CHAPTER EIGHT
CHAPTER EIGHT
CASSIE
“One week?!” Chloe screeches over the phone.
I’m currently on facetime with my best friends. My phone is set on the table as I look at their faces through the screen, feeling a small measure of comfort that’s eluded me in days.
“Technically six days now,” I correct dryly.
Three days until I’m a beautiful blushing bride, walking down the altar to a man whose guts I hate. My life has been overturned so much in the past week, I can’t even recognize it anymore. I don’t recognize me anymore. Before my trip to Ibiza, things were pretty simple, uncomplicated.
I had a job as a manager at my father’s company. A job that some would argue I got simply because of nepotism. But I worked hard for it and I always did my best. It was a little boring, sure and sometimes I wanted some more spark to my life.
But this. This isn’t a fucking spark. It’s a fire raging through everything I know and believe.
“How can you be so calm right now?” Maxine questions, her forehead scrunched together. “We need to figure out a way out of this.”
She’s always so quick to offer up solutions to problems.
“There’s no way out of this, Maxy,” I murmur.
“We talked to the police,” Chloe offers. “But it didn’t help much. As soon as we said his name, I could tell they checked out of the matter. They’re not going to do anything to him are they?”
“Doubtful. He’s got a lot of power, a lot of hold in the city. Don’t worry girls, I’m not expecting a savior to get me out of this situation.”
“So what are you expecting?” Maxine presses. “Please tell me you don’t mean to actually marry this man.”
I bite down on my bottom lip to suppress the torrent of emotions that’s been building inside of me for days. There’s only so much I can do to keep my feelings at bay before cracking. But I’ve been holding up, I’ve been trying to be strong.
“I may have to marry him,” I admit. “I don’t think I have a choice.”
They both start talking over themselves, trying to get me to see that it’s a terrible idea. But again, what choice do I have?
“We could get you away from him,” Maxine suggests. “On the day of the wedding. He can’t monitor you at all times. I could get everything in place. Hell, I’ll borrow a fucking private jet but I will not allow you to be stuck with that monster.”
“He has an army of men at his disposal who can and will be monitoring me at all times. Also, I think we should be careful what we say, I have no way of knowing if the call is being tapped and he’s listening in right now.”
“That’s an invasion of privacy,” Chloe bursts out.
For some reason, it’s funny. The man is a cold blooded murderer. Invasion of privacy is probably the least immoral thing he’s ever done.
Maxine stares at me through the screen, her keen brown eyes studying me.
“You have a plan, don’t you? I know you, Cassie. You’d never bow your head and just take it.”
I smirk. She does know me well. But since I’m not going to confirm that statement, I decide to move on.
“How’s my uncle?” I question. “Is he holding down the fort at the company?”
I’m a little angry he also knew about all of this and kept it from me. But my own father hid the truth so I guess I can’t blame him for falling in line as well.
“He’s fine. And the company’s running smoothly as far as we can tell. Although we’ve barely seen him,” Chloe replies.
Maxine nods, “I think he’s planning something.”
“Well he needs to unplan whatever it is he’s got in the works. I mean it. He can’t go up against Damien Luciano. He’ll only end up dead.”
And he’s the last blood relation I’ve got left. I don’t want him die.
“I understand. I’ll talk to him,” Maxine premises.
“Thank you,” I breathe. “Now, let’s talk bridesmaids dresses.”
They both trade similar worrying looks that make me smile. Honestly, I’d rather they weren’t present at the wedding at all. Who knows what’s going to happen? The last thing I want is for them to be in danger but I don’t think I’ll be able to face the day without them at my side.
I need strength for what’s going to go down over the next couple of days.
My father raised me to be strong. And while Damien Luciano might be a powerful man.
He’s not invincible. I just have to find his weak spot.
Use it against him. And to do that, I might need to be more amenable to his requests, become exactly what he’d like me to be.
It’ll be hard. But I’ll even marry him with a smile if it’ll eventually lead to my escape. Thankfully we live in a century where divorce exists. I’ll spend the rest of my life getting away from him. Even if it’s the last thing I do.
After the phone call, I decide to step out of my room.
My first time doing so of my own accord.
When I open the door, I find a man standing to the side, on guard.
I’ve noticed he seems to be in charge of watching me.
He looks nice enough. Not intimidating with his long brown hair that he somehow makes work.
Long hair on men can be obnoxious but he looks approachable, normal.
And a little familiar. I wouldn’t be surprised if his guard duties have been going on for much longer than I realize.
“Miss Solis,” he says, inclining his head respectfully.
“Uh-hi. Good morning.”
“Morning,” he murmurs.
“You can call me Cassandra or Cassie. There’s no need to be so formal,” I tell him.
“What’s your name?”
“I’m Rafael. But I’d prefer to call you Miss Solis, ma’am.”
“Oh okay,” I mutter feeling uncomfortable.
This is incredibly awkward. I glance to the sides, wondering what to say.
“Did you need something? I can call one of your maids to bring you breakfast,” he suggests.
I shake my head, “No. I was actually wondering if you could tell me where um- Damien is.”
Calling him Damien feels weird as hell. But I get the feeling ‘son of a bitch’ wouldn’t fly so well with one of his men.
“He’s currently having breakfast,” Rafael informs me. “He would have invited you to join but I believe he was unsure if you would have accepted his invitation.”
“Oh. Well could you take me to him?”
He nods. “Of course, ma’am. Follow me.”
I allow him to lead me down the grand staircase to the closed dining room door. I take a moment to steel myself for the interaction while Rafeal wrenches the door open.
My eyes meet Damien’s from across the room and I feel my heart skip out a beat. Not out of fear for him but something akin to that. He pauses at the sight of me, halfway through a conversation with his sister who also looks up at me. Her expression is much easier to read. She doesn’t like me.
And from what I remember from yesterday when I was drunk she’s definitely not happy that I’m here.
But she did compliment me. She called me beautiful.
Which is such a massive compliment coming from someone like her.
She’s hella gorgeous with her long black hair and blue eyes similar to her brothers’. Although hers have some warmth in them.
I got some details about her from Lila who unlike Ana has been more amenable to speaking to me and giving me information, Damien’s younger sister’s name is Sofia.
Sofia Luciano, the princess of the family.
She’s a little reclusive, doesn’t really have any friends.
But according to Lila she’s got a good heart.
She’s kind which is a feat in a world like this.
“Good morning,” I say lightly as I walk into the room.
I’m going to pretend last night didn’t end the way it did. With me yelling at him and him informing me that I marriage I absolutely don’t want is happening in a week.
“Cassandra,” Damien says, “I’m surprised you decided to join us.”
“I just finished speaking to my friends,” I inform him. “And I thought I have breakfast.”
“After your outburst last night, I figured you’d have no interest in being around me.”
“I have no interest in being around you,” I assure him. “I came here for the croissants.”
He leans back slightly, lips curling into something that isn’t quite a smile. I walk towards the chair across from Sofia.
“Besides, we’re going to be family soon, whether I like it or not. I might as well get used to it.”
Damien’s eyebrow arches subtly and I wonder if I’m laying things on a bit too thick.
Sofia makes a quiet sound, half scoff, half breath. I pretend not to hear it as I sit down. I’m way too close to them for comfort but I don’t have much of a choice. I meet Damien’s eyes as I sit down, trying to assure him that I still very much despise him.
He simply flicks his gaze in reply. I finally turn to his sister.
“I’m Cassie, by the way. It’s nice to finally meet you.”
She takes a sip of her juice before answering. “I know who you are.”
Right.
I smile anyway. “I really hope we’ll get along, Sofia. Us girls have to stick together and you have amazing style. Where did you get that dress?”
She looks down at her yellow and white silk gown with a shrug.
“It was part of Jean Michiaki’s collection last year.”
I gasp, “No way. That’s an original Michiaki?”
She sets her glass down, raising a brow, “Are you trying to win my favor by complimenting my impeccable fashion skills?”
There’s that infamous Luciano ego. Glad to see she wasn’t spared.
“Is it working?” I ask with a playful tilt of my head.
Damien lets out a low chuckle at that. I can feel his eyes on me but I don’t look at him. I’m focused on Sofia. She’s not convinced but that’s okay. I don’t need her to trust me. I just need her to tolerate me enough that she doesn’t make my life here anymore difficult than it needs to be.
Breakfast is mostly quiet after that. I say just enough to seem friendly. A comment here. a question there. I keep it light. I don’t smile much though, I’m still a prisoner after all. Damien watches me like a hawk. Not with suspicion. Curiosity, maybe?
He’s probably trying to figure out my angle. I’ll keep him guessing till the end.
Sofia leaves as soon as she’s done with breakfast. I make sure to thank Renata for the wonderful meal and then I leave with Damien. We walk quietly in the direction of the stairs and it isn’t until we get to the foot that he speaks.
“How was your night, bella ? Did you sleep well?”
“As well as I can,” I reply lightly. “I’ve been meaning to ask. Rafael. How long has he been watching me?”
He doesn’t seem surprised by the question.
“He must not have done a very good job if you can recognize him,” he mutters. “Then again, three years is a long time to spend orbiting your life without you noticing.”
My eyes widen, “Three years?!”
“Yes. He’s been assigned to you all this while. Protecting you, watching you.”
My mouth dries, “That’s… that’s an invasion of privacy.”
He arches an eyebrow at that, as if to say he doesn’t care and it’s nowhere near the worst thing he’s ever done. God, he’s insufferable. I take a moment to breathe and relax before speaking again.
“You’ve known you’d marry me for three years? When did you make the deal with my dad?”
“Four years ago. As I told you, originally you were betrothed to my brother. But then something changed and I knew I had to have you. Which is when Rafael became your guard, your personal shadow. He reported your actions to me.”
“Creep,” I mutter.
He pretends not to hear that.
“What was it?” I question.
“What?”
“You said something changed which is why you wanted me. What is it? I can’t figure it out and it’s driving me crazy.
What did I possibly do to warrant being wanted by someone like you?
You’ve been acting all possessive and saying mine, mine, mine.
And I’m not delusional enough to think it’s because you’re in love with me or anything like that.
I don’t think you’re even capable of that. So what is it?”
He doesn’t want to answer that. His lips press into a thin line that has my eyebrows rising. His eyes never leave mine though. It’s a pretty amazing gift he has. The ability to make his eyes look like they’re burning when mere minutes before they were so cold they sent a chill through me.
Now it feels like he could set me on fire with just a look.
Heat coils low in my belly, sharp and sudden, and my knees damn near buckle.
What the hell is wrong with me? This man is the enemy.
Danger wrapped in tailored perfection. Still, I can't look away.
I part my lips to say something, anything, but he speaks first.
“I have urgent business,” he states. “I’ll see you later tonight.”
“Wait. You can’t just leave in the middle of a conversation. I have questions.”
He pauses, considering that. Finally, he huffs out a breath.
“Fine. We’ll talk tonight. In the lounge. Would you like a new bottle of whiskey tonight as well?”
My eyes roll. I think he’s teasing me.
“No. I’d like a margarita. Cocktails are my favorite.”
“I’ll get you anything you want,” he says, his voice a low promise, eyes raking over me with that same heated hunger that nearly had my legs giving out moments ago.
“See you later, Cassandra,” he says smoothly.
“See you later, Luciano,” I reply, matching his tone.
His lips curve. “Call me Damien. I’m to be your husband, after all.”
I so don’t need that reminder right now.
“Do you always have to be such an asshole?” I snap. “Fine. Bye, Damien.”
He casts me one last look—cool, unreadable—then nods and turns, striding out like he owns the world. His men fall in line behind him without a word, shadows trailing their king.
He’s as powerful as he is devastatingly handsome, and I have no idea how I’m supposed to escape a man like that. A man who doesn’t need chains to keep me bound.