CHAPTER FIVE
CHAPTER FIVE
DAMIEN
She’s quiet. Not that I blame her. I’m sure the sequence of the day’s event has left her drained and confused.
Truth be told, I could have chosen a better time to do all this, expose her fate.
But my sources informed me that Miguel Solis was making a move to get her out of the country as soon as the funeral ended.
He was trying to keep her away from me. And that’s unacceptable.
Plus, I’m tired of waiting. I’ve waited long enough.
Cassie sits as far from me as the car allows, her body pressed against the door like she’s hoping it’ll swallow her whole and spit her out somewhere safe. It’s cute. Useless, but cute.
I watch her out of the corner of my eye, the way her fingers twitch in her ap, the way her jaw clenches like she’s trying not to speak, or scream. She’s angry. Afraid. Which is good. Fear sharpens the mind. It’ll make what comes after easier. For me, anyway.
The car hums steadily down the road, the city lights bleeding into the dark windows. Inside, it’s quiet, tense. I can practically taste her discomfort.
“You’re going to hurt your neck sitting like that,” I say casually, my voice cutting through the silence.
She flinches, whipping her head toward me.
Wide, furious hazel eyes meet mine. Her eyes are entirely too alluring.
Probably her best feature if the rest of her wasn’t just as enticing.
She’s a siren, meant to lure men to their doom.
I’ll gladly save them from that by cutting out the eyes of any man that dares to look at her.
“I’m fine,” she snaps, her voice sharp.
I smirk, letting he see the edge underneath it, “You will be.”
She scowls, hugging her arms around herself like armor.
“Where are you taking me?” she demands.
“Home,” I answer simply.
“You mean your home.”
I tilt my head, “Where else would you live? You’re to be my bride.”
Her face goes red, a flush creeping up her neck. “I am not your bride.”
“Not yet.”
Her hands ball into fists in her lap. I know she’s upset now, but this isn’t a fight she can win.
“You can’t just, you can’t kidnap people,” she hisses.
I arch an eyebrow, “You came willingly.”
“That’s because you were threating my friends!”
“You still made a choice to come with me, bella , so I didn’t kidnap you.”
She looks at me like she wants to punch me which doesn’t surprise me.
Her father is dead, if I hadn’t taken her, someone else would have. And no one protects what’s mine like I do.
The car pulls through a set of towering iron gates, widening up a long treelined driveway towards the compound. There’s a huge mansion in the middle and smaller buildings at the side and the back of it. The place is a fortress, one my grandfather built. My home. And soon, hers.
She shifts uneasily, taking it all in.
“You can let me go,” she tries, her voice softer now, almost pleading. “I won’t tell anyone. I’ll just disappear. You’ll never have to see me again.”
I reach over and brush my fingers along a stray lock of hair that fallen against her cheek. She stiffens like I’ve struck her.
“I don’t want you to disappear, Cassandra,” I murmur. “I want you exactly where you are.”
Right here, with me. Mine . She jerks away from my touch, breathing hard. She has no idea how much I enjoy her trying to fight. Especially since it won’t change a thing. The car slows to a stop in front of the main building.
Luca gets out to open my door. I step out, then turn and offer Cassandra my hand. She glares at it like it’s a sake about to strike.
“Cassandra,” I say quietly, “You can walk in, or I can carry you.”
Her eyes burn into mine, pure defiance. For a second, I think she’s going to make me drag her inside. But then she shoves my hand away and climbs out herself, chin high, shoulders back. Pride welling in that tiny, furious frame. I stare at her as she walks in front of me.
“She’s going to be a lot of trouble, boss,” Luca mutters beside me.
“I’m looking forward to it.”
The woman is exactly as I expected her to be. She’s going to be perfect for the role I would have her play in my life.
Meeting her, talking to her has only solidified my decision in choosing to make her mine.
I fall into step beside her, close enough that I feel her bristle but not so close she bolts. Small mercies.
The front door swings open before we even reach it, one of the guard nodding in silent respect as we pass. Cassandra looks up at the massive entryway- dark wood, vaulted ceilings, floors so polished you could see your own grim expression looking back at you.
“This way,” I say, steering her through the foyer.
She doesn’t move until I brush the small of her back with my hand. She goes rigid but obeys, following me down the wide hall.
“This is your home now, bella ,” I say, “You’ll get used to it.”
“Not likely,” she mutters under her breath.
I let the comment go. For now.
A woman steps out of a side hallway, silver haired, sturdy, her shar eyes softening the moment she sees us.
“Renata,” I say. “This is Cassandra.”
Cassandra blinks, like she can’t quite process what’s going on. Renata offers her a warm smile, her accent lilting. She has a motherly air around her, calming. Which is to be expecting considering she practically raised me and my siblings.
“Welcome, dear. If you need anything, food, snacks, drinks, anything at all, you come find me. I’ll come take care of you.”
“Thank you,” Cassandra says, her tone softer than it has been since she met me.
“You’re welcome, sweetheart. I want you to be comfortable here. Don’t let Damien frighten you too much. If he’s causing you any trouble, you come find me. Okay, Cassandra?”
I roll my eyes at that. The last thing I want to do give her more reasons to hate me. No need to start our marriage off on such a bad start.
“It’s Cassie. I prefer being called Cassie.”
Renata smiles, “Okay, Cassie. I’ll go and get started on preparing something delicious for your first dinner here. See you later.”
She walks away, leaving Cassandra and I standing in the hallway.
“Would you like me to call you Cassie as well?” I question.
“I’d prefer it if you didn’t say my name at all,” she replies tightly.
“Noted.”
I move her along before she can start thinking too much. Two younger women are waiting just down the hall, the maids.
“Cassandra, this is Lila and Ana,” I introduce.
They nod respectfully.
“They’re assigned to you,” I continue. “Anything you need, day or night.”
Cassandra’s mouth tightens, “I don’t want anyone to wait on me like some dainty princess.”
‘What you need is irrelevant,” I state.
“Because I’m your prisoner?” she challenges.
“Because you’re my wife,” I correct. “But you can easily be treated as a prisoner if you’re not careful. Remember that, Cassandra.”
Her jaw twitches, the fierce expression on her face telling me she wants to argue some more. But she falls silent, breaks eye contact. I can imagine just how much she hates all of this. Being cared for by me. Being trapped. I almost feel bad for her. Almost.
Finally, we reach the grand staircase. I lead up her up, our footsteps echoing.
“The wing is private,” I tell her. “No one comes up here without my permission.”
She swallows, glancing down the long, dimly lit corridor like it’s a noose tightening around her neck. I stop in front of a heavy oak door and push it open.
“This is your room.”
Large, elegant, with a four poster bed draped in dark linens. The windows overlook the gardens. A fireplace crackles in the corner, throwing golden light over everything. I watch as she exhales a breath of relief, stepping inside slowly.
“What?” I ask, referring to the relief on her face.
“I thought you’d force me to stay in the same room with you,” she admits.
I smirk, “Would you like that, Cassandra?”
“No,” she hisses. “I don’t expect you to have any morals, but if you even think about touching me, I’ll blow your head off.”
“I’ll keep that in mind,” I say, amused, but my smirk fades as I study her. She’s trying not to look at me. Shoulders tense, chin lifted just enough to feign defiance.
She’s not afraid, just pissed. And oddly composed for someone in her situation.
Curious.
I close the distance between us until her breath fans against my lips, shallow and uneven. She stiffens when my arousal presses against her stomach, and I don’t miss the sharp hitch in her breath.
Control. Tension. Desire. All blooming between us like a storm held back by threadbare restraint.
I lean in, my lips brushing the shell of her ear, and murmur—
“Don’t worry, cara mia . I won’t lay a hand on you … unless you ask me to.”
“Go to hell,” she spits.
“As long as you’ll go with me.”
She rolls her eyes, scoffing before looking away. her hands brush against the smooth edges of the dresser, the frame of the bed.
“You like the room, right? I asked that special care be taken in arranging it for you,” I inform her.
“It’s beautiful,” she says quietly, and then louder, colder, she adds, “Am I supposed to feel grateful?”
“No,” I say, my voice low. “It’s supposed to make you feel comfortable .”
She faces me, chin lifted, every inch of her radiating defiance. Good, I’d hate for her to break too soon. But she will break.
“You’ll stay here tonight,” I tell her. “You can explore the house tomorrow. Since you’ve had a long day, I’ll ask that dinner be served to you here. You can enjoy a nice meal alone, take the time to get used to your new reality.”
She crosses her arms, “And if I don’t?”
I step closer, close enough that she has to tilt her head back to meet my gaze.
“You don’t want an answer to that question, Cassandra. You’re beautiful and full of light. I’d really hate to have to snuff it all out.”
Her breath catches.
“You’re a monster,” she grits out.
“Haven’t you heard? They call me, diavolo . It means devil, bella . There’s nothing I won’t do to get what I want. And what I want from here on out is your compliance. Is that understood?”
She doesn’t move, doesn’t speak but I don’t expect her too. Without another word, I turn and leave, shutting the door behind me and trading a short look with Rafael who has been assigned to guard her door like he has been all this while. No one goes in or out without my permission.
She won’t be going anywhere either.
Luca appears beside me out of nowhere. Almost like he spawned from the shadows. I’m used to it by now though. He walks behind me as I head to my room. I can feel him holding back everything he has to say. And considering I’m not too keen on listening right now, I let him.
I’ve only reached my door when I hear footsteps approaching. I look up to find Sofia walking towards me bare foot and in a light pink nightgown. There’s a light sheen in her eyes that has my eyes narrowing. When she stumbles, my suspicions become true.
I walk up to her, wrapping a hand around her arm.
“Who gave you alcohol?” I question.
“Lighten up, big brother. I’m an adult woman and I’m allowed to drink. Plus, I’m celebrating the arrival of your new toy!” she says lifting her arms in excitement.
I frown, “She’s not a toy, mia cara . She’s to be your sister-in-law and you’ll show her respect.”
Her blue eyes narrow, “I don’t like her, Damien. I don’t want her here.”
I should have known she’d react like this.
Sofia has been spoiled her entire life. She’s much younger than Dante and I.
Our father shielded her from all the ills of the world.
She’s sheltered and that’s made her unable to interact or approach normal human situations like most people.
She usually keeps to herself and I hate that because I know she’s lonely.
But she seems to prefer being on her own.
I knew she wouldn’t be accepting of Cassandra’s presence. She despises change and she really doesn’t like this nonsensical feud that our brother seems intent on upholding.
“Let’s get you to your room. Come on,” I urge gently, placing a hand on her shoulder and guiding her to the end of the hallway. She’s bleary eyed by the time we make it. I have to carry her into bed before lifting the covers over her.
“She’s not going to fit in here, Damien,” she murmurs sleepily. “She’ll hate it. You know it.”
I exhale a soft breath, “On the contrary, little sister. I think she’ll fit in perfectly.”
Her eyes fall shut and I wait until her breathing evens out before I leave the room. When I step out, Luca’s leaning on the wall waiting for me.
“Alright, let’s hear it,” I prompt. “Might as well since everyone seems to have an opinion today.”
He shakes his head, keeping his mouth shut.
“What? No complaints. You don’t want to question my decision to force a woman into a marriage she clearly doesn’t want?”
“I would never question any of your decisions, boss.”
I start walking towards my room, “But you’re wondering why.”
He doesn’t reply but his silence signals agreement.
“She was made for this,” I tell him. “For me. I can’t explain how I know, but I just do. Cassandra Solis was always meant to be my wife.”
“How are you going to make her come to the same understanding, boss? She doesn’t seem willing in the slightest.”
“That’s easy,” I reply. “I’m going to charm her.”
Luca makes a short noise that may very well be a disbelieving snort.
“Rude, you don’t believe I’m capable of charming people?” I ask, annoyed.
“I believe you’re capable of anything, boss.”
“Exactly,” I murmur.