31. Cassian
31
Cassian
One week later
I smiled with satisfaction as I read the email from my lawyer. The house in Martha’s Vineyard was mine. 8,000 square feet set over three floors with outbuildings and several acres. The house’s former owner, a famous actor from the 70s, was a recluse. He’d won an Oscar and then disappeared from public life after his wife died in an accident.
I was well aware the property needed work, but the size and location were perfect. It even had a private beach, which I knew Thea would love.
“You look happy,” Landon commented. “Has Daddy been papped with hookers?”
“Sadly not, but I live in hope.” Dad had been quiet. It would be nice to think it was because he’d finally realized he couldn’t control me, but experience told me that was unlikely. No doubt he was busy putting plans in motion to force me back into the fold. The sooner I got Mom out of Lassitor’s clinic, the better.
Thea walked in and Landon immediately jumped up like the lap dog he was. The idiot was smitten with her. Utterly gone. Thea had been the only person surprised by his declaration of love when we first arrived in London.
“A cup of tea, gorgeous girl?” He pulled her close, making her laugh as he licked her neck. “Yum, you taste like popcorn. Have you been using that moisturizer from my mom?”
Isobel had sent Thea a package of all-natural beauty products from a Swiss range she favored, delivered to our suite at Claridges yesterday morning.
“Yes, it’s amazing!”
“I can confirm it is amazing. Just like you.” He ignored Dario’s loud scoffing sounds from the sofa. “Now sit down and let me fetch you a cup of herbal tea. This one’s a new blend.”
“Hmm, it better be nicer than the last one you forced me to try. That one tasted like ass.”
Landon gasped. “Like ass? Have you been trying new things in the bedroom without me? I’m hurt!”
Thea giggled loudly. The sound of her amusement washed away all my lingering tension. Torrance was dead. Francesco wasn’t getting out of prison in his lifetime. Konstantin Marku was the only remaining threat on the board, other than my father.
“I haven’t been trying anything,” she grumbled once her amusement faded. “None of you have touched me in a week.”
“Baby, we don’t want to hurt you. You’re still bruised.”
“A few bruises don’t matter!” I smiled as she stomped over to the sofa and sat down huffing loudly.
“You need to be mindful of the baby, cara .”
“Don’t you fucking start, Dar!”
I looked up as Kyril walked in, his hair wet from the shower.
“Oh good, you’re here,” I said. “Give Milo a shout, would you? I have shit I need to tell you all, and I don’t feel like saying it twice.”
“Me, too,” Thea replied, fidgeting with the hem of her sweater. “But you go first.”
Milo appeared, carrying his laptop. He nodded at me, letting me know he had everything we needed in place. Good .
“Here, drink this, gorgeous girl.” Lan handed Thea a steaming cup of amber tea that looked an awful lot like piss.
Her nose wrinkled but she took a hesitant sip. “Hmm. Not too bad. What’s in it?”
“Ginger and honey, chamomile, and a few other things that are good for you.”
“You’re like an old woman fussing over her,” Dario muttered. “Thea’s not a fucking doll.”
“Fuck off , stronzo ,” Lan snapped.
I sighed. This would not end well. It was bad enough when he cussed out Kyril in Russian.
“Enough! Now shut the fuck up and let me talk!”
“Yes, Daddy,” Thea sassed.
“Someone’s in need of a spanking,” I told her. She smirked, but the pink glow on her cheeks told me she wasn’t averse to the idea.
“In your own time, Cassian. I have shit to do,” Dario sniped.
“Like what?” Landon rolled his eyes. “You have no fucking job.”
“Nor do you!”
“My role in life is caring for my girl. Once our baby is here, I’ll be a stay-at-home daddy.”
“I think you mean my baby,” Kyril corrected.
“ Our baby!” Thea yelled, clearly over the in-fighting. She turned on Lan and Dario. “Both of you, stop winding each other up. Any more of this shit and you’re banned from my bedroom for a month.”
“A MONTH? No fucking way!”
“Yes way!”
Dario wisely said nothing.
“Cruel.”
I rolled my eyes. “If you’re done, I’ll tell you about our plans.”