven left in our rooms. Here you go.” She pulled out a rolling pin with paper wrapped around it. “Be romantic and make it for her after you tell her the truth of who you are. It’s one of her favorite desserts.”
He took it. As he did, each woman pinched his cheek. “Should I expect a visit from Cassidy’s mother and aunts next?”
The women laughed and shook their heads, tears threatening to spill out as they turned away from him.
“Such a good boy,” he heard one of them say to the others as they walked away.
He was speechless. But then he turned around and watched as Cassidy stepped from the dance floor and to her table to sit with her family for a moment. He really watched her. While she smiled, her mind was clearly elsewhere. Was she thinking of him as he was thinking of her? Well, if his visitors had anything to say about it, he was cleared to tell her the truth, put his heart on the line, and maybe not only get his vengeance, but get the woman he loved.