Chapter 10 Cassian
CASSIAN
“Coffee?” Malek Lombardi asks after closing the door to the office.
“What are you playing at?” I ask as he pours himself a cup and turns to me. I notice the half-smoked cigar in an ashtray on the corner of the desk.
“Sit down,” he says, taking a seat on the sofa. “We’ll talk.”
I sit.
“Michael made a mistake, Cassian. He’s young—”
“He’s not young.”
“Inexperienced, then. Either way, I admit what he did wasn’t very smart.”
That I can agree with, but I don’t say it. “Did you know about it?”
“Of course not. Had I known what he was up to, I wouldn’t have allowed it to happen.”
“You sent the Feds after the Russians. Why?”
“A show of good faith. There’s no way we can pay back that amount of money. Just no way.”
“And you expect what exactly? My forgiveness? Gratitude, maybe?” I almost laugh.
His expression hardens and I get the feeling he was expecting something like that. “Well, I was hoping for something. I understand if you need to punish Michael. It won’t look good if you don’t. But I ask you to be lenient.”
“Why would I be lenient? You may have sent the Feds barking up the wrong tree for the time being, but I still lose my shipment.”
“We don’t have the money. The Moretti family simply does not have that kind of cash, and you know this.”
“I’m not forgiving the debt.”
“No, obviously. But we can perhaps negotiate.” I don’t speak. Instead, I wait for him to continue. “Allegra is contracted to marry Governor Moore.”
My jaw tenses, but I wait.
“Once that marriage takes place, we will have access to—”
“That marriage won’t be taking place. Next.”
“What do you mean—”
“Next,” I repeat, my tone louder.
He draws a deep breath in, studying me. He cocks his head. “Perhaps you’ve already considered a contract negotiation yourself then, Cassian,” he says. “An alliance between our families could be mutually beneficial.”
“How would it be beneficial to me?” I don’t like Malek Lombardi, but he’s not stupid. “Unless of course you’re stepping aside. Assuming you’re the man in charge. Michael simply hand you the crown?”
His eyes narrow, lips tighten into a hard line. There’s a twitch at his right eye. “Michael has proven himself incapable. I’ve been overseeing things since Alaric’s passing.”
“I thought you told me Michael made the call. Now you’re saying you’ve been overseeing things?”
He closes his eyes, sighs. “As much as I could. It isn’t easy to tell the crown prince that he’s not cut out for the job, as I’m sure you can understand.”
“Why would I understand?” I ask too quickly.
Malek’s eyes narrow infinitesimally. “I simply meant within your own family dynamics. Having an older brother who’d have been next in line rather than you.
” A long moment of silence settles heavily in the room.
He’s watching me. I sit like a marble statue, giving him nothing.
“Of course, then he disappeared, and I suppose that solved that.”
I digest his words, his suggestion that I made Seth disappear. He’s fishing. But it confirms something I am coming to understand. I have underestimated Malek Lombardi.
“How is your father, Cassian?” he continues when I do not.
I blink, let one corner of my mouth curve upward as I study him.
“My father is none of your concern just as the inner workings of the Moretti family aren’t mine,” I tell him finally reminding myself he doesn’t know a damn thing about my brother.
The fact of my father’s decline is, sadly, public knowledge because it all happened so wrenchingly publicly.
But that’s where any knowledge he thinks he has about my family ends.
I have guarded our secrets. I have guarded them well.
I sit up, shift the conversation. “Let me make sure I’m understanding this, though. Are you offering me Allegra’s hand in marriage and, as her dowry, the family territory? Because that would make this interesting.”
“An equal joining of forces. It would benefit both families, don’t you think?” A small smile plays along his lips.
“Hm. I suppose it would benefit you, considering your starting position, but I want it all, Malek.”
His lips thin and there’s a twitch at his right eye. I don’t allow my expression to change. I don’t allow him to know that I am watching and that I see.
“That’s a bit much, don’t you think? I’m talking about a merger, not a takeover,” he says, more urgency in his tone.
I stand. “Sadly, you’re not in a position to negotiate either.
I came here to let you know I’m not in the mood for games.
I want my money, and I want it by the end of the week.
If I don’t have it, well, then I’ll be forced to act.
The way I see it, our territories are too close for my comfort.
Things may have worked out in the past, but so much has changed and, quite frankly, I’m already struggling to see how we’ll be able to coexist.” I walk to the door.
“What about Allegra?”
“What about her?” I ask, turning.
“I want her returned… intact.”
“Intact?” I feign ignorance.
“You know what I mean.”
I snort. “She’s twenty years old. Intact is a stretch, don’t you think?” I shake my head then see that cigar again. “You smoke, Malek?”
He follows my gaze. “Alaric did, and Michael likes to pretend he does,” he says with distaste, but I note how he doesn’t actually answer my question.
I study him. Is he lying? Does he know about the marks on Allegra’s neck? And what does he know about her missing finger? I’m sure he’d lie if I asked outright. Anyone would.
Just then, the study door opens, and a furious Michael stands in the frame. I notice the cast on the lower part of his arm. His eyes land on me before moving to Malek.
“What the hell is going on?” he barks.
“Cassian dropped by while you were out,” Malek says with a casual shrug of one shoulder.
Michael studies Malek and I watch the two of them for a minute, but decide I’m not interested in their family dynamics. I’m only interested in one member of the Moretti family.
I walk out of the study.
“Enzo,” I call up.
A moment later, Enzo appears at the top of the stairs. “Boss.”
“I’m done here. Get Allegra. Let’s go.”
Enzo nods and heads back down the hall. Michael hisses something at Malek and the two of them follow me. I wait at the bottom of the stairs as Allegra appears with a backpack over one shoulder and a duffel over the other. She stops when the little boy, Malek’s son, tugs at her hand.
She sets her bags on the floor and crouches down so she’s at eye level with him.
“I’ll be back soon,” she tells him then hugs him tight.
Amal, Malek’s daughter, takes his hand when Allegra stands and gathers her bags.
Amal is shooting daggers at me with her eyes, but I notice she looks at her father in the same way.
Allegra descends the stairs. She’s wearing combat boots. Appropriate and very different to the little ballet slippers. Once she gets downstairs, I take the duffel and hand it to the soldier. When I reach for the backpack, she stops me.
“I’m fine.”
I take it anyway and raise my eyebrow at the weight of it. “Bricks?”
“Books. If they’re too heavy for you, I can carry them,” she says with a smirk.
“Books better be all I find in here,” I say low enough so only she can hear. “Take this,” I hand the backpack to another soldier. She is irritated, but lets it go. She has to know I’m going to search what she packed. I wrap a hand around the back of her neck and take a step toward the door.
“Cassian,” Malek says. “Be reasonable. The world has changed.”
I stop, turn to face him.
“I am reasonable, Malek. Giving you a week is reasonable.” I look to Michael. “One fucking week.”
“Or what?” Michael asks, tone taunting. I ignore it and keep walking. “You’ll do to my sister what you did to your brother? Reaper?”
Allegra must feel me stiffen at her side. Or maybe she feels the tightening of my hand around the back of her neck.
“We all know, Cassian. We all know what you did,” Michael calls out.
I know I should keep walking. I know he’s baiting me. I know. And yet, I bite.
I’m aware everyone thinks I had something to do with Seth’s disappearance. He’s assumed dead. It’s why they call me Reaper. It’s why I hate the name.
I release Allegra and turn to face Michael.
He grins. He knows he’s hit his mark.
“Take Allegra to the house,” I hand Allegra off to the nearest soldier while keeping my eyes on Michael. “Enzo, you’re with me.”
“What?” Allegra asks as the man walks her out. “Wait!”
Michael’s grin falters when I take a step toward him. He must finally see what he’s unleashed. But it’s the look on his face when I wrap my hand around his throat and slam him against the wall that’s priceless.
“Cassian stop!” Allegra cries out, sounding farther away.
“You want me to break your other arm or just go ahead and snap your neck?” I ask him, noticing in my periphery Malek’s subtle gesture for the soldier who takes a step toward us to stand down.
“Stop! Let me go!” Allegra calls before a car door is slammed shut and I hear the SUV drive her away.
I squeeze, watching Michael’s face redden, his eyes bulge as he claws at my forearm with his one good hand.
“You aren’t your father, Mikey,” I say, leaning in close. Only when his arm falls away and his body begins to sag do I release him. I toss him aside and watch him land on all fours, choking, gasping for air. Malek simply steps backward, watching too.
I shove Micheal’s side with my foot, so he falls over. He looks up at me.
“Tread very lightly going forward or the next time, I won’t stop.”
A cry comes from the top of the stairs, and I turn to find Amal watching, holding her little brother who is crying in her arms now.
“Amal! Get him out of here for Christ’s sake!” Malek barks at his daughter.
She drags her gaze from me to him, then turns to walk away with the boy. I don’t look back at anyone else. Instead, I stalk out of that house and climb into the waiting SUV.
My phone rings as I close the door. I reach into my pocket to take it out and feel a brick drop heavy in my gut. My heart which was calm throughout that interaction with Michael, begins to thud and sweat collects under my arms.
There can only be one meaning when I see this number on my phone.
I slide the bar to answer, trying to prepare myself, feeling so completely powerless. I don’t even say hello before the person on the other end speaks.
“Cassian. It’s Dr. Wade’s office.”
I clear my throat. I can’t form words.
There’s a sigh. “You need to come. Now.”
That’s when the real hell breaks loose.