Chapter 3
TEMPEST
I will show you fear in a handful of dust. —T.S. Eliot
"We don’t fire bullets—we plant ideas. It’s much more dangerous that way, this line of work.”
I still remember his voice and the way he held me when he said it like it wasn’t the most dangerous thing anyone has ever said to me in my life.
I thought I was getting ice cream and a solid Tinder match, instead I was getting pulled into a war I wanted no part of and completely unable to protect myself without getting my sister and the people I loved involved.
In short, I was being recruited and they’d used my sex drive to do it.
I’d tell you I didn’t know better, but I did.
I knew the second he touched me, the second he held me like I was already a memory.
The Vescovi family didn’t play fair—they whispered across oceans, made kings disappear, and bred monsters behind mahogany doors.
No one ever saw them coming until it was way too late—my own family included.
And yet, there I was, making out with the heir in the back corner of the university library before he injected something into my neck and said, “Be a good girl, Tempest.”
To be fair he didn’t look like a criminal—does anyone really in this day and age? For all I know, they can be training children, dogs, peacocks.
And him? For one thing, he had red hair, not that it mattered, but it was extremely red and what kind of murderer stuck out so much?
What kind of person wanted to be seen? He had glasses too, was tall, good looking, wicked smart and was working on his Ph.D.
so my whole mafia or crime radar did not go off.
I don’t think anyone’s danger radar would have as much as glitched.
My nerd radar did something though when we matched. I thought finally, hot nerd, blow off some steam, sign me up, let’s go! I did not plan for being attacked before a promised orgasm next to the Ancient History section.
Hah, ideal, really, because our relationship or whatever it was—was exactly that.
I shuddered at the memory.
It didn’t matter.
I had a way out now.
My soon to be husband.
Brilliant, if you asked me
I refused to feel guilt. He’s the one that said yes to my favor without asking what it was. See also: People do stupid shit when they’re in love and since he lost my sister to none other than Ace De Lange all this poor decision making was on him.
I needed an out, which meant I needed a way in.
The Vescovi family was not just lethal—they traded in secrets, something I knew well, which is why I normally keep my mouth shut, but his damn tongue made me open it more—the needle of poison aka his own brand of truth serum also didn’t help.
Before I knew it—I was confessing all sorts of things without realizing I’d been conned. He’d gotten it on camera and said he’d sell to the highest bidder if I told anyone in the family and then he dangled the carrot even further.
“Do you want to play a game?” He leaned back against the wall of the library. Somehow his shirt seemed too small on him, his biceps too big, and his hair too red.
I frowned. “Do you dye your hair?”
“Do you?” he countered without missing a beat.
“No.”
He shrugged, smile firmly in place. “Maybe I like attention.”
“It’s not your color.”
“Your tongue said otherwise a few minutes ago.” He stared me down like he wanted more action then switched gears. “So? Do you want to play a game?”
I backed away and reached for my bag then calmly tugged it onto my arm. I could feel the weight of my knife against my thigh but he’d see me if I tried to pull it out. “I play a mean game of pinochle.”
"I had you for more of a Monopoly kind of girl. I imagine you set up your damn little houses everywhere collecting rent like a tyrant.”
I smirked. “It’s the mafia background, but alas I don’t want to buy hotels and have you pay me to land on them, kind of a boring life don’t you think?”
"Extremely.” He sat across from me on the desk; his long legs didn’t even dangle.
He pulled off his glasses and set them carefully next to him.
“If you can find out my secrets I’ll give you this.
” He held the recording device in the air.
“And I’ll be kind enough to put your precious little family in the ‘do not attack’ column. You know how bloodthirsty mine can be.”
“All new animals are — bloodthirsty that is, at least once they find their legs and then boom, we just cut them right off. Explain our game then, I’m waiting.
” I couldn’t tell if he was sighing out of boredom or entertainment.
He smirked, slow and calculated. “You get me three answers, and I’ll return the recording device you so clumsily allowed to fall into my hands.
I’ll also make sure your family is protected from the fallout of your… indiscretions.”
Interesting. Honestly, my family would be disappointed I was sleeping with the enemy and accidentally let a few secrets slip, but I was more intrigued by his desperation. “And if I lose?”
“Then I use what you gave me how ever I please. And your family gets buried beneath it.”
My fingers curled against the bookshelf behind me. “What are the three questions?”
He pushed off the desk and walked toward me with measured steps. “Simple. One, who are my parents? Two, where was I born? And three, why did the Vescovi family adopt me, mind you I use that term very loosely?”
I frowned. “You don’t even know the answers to those.”
“Exactly.” He tilted his head, eyes gleaming. “That’s what makes it fun. Clearly they don’t want me to know and the only way to find out would be having someone else do the dirty work.”
“And why me?”
“You’re the only one arrogant enough to try.
And you already gave me the name of someone reckless enough to bleed for answers.
” There was a catch. There is always a catch with men like Cassian.
Nothing was face value and if you thought that then you may as well ask where to stand while they pointed the trigger or knife in your direction.
“Louis.” I uttered his name like a curse. The guy had been through hell and back, and what? Now that he was my bodyguard and he lost my sister to Ace he was just existing.
Cassian, his stated name, nodded once. “He’s your Trojan horse.
Your martyr. Your monster. Use him wisely to infiltrate, the family always tests new blood and if they can get someone to play both sides they’ll tell him more than me.
” He took two steps toward me and flicked my chin up with his fingers. “It will be fun, you’ll see.”
"What if he doesn’t say yes?”
Cassian eyed me up and down. “I highly doubt anyone as depressed as Louis would have the soul to say no, especially to the sister of the girl he really wanted but never got, don’t you think?”
“Cruel,” I snapped. “Even for you.”
To both of us. To me and Louis. It was a reminder. I wasn’t the girl you married was I? I was the girl you had fun with.
My sister was the one you fought for.
I was the one you forgot until it was too late.
It’s why I’d always tried to be the best, there would be no white horse, no savior, nobody. I had two hands and I’d learned how to use them—what’s more important, I had a body and it was just as dangerous as anyone’s gun.
I eyed Cassias hand. “It’s not like the secrets I shared would get me killed.”
He smiled down at me. “Oh sweetheart, you’re not worried about bloodshed, you’re worried about freedom. Besides, we both know you’re just as bored as I am even if you’re too afraid to admit it. We both win, and we have a little fun while we’re at it.” He held out his hand. “Deal?”
I stared at his hand then back at him. With a grin of my own, I grabbed him by the back of the neck and pulled him in for a searing kiss then whispered, “Deal.”
“God, I wish I was into commitment, you’d be one to bring me to my knees.” He pressed a hand on my shoulder, shoving me to the ground. “Then again, I’ve always been more of a fan of seeing you on yours.”
"Careful.” I snapped my teeth. “I bite small things.”
He roared with laughter. “Oh yes, I would have definitely wanted to keep you, Tempest.”
"Jokes on you, I’m impossible to keep.”
"Poor Louis indeed,” Cassian said before walking off and giving me his back. “Two months, Tempest, I’ll give you two months before the game ends and we decide if you’re family ships you away or if you’re actually useful—not on your knees.”
“I’ll set my alarm,” I snapped.
"Do that,” he called. “I’ll be watching, oh and there will be a package delivered, be sure to use every last drop of it on your husband otherwise I fear he won’t make it past the door of our compound.
He needs to build up a tolerance to every poison they give him.
He’ll need to experience them so he knows how to fight them once given and knows what to do and how to react. ”
“Done.”
“Good. A week or two should be enough time for him to prepare. Once I know the date and time for the meeting, I’ll let you know, I’m putting my neck out there in saying I have a new recruit for them, I hope you understand, once you say yes there is no out.
They’ll of course have the final say, but I’ve never suggested a member before and they’ll be absolutely delighted that someone tied to your family wants in.
He’ll have to follow the instructions accordingly.
I can only plan ahead for what they typically do when inviting new members to the meeting and he doesn’t want to leave in a body bag. Right? Done?” He held out his hand.
“Done.” I whispered without thinking completely and utterly desperate to make it all go away.
The wedding was fast.
The memory of that night jolted me over and over again as I said my vows and tried to look happy.
The serum in my hand didn’t help a freaking thing.
And knowing Louis was on the other side of that glass door staring out at the sky, standing on that balcony, possibly thinking about my sister made me irrationally jealous.
I looked like her.
I wasn’t her.
I would never in a million years be her.
Maybe that’s what he wanted, though.
Maybe I should pretend for him, selfishly for me, so he could at least once imagine what it would be like before it all went to hell, because who knew what the Vescovi family would do to him if they found out he was going to double cross them?
Well, I knew. Death.
Wow, and I thought Cassian was sick and twisted.
Something was seriously wrong with me.
I had no plans for the rest of the night other than attempting some ground rules—I just hoped he played games well.
Then again, roughing him up sounded just as fun as giving him praise.
He had no clue the fresh hell I was capable of.
Let the games begin, I guess.