Chapter 30 Glass is fragile. It also cuts #2
He says that, but Stacey's warning rings in my ears.
"You're an asset. Leverage. This is what they do.
It's the long game. It doesn't look that bad at first, which is how you miss it.
It's a favour. It's a kindness. It's a sponsorship. But then they have claws in every part of your life and one day, you sit up and wonder how you’d gotten in so deep. .."
We're both being used as a living, breathing showcase for the Family's product. I wasn't asked. I wonder if she was. It's harmless... At least, our roles are harmless.
Max and I approach the bar. As he orders for us, my attention is drawn to the guests as they enjoy small talk and observe the beautiful jewellery in display cases and on individuals.
"Cassidy, what's that look on your face mean?
" Max leans casually on the bar beside me.
He motions towards the glass of champagne sitting idly in front of me.
I stare at Stacey. She's being mauled by people inspecting her wrists and ears.
Xander stands not too far away, guarding her.
"Cassidy?" I'm drawn back to the serious eyes of the beautiful man I love.
"If you wanna go, we'll just go. I don't give a shit if Jimmy gets pissed. "
"No. I'm fine." I grab the champagne and drink it enthusiastically.
A tall, slim lady with a red mask approaches me. Her eyes drop to the diamond around my neck. "May I?"
I nod.
She reaches up and runs her fingers across the diamond, her nails lightly scraping my skin.
"Beautiful," she whispers. More people approach.
Some appear dazzled. Others methodical, all business.
A few women have phones clutched to their ears, describing the piece to someone on the other end of the line.
I wonder who they are conversing with. Probably some prince from Arabia or the Queen of England.
Probably a politician. Max's hand rests reassuringly on my back.
Everyone's attention is suddenly directed to the canapés now circulating.
I drain another glass of champagne and notice that Butch and an irked-looking Victoria are standing in the far corner.
Her eyes scrutinise everyone unabashedly.
Her red lips slice a straight line across her face.
Her gaze lands on me and that slice twitches.
There was a time when I'd thought she was undeniably beautiful. But I see her for what she is now—empty. All she has is Chanel and Gucci. Well, Max has me. I turn my back on her and place my hand on Max's neck. I kiss his lips softly and with so much gentle love and intent.
He gazes down at me, a gentleness in his eyes only reserved for mine. "You okay?"
"Can I look around?" I ask, staring at the display cabinets.
"Of course," Max says, studying me as I move away to explore.
That second glass of champagne has helped me relax. I'm not sure why I was feeling uneasy. Perhaps I should feel honoured to be such an important part of such a prestigious event.
That's what the champagne tells me.
I wander around the room and lean over the cabinets, taking in the colours and beauty.
"Open your mouth, Little One." I spin to face Max, my cheeks hot with surprise.
He laughs and holds up a small tart. I do as I'm told, opening my mouth so he can plop the morsel in. I hum as the flavour bursts around my tongue. He smiles at me and I smile at him, and my nerves have definitely settled.
My eyes are suddenly fixed on a little anklet with a ballet shoe pendant. The charm is completely encrusted with pink diamonds. "Oh my God. It's beautiful."
He swirls the liquid in his glass. "You got about $70k?"
My jaw drops. "Oh my gawd! How?"
"It's not the carat that matters with pinks. It's the colour and the clarity."
"Jebus," I say under my breath.
He chuckles. "Did you just say Jebus?"
"It's off the Simpsons." Oh my God, shut up, Cassidy. "Save me Jebus. No?"
He sighs long and slow, but his eyes smile at me, taking me all in. It's a nice look on him, full of emotion. He likes that I'm not cool. I have no idea why.
My breath catches when I see Dustin and Jimmy approaching us, their eyes all over me.
My hands start to shake at my sides. I thought I had overcome this feeling.
I thought I would be okay if I saw him again.
Indifferent, but not scared. Not angry. I narrow my eyes at Dustin, making him smile, triumph in his mannerisms.
"That's the one. Diamante rosa," he coos, caressing my neck with his eyes. He reaches for me and I step backwards, hitting Max's hard body. Max strokes my hip.
"It must be your ugly face, Dustin, that she does not like." Jimmy laughs loudly. He says something to Dustin in Sicilian and then claps his hands. "Thank you, Cassidy, for wearing my diamond. You look royal tonight."
"Fragile," Dustin quips with a smirk. "Perfect for the diamond."
Glass is fragile. It also cuts.
I bite the inside of my lip so hard before forcing a smile. "You're very welcome, Jimmy. It's beautiful."
My will is to keep a straight face and not glance at Max for support.
I can feel him. That should be enough. Bronson appears in the corner of my eye, stepping behind me.
Dustin stares over my shoulder at Max and then Bronson.
Amusement flickers across his face. There is tension, thick and threatening.
I steel my spine, but my heart beats hard in my chest, dizzying me.
Jimmy's smile widens. "Ah, my Butcher boys. I'm going to need both of you to follow me into the other room. We have a few things to take care of. Affari me."
Max's hand tightens on my hip, his fingers digging in. "What about the diamond?"
I wince and he relaxes his grip. "I need to go to the restroom anyway," I manage to say, my voice somehow not shaking.
Jimmy raises his hand, clicking his fingers to signal one of the guards.
Approaching quickly, the guard is tailed by another suited lady who holds an empty silver tray.
Before she can reach around and remove the diamond from my neck, I unclip it myself and place the piece on her tray.
I don't look at Max as I excuse myself, slowly walking towards the bathrooms.
Once inside, I grip the basin and stare at my reflection. "What are you doing?" I whisper to myself. "Why are you even here? This isn’t your scene."
My scene is lounging around in my pyjamas, eating pizza and listening to jazz or playing PlayStation or reading. It definitely isn't elaborate galas filled with passive-aggressive chitchat.
I hate Dustin.
I hate Victoria.
I don't know how I feel about Jimmy, although I like him less and less the more I see the strings he holds. Max's strings. Bronson's strings.
Mine?
Everything Stacey warned me about swims in my mind. My stomach rolls, a thick mixture of unease and champagne curdled together. Bile moves into my throat and I throw myself over a toilet to vomit.
After cleaning myself up, I gather my purse. I'll tell Max I'm not well and hopefully we can retire early.
When I re-enter the main gallery room, Xander's eyes are glued to me. Before I can wander over to him, Dustin blocks my path. "Cassidy, let's see that diamond back around your neck."
Shuddering at the way he articulates the word neck, I shake my head. "I need to get some air. Where's Max?"
"Not feeling well again." He takes one long step towards me before cupping his hands in front of him. "You should really get that checked out."
He gazes at the column of my neck. His eyes are dark-brown voids that scratch at my skin and leave goosebumps in their wake. The champagne is currently doing nothing to aid in calming my nerves.
Max promised me that I would never have to talk to this man alone. "Where's Max?" I say again.
He nods in the direction of a door. "Still with Jimmy. They might be a while."
Xander appears at my side, smiling tightly at Dustin. "Everything okay?"
"Yeah," I say, my voice definitely shaking now. "I just feel a bit strange. I think I'm coming down with something."
"All right." Dustin's hand touches my waist and it takes everything inside me not to slap it away. He walks me a few steps towards a corridor and points down a long run of doors. I stare back at Xander, his eyes still trained on me. "Go to the end. There's a little courtyard out there."
Xander joins us by the corridor. "I'll go with her."
Dustin tsks. "And leave Stacey unattended?"
"Stacey has three guards in this room, Dustin." Xander almost barks the words, and his tone makes Dustin straighten.
Then Dustin relaxes.
It's chilling. His stance. Like the quiet of the sea at night. You know that there are monsters beneath its dark depths, but all you can see is still glassy blackness. "Are you still talking, little Butcher?" he finally says, his voice smooth.
Around the room, several guards watch our exchange closely. Xander clenches his fists on either side of his body as he acknowledges them with a nod. It's not clear where their loyalties lie. With Jimmy, I suppose.
"It's fine," I say to Xander, honestly just eager to get away at this point.
I reach for Xander's arm, stroking the tense muscles beneath.
"I'll just be outside." Walking away from both of them, I head straight down the corridor, passing five doors as I do.
It's well lit. My stomach rolls again, so I clutch at it, wincing slightly.
At the end of the corridor, I push the door open and the fresh air greets me.
A crisp wisp of air fills my lungs... and then something else.
Something smoky. The atmosphere is not quite right.
The door behind me closes on its own. A shadow in the corner moves.
"Ah, thank you, God! This is a sign," I hear someone say.
Squinting as the shadow moves towards me, a face is gradually revealed. Erik. He's smoking something that is definitely not tobacco. The herbal remedy wraps him in thick, pungent smoke.