37. Thea
37
Thea
M y cheeks burned when I finally found the courage to do the walk of shame back into the main living area. Dario had left me in the shower after making me come for a third time. I really needed a nap, but I’d asked to go with Cassian to collect his mother.
Ophelia Forsyth was a stranger, but if she was as lovely as Isobel Rothmore, then I knew I’d adore her.
“Feeling good?” Landon smirked when I crossed the living room. Kyril said nothing, but I saw him glare at Dario, who was in the kitchen making coffee, judging by the delicious aroma drifting out.
Dammit. I missed coffee! Tea didn’t have the same attraction, and while I loved all things sweet, consuming excessive sugar was not good now that I couldn’t work out daily.
Kyril relaxed when I sashayed over and sat next to him, resting my hand on his massive thigh. He was probably upset at not fucking me when we returned from the park, but the Lucian news hijacked our plans, and then Landon proposed...
I examined the two rings. Both were gorgeous. And somewhat surprisingly, they complimented each other, fitting together snugly like a wedding ring and an engagement ring would.
“Who’s the necklace from?” Kyril asked, lifting the delicate pendant with one of his giant fingers.
“Me,” Dar said in a gruff voice. “I can’t give her a ring, so I chose a gift that has meaning for both of us.”
Milo looked despondent for a moment, then began tapping away. I watched him curiously, but he didn’t look up.
“I guess I better level up my gift buying game,” Cassian commented dryly. “How does a private island in the Caribbean sound?”
“Like a joke?” I rolled my eyes at his bullshit.
“How about a house in Martha’s Vineyard?” I didn’t bother replying. He was clearly in the mood to wind me up. Mega-rich families like the Kennedy’s lived in Martha’s Vineyard. Or A-listers like Taylor Swift. People like me were more likely to end up in a trailer park in Butt Fuck Alabama. As a mafia don, my father had always been wealthy, but I’d never seen much evidence of it.
“Sure.” My eyes rolled so far back in my head I almost fell off the sofa.
“Like this one.” Cassian passed me his iPad. I glanced down at the screen and nearly choked. It showed a real estate listing worth $24 million. Seven bedrooms and a private beach.
“You’re having a laugh, right?”
He didn’t even crack a smile. “I wouldn’t joke about something as important as this. Do you like it?”
I swiped through the photographs. The house looked a little dated in parts, but the layout was amazing. There were floor-to-ceiling windows overlooking the ocean, a wide terrace, and an infinity pool. The house even had a jacuzzi and sauna, for fuck’s sake.
It was a struggle to vocalize my thoughts about the property. Clearly a future as a luxury realtor was not on the cards for me. Damn.
“It’s…amazing…but also ridiculously expensive.”
“I have money. Lots of money.”
“And a big ego,” Dar muttered.
“So you, like, bought this house? Without actually seeing it?” That seemed insane. He nodded.
“Why?”
“So we have somewhere safe to live, away from any possible threats still lingering in Europe. And also well away from my father.”
Ah. Of course. He needed somewhere safe for his mother. It all made sense now.
“I’m sure your mom will love it.”
His expression softened. “Sweetheart, it’s for you. My mom will want her own place once she’s gone through rehab.”
“You bought me a 24 million dollar house?” My jaw hit the floor. I had no idea what to do with that statement.
“Hey, we can’t all afford to buy a mega mansion!” Landon huffed crossly, while Dario snorted with derision.
Jesus. When would this stupid rivalry ever end?
Cassian ignored them all. “Once I know Mom is OK, we can leave.”
Maybe flying to the US wasn’t such a bad idea after all. It wasn’t like I had anything to keep me here. Verity loved her school. And there was nothing stopping her from flying out to stay with me during the holidays, or I could visit her. I’d miss Eden, but she was busy with college. Maybe she could visit with Verity.
“OK.” Cassian looked relieved.
“Good.”
“Here,” Milo blurted, cutting Cassian off as he was about to say something else. He thrust his laptop in my direction.
“Have you bought her a private jet?” Dario mocked. I scowled at him.
“If you have nothing nice to say, shut the fuck up.” He looked peeved at being told off but wisely did as he was told.
I took the laptop and looked at the web page open on the screen.
“Um… what is this?”
“I bought you a star. Well, named a star after you. It’s impossible to buy a star. They can’t be owned by anyone,” he explained in a rush.
“You named a star after me?” I repeated. Nobody said anything derogatory, which was just as well as I’d have legit stabbed them.
“Yes.” Milo smiled proudly. “Once we move, I’ll order us a telescope and we can look at your star in the night sky.”
I was speechless. Two rings, a butterfly pendant, a mega mansion, and now a star. This was officially the best day of my life.
“Milo, that’s…” I burst into tears, finally overwhelmed by too many feelings. It was official. I’d lost my mind.
“Oh, you hate it.” Milo’s face fell as he tried to take the laptop back.
“No!” I scrambled over the coffee table, not caring that I’d knocked a glass over. “I love it!” Before he could protest, I kissed him, pouring all of my love into the kiss. “And I love you.” Tears spilled down my face. Snot too. I wasn’t a pretty crier.
“For fuck’s sake, now you’ve made my kitten cry,” Kyril grouched.
“We need chocolate!”
“And tissues.”
Truthfully, I didn’t need any of those things.
I had everything I needed right here.
Five perfectly imperfect men who loved me and would kill for me.
Some of whom already had killed for me.
I loved them all.
To the stars and back.
In the end, only Kyril and I went with Cassian to bring his mother back to the hotel. Kyril had wanted me to stay behind, but I insisted on going. Cassian had been through hell thanks to Lucian. If I couldn’t be there for him, what was the point of us being in a relationship?
The medical team who’d overseen the clinic raid had taken Ophelia to a private hospital, where a team of doctors examined her and apparently decided there was nothing actually wrong with her, apart from the fact Lassitor had sedated her to keep her quiet.
When we arrived at the hospital, there were reporters waiting outside the wrought-iron gates. They tried to take photos of us, but our car had blacked-out windows, so they saw nothing.
Someone must have tipped them off because I heard several people yelling Cassian’s name. His face remained blank as the driver maneuvered through the gates.
I squeezed his hand as we reached the main reception, where a tall man in a tweed jacket waited.
“Good afternoon, Mr. Forsyth. I’m Gerald Stone. We spoke on the phone earlier. You just need to sign the release forms and then your mother is free to go.” He looked warily at Kyril before wisely stepping aside to let us pass. “Please follow me.”
Stone led us down a pale green corridor. Calm landscapes painted in pastel colors adorned the walls, and the scent of disinfectant filled my nose. I shuddered. Hospitals always invoked fear in me. My body associated them with unbearable pain.
We passed through a door and into a small but pleasant room with comfortable chairs and large windows overlooking a garden. A tall blond woman sat on a sofa, her hands folded in her lap. She wore pale blue sweats and a matching top. I guessed she’d left the clinic with nothing. Knowing Lucian, he’d ensured all her personal belongings were stripped from her the moment she arrived at Highgate. It was the sort of demeaning shit I’d expect from a monster like him.
“Mom.” I fought back tears as Cassian rushed over to embrace his mother. She looked numb. Like she had no fucking idea what day it was, let alone that this was her beloved son.
“Cassian?” I had to strain my ears to hear Ophelia’s whisper. There was barely anything on her slender frame. Had Lassitor starved her? It sure looked like it.
“Yes, Mom. I’m here to take you away.”
“Back to Blackwood?” She gripped Cassian’s arms, her skin stretched taught over sharp cheekbones.
“No, not there. You’re coming with me. We’re staying at Claridges.”
“I don’t want to see your father.”
“Me neither.” He stood back and looked at Stone. “The paperwork?”
“Of course.” Stone pulled out a bunch of documents and a pen. He handed them to Cassian, who scanned the contents and then signed them.
“Who’s she?” Ophelia asked as she caught sight of me stood next to Kyril. For the first time since we arrived, I saw a spark of something intelligent in her blue eyes.
Cassian gestured at me to come over and I approached cautiously, not wanting to intrude on their mommy-son bonding moment. I only came to support Cassian. And also make sure Lucian didn’t try any bullshit. I’d packed a small handgun, just in case.
“Mom, this is Thea. I told you about her at Christmas.”
Ophelia frowned. “You did?”
“Yes. She’s my girlfriend. The woman I love.”
I watched as his words settled in Ophelia’s mind. The furrows across her brow smoothed, and she smiled. A genuine smile full of warmth.
“Hello, Thea. It’s a pleasure to meet you.”
“Hi, Mrs. Forsyth,” I said, awkwardly holding out my hand. Social introductions were not my strong point. Ophelia took my hand and leaned in to press a dry kiss on my cheek. She smelled of violets and sickness. It was a slightly nauseating combination, but I swallowed my discomfort and pasted what I hoped looked like a pleasant daughter-in-law kind of smile on my face.
“Welcome to our family, darling girl.”
“Um, thank you.”
Cassian smiled at me and then led his mother out of the room.
“She loves you,” Kyril whispered in my ear as his hand rested on my butt. “Told you she would.”