CHAPTER TWENTY-TWO
CHAPTER TWENTY-TWO
CASSIE
My uncle calls me later in the week requesting to meet and apologizing for his behaviour the other day and he seems sincere enough that I decide it might not be a bad idea. My misgivings aside, he’s still family and truthfully I can’t blame him for being angry.
Someone killed his brother and he’s had to live with the knowledge of that, while trying to find the person responsible.
It makes sense that he’s angry, I’m angry too.
But anger is not going to be much help in fixing the situation.
We need to take action. And I need him to tell me everything I he knows.
It’s going to be a little tricky getting Damien to agree though.
I find him in the lounge, painting a pretty nice picture as he sits on one of the chairs, going through some documents in his hand. His gaze lifts as soon as I enter the room, his eyes burning with that intensity that always seems to take my breath away.
I can’t believe I used to feel a chill when he used to look at me. Those cold eyes are constantly warm now.
“Hey, you busy?” I ask, walking over to him.
“I’m never busy for you, mi vida ,” he replies, sitting up straighter. “What’s wrong?”
“Nothing’s wrong. Seriously, you’re such a worrywart,” I say laughing.
He frowns, “I am not.”
He totally is, but I’m not here to argue about that.
“I got a call from my uncle. He’s asking to meet tomorrow afternoon.”
“Your uncle,” he repeats dryly, his tone conveying nothing.
“Yeah. My father’s brother. His name’s Miguel, you might have heard about him,” I say sarcastically.
Damien’s eyes narrow, “Cut down on the sass.”
“Sorry,” I mutter, remembering that I need him to be okay with this. “I want to meet up with him. The company’s a mess, the directors are antsy. Plus I want to ask him about my dad’s death. I need to know what he knows.”
He doesn’t say anything, which makes me slightly nervous.
“Damien? I promise I’ll be safe. Rafael will be with me the entire time. I know you don’t like that he accused you but it’s not like you can blame him. Just let me go, please?”
He exhales a soft breath before nodding once.
“You can go. Just stick to Raf the entire time.”
My eyes widen, “Really?”
“Would you prefer I said no?” he questions, lips lifting up in a smirk.
“Nothing, it’s just… that was too easy,” I say with a smile of my own.
I lean down and press a quick kiss to his lips, “Thank you.”
“You can go anywhere you’d like, Cassie. You don’t need to ask permission, just let me know.”
“Uh-uh. Who are you and what have you done to my husband?”
He chuckles, “I’ll let Raf know so he can escort you.”
“One more thing, I know you don’t like it but I’d really like it if Miguel takes over the company. I don’t think I’ll find anyone that’s a better fit for the job, plus he’s family. I’m going to let him know I’ve made my decision tomorrow.”
I catch a brief flash of worry in Damien’s expression, but it disappears just as quickly.
He clears his throat, “Good luck, sweetheart.”
****
Damien’s not home when I leave the house the next day. I’ve also barely seen him all morning which is weird. I would think he’d want to at least see me off considering how protective he is.
“Mrs. Luciano?” Rafael calls when I hesitate in getting into the car.
I shake my head offering him a small smile before sliding into the backseat. I’m not sure why but I have this bad feeling in my gut. The car starts and then we’re off, another car containing more of my bodyguards following close behind.
I hear Rafael’s humming a song under his breath in the front seat. He does that sometimes. He says it helps him pass the time. I convinced him to sing for me once and he’s actually such a good singer.
I glance down at my phone when it buzzes to find a message for Damien.
Trust me, mi vida.
My brows furrow. Trust him? What does that even mean.
I’m still trying to puzzle out the text when there’s a sudden screech followed by metal groaning. The world jerks sideways. I hear Rafael shouting something I can’t catch. My body slams against the door as the car comes to a stop by the side of the road. My breath leaves in a heartbeat.
Everything goes black for a moment. Then silence. Followed by the sound of gunfire. A scream rips through my throat as I fumble for the seatbelt, my fingers numb and shaking. I hear Rafael’s door burst open, then his voice, raised, panicked, yelling for me to stay down.
I don’t listen. I look up just in time to see him outside the vehicle, gun down. And then, blood. A single, sharp shot and his body crumples to the floor.
“Rafael!” I cy out, feeling my chest cave in. “Oh my God.”
The door rips open beside me and I freeze. A man stands there, tall, tanned. He’s dressed in black with blond hair slicked back and his smile thin and terrible. He leans in, the muzzle of his gun tapping gently against my tempt, but he doesn’t fire.
He holds up a syringe instead.
“Hello, little butterfly,” he purrs. “My name is Santori. And we’re going to have lots of fun together. But first, time to sleep.”
“No, no, please-”
His hand clamps down around my jaw as the needle pierces my neck. A hot burn follows right before the world tilts. The last thing I see is his grin and the distant burning wreckage of a car. And then, darkness.
***
When I wake, the world is colder.
My head is pounding, throbbing like it’s been split open. There’s an ache in my neck and my wrists are sore. Bound. The air is damp, musty.
I blink against the darkness. There’s only a single flickering light overhead, buzzing faintly, illuminating the iron bars of a cell. I’m in a goddamn cell. Chains rattle when I shift.
“Hello, Cassandra.”
The voice stops my breath cold. Footsteps echo, measured, unhurried and then he steps into the light. My uncle.
Miguel. Even now he still looks so similar to my dad. Pain lashes through me. I suck in a sharp breath, feeling my throat burn.
Only one word manages to leave my lips, “Why?”
He looks at me with mock sadness, head tilting.
You have no idea what I’ve been through my whole life, Cassie. What I’ve had to experience.”
“Then explain it to me!” I grit out, staving off all the fear and grief.
“I would really like to hear how you justify all of this? Because of the company? I was going to give it to you today! You didn’t have to go this far because of what?
Greed. You murdered a good man! Good people that were trying to protect me! ”
I need to get out of this alive no matter what. I need to get to Damien and I know without a doubt he’s coming for me, so now I just have to stall until he gets here.
My uncle laughs, “You were going to give me the company? Oh please, like that husband of yours would have let you.”
“It’s my inheritance. I can do whatever I like with it,” I argue.
“Sure, keep telling yourself that,” he says calmly, leaning against the wall.
“Honestly, Cassie the truth is, I knew the jig was up. That husband of yours has been digging around, trying to find proof of my wrongdoings. And last I heard, he’s found it, which meant I had to move fast. Get you in my custody.
There’s no need to bother about the company anymore, little niece.
You will sign everything over to me, your entire inheritance.
I would prefer it if I didn’t have to kill you but unfortunately, my partner seems to have other ideas.
It doesn’t matter though. All I need is the cash, and then I can escape all this. Come back when the waters are settled.”
My heart pounds in my chest at his words, “My dad trusted you. I trusted you! You’re supposed to be my family!”
“Family?” Miguel questions sneering. “Family’s never done me any good, Cassandra.
I had to watch your father, my brother, get everything I’ve ever wanted in life.
He got a beautiful wife and a beautiful daughter, he had a family and I was doomed to forever be alone.
He built a company, became wealthy and still I remained in the shadows, surviving on the scraps he deemed fit to toss my way occasionally. ”
Tears well up in my eyes as I shake my head, “Dad loved you.”
“Loved me?! He didn’t respect me. All he cared about was his precious daughter and his precious company.
He would have done anything to protect that company.
Which is why I have to take it from him.
This plan has been in the works for years, Cassie.
It started with getting rid of Gabriel and now that he’s gone, nothing will stop me. ”
I feel a deafening thundering in my ear at that admission.
“What did you say?” I question shakily, looking up at him through tears.
“Oh, you hadn’t pieced it together yet,” Miguel asks, “Yes, I killed your father, Cassie. I didn’t shoot him of course. I’m not a monster like you’re new beau. But I directed someone to help me finish the job.”
Shock spreads through me and I suddenly feel very faint.
“He was your brother! Your family.”
“Like I keep trying to tell you, darling. Family means nothing to me. It’s a pity though. it wasn’t supposed to happen this way. But then you had to go and give your heart to that devil. My plans for you fell through as soon as you got married to him.”
A part of me wants to scream, the other part feels frozen, incapable of moving. It takes a moment before I speak again, my voice dry.
“You’re not going to get away with this.”
He smooths a hand over his coat, “Actually, I very much plan to. You’re counting on Luciano coming to save you but he’s not going to find you. And even if he somehow does, he’s not going to be able to get here in time.”
His words end on the sound of a distant gunshot ringing through the air. Satisfaction fills me as I watch him freeze, the light going out in his eyes.
“Actually, Miguel,” Damien’s voice fills the dark room. “I’m already here.”
The heavy steel door groans open and he’s truly here. Damien’s frame fills the doorway like something carved from shadow and fire, broad, dangerous, silent. He moves with purpose, gun in hand, eyes sweeping the room until they land on me.
The second they do something, in me uncoils. I exhale a breath. Relief hits me like a wave. Hot and dizzying.
Miguel stumbles back, mouth falling open, all that venom and posturing suddenly gone.
“How-”
Damien doesn’t even look at him. he’s already walking toward me, his voice quiet but iron-willed.
“Cassie,” he says softly.
His hands are on the chains, strong and certain, unlocking them with speed and precision. I collapse forward into his chest the moment they fall away and he catches me like he’s done it a thousand times before. His arms wrap around me, grounding me. Holding me. Safe.
“I’m so sorry, I was late, baby,” he whispers, pressing his lips to my temple. “But I’m here now. I’ve got you, Cassie.”
My fingers curl into the fabric of his shirt, still shaking, still stunned.
I can’t even speak. I just bury my face in his neck and hold us.
Behind us, there’s a thud, Miguel trying to run.
But then Luca is there, just as fast, just as calm.
He grabs Miguel by the collar and slams him to the ground in one notion, shoving a knee between his shoulders and forcing him to his knees.
Damien still doesn’t turn around, all his focus is on me. He smooths over my hair, down my back. His thumb grazes my cheek as he tilts my face up to look at him.
“Are you hurt?
I shake my head, barely able to form the words, “N-No. Just…. Rafael- he, he’s gone.”
“I know,” Damien says softly. “I know. I’m sorry you had to see that, mi vida .”
His voice breaks a little on the last word. I see it in his eyes, the rage, grief, guilt, all of it simmering beneath the calm surface. But with me he’s calm, gentle.
I look past him to Miguel, my uncle. He used to braid my hair when I was a little girl. He would always send me extra cash when I was low. And yet, he….
It doesn’t feel real. None of this does.
Damien turns slightly, shielding me with his body.
“Don’t look at him,” he murmurs. “You don’t have to look at him anymore.”
He pulls me close again, holding me so tightly I feel like I might shatter.