44. Caden
Caden
V:
I have a present for you
I ignored her, finger hovering over Sebastian’s name before I decided on Langdon. Better a text conversation than a phone call that could be overheard.
Me:
Selene’s dropping Dad off at his office. Go grab him and escort him to mine.
Firestarter:
What the fuck have I missed?
…
V:
I’m in the penthouse.
Firestarter:
Where are you?
Me:
Vivienne Blackwater’s.
Firestarter:
As in her place?
Holy shit.
This is a plot twist.
You swapping sides, Cade?
I took a deep breath as I entered Vivienne’s
Me:
Stop being a prick and get Bas to call Hendrix.
Firestarter:
Impossible, I was born a prick.
Me:
Tell him time’s up.
Firestarter:
FUCK YES!
LETS GO BOY!
V:
It’s unlocked
Vivienne’s text came through just as I got to the top floor. Without knocking I opened her door, finding her seated in an armchair with her legs crossed in nothing but dark-purple lingerie and a pair of heels.
“You came,” she said with a slow grin.
“Your mother didn’t give me much choice,” I replied dryly.
Vivienne chuckled, the sound like nails on a chalkboard. “So, what do you think?”
Standing slowly, she gave a little turn, her long nails tugging at the suspender belt. Her face was too made up, the makeup around her eyes making them appear smaller while her lips were painted a bright red.
“You try too hard.”
Her smile strained a fraction, but then she was crossing the room, reaching forward as if to touch me before I grabbed her wrist.
“I’m your gift. Happy birthday,” she all but purred, and I twisted her wrist painfully.
“Touch me again, and I’ll break it,” I said with an acerbic edge, releasing her. Up close I could tell she was high, her pupils swelling and her movements exaggerated.
She stumbled back on her heels, clutching her wrist against her chest, fury flashing across her face. “We’re going to be married,” she hissed. “Eventually, you’ll have to forgive me.”
“For what?” I asked. “Drugging me? Or the assault?”
Vivienne’s eyes hardened. Snatching one of the two wine glasses from the side table, she poured herself a generous amount before taking a long sip as if to steady herself.
“You were paying too much attention to her,” she spat, the mask slipping further. “What is it about Aeris? I’m more beautiful. I have more money. I’m the one who’s supposed to stand beside you, not some cheap whore who spreads her legs for whoever she’s told to.”
“Is that why you had her attacked?” I asked, voice flat.
“He was supposed to kill her.” Vivienne’s smirk was cruel and ugly, falling when I didn’t respond. “But I guess that’s what I get for hiring cheap labour. Shame about her friend though, I’ll have to make sure I hire someone to finish the job.”
I said nothing, watching her unravel with detached interest.
Vivienne’s breathing grew sharper, more frustrated as if she wanted a reaction. She slammed the wine glass down so hard it cracked, red liquid spilling across the table like blood.
“You think she’s special?” Her voice rose, swelling with jealousy. “She’s nothing. Just a broken toy Selene uses and throws away.”
She stormed over to the large TV on the wall, snatching the remote with shaking fingers.
“You want to see how special she really is?”
The screen flickered to life, and I froze as the sound of masculine grunts filled the room, followed by cries of pain.
A much younger Aeris was spread out on a dirty mattress on the floor, her red hair matted, body covered in bruises as several men held her down and took turns violating her.
My body turned to stone.
“My brother was such an idiot,” Vivienne muttered, clicking a button to make the video faster. “He was always Mother’s favourite. Honestly, Aeris did me a favour by killing him.”
My gaze stayed locked on the screen, unable to tear away as Aeris was hurt again and again. I’d never felt rage like it before, as if molten lava had replaced my blood, burning hotter with every second. Then one of the men leaned into frame, and the fury inside me turned lethal.
Because I recognised him immediately.
“Cute, right?” Vivienne chuckled, coming up behind me. Her voice was sickeningly sweet as she whispered against my ear. “She’s had to see Renley almost every day since he raped her. I’d say it was one of Mother’s more inspired ideas.”
The video kept playing, the sounds grotesque and unbearable even as Aeris stopped fighting.
I didn’t move. Couldn’t, not as my blood roared in my ears, that rage burning hotter than anything I’d felt in years.
Vivienne’s hand slid up my back, almost affectionate. “Told you she’s broken goods. Used up. Worthless. She was planted by Mother to steal your secrets, to learn everything about you to make this transition easier.”
I felt her shift slightly behind me.
A soft click.
When I turned my head, she was holding a small, sleek pistol aimed directly at my chest. Her hand was steady now, all traces of the jealous, unhinged girl gone. In her place stood someone far colder.
“Sit down, Caden,” she said calmly, gesturing with the gun towards the sofa. “We’re going to have a little chat about our future. And if you even think about reaching for a weapon … I’ll put a bullet in you and tell Mother you tried to attack me.”
Her smile returned, sweet and poisonous, and my loathing deepened.
“Now be a good fiancé and sit.”
I calmly crossed the room, slowly lowering myself to the seat while Vivienne grinned.
“Good boy,” she purred, continuing to aim the weapon at me. “Did you fall for her sob story about Mira? Poor Aeris, losing her sister like that. Chasing a ghost, sacrificing herself for scraps of fake information.”
She laughed, but there was no humour in it, only bitter rage.
“She actually believes her sister is still alive, but then again she was stupid enough to fall for Mother’s trap in the first place. You see, there’s always a catch with Mother’s offers, and hers just happened to be her life.”
Vivienne leaned forward, eyes wild. “I didn’t expect you to be as stupid, honestly. It’s disappointing that you haven’t figured out she’s been playing you from the start. Everything she told you was calculated. Every confession, every tear. All planned, and you fell for it.”
My jaw tightened, though I kept my expression carefully blank.
“Let me guess,” Vivienne went on, pacing now, unable to contain the excitement bubbling through her.
“She told you it was all a double bluff? That she was secretly helping you bring us down?” She scoffed.
“And I’m guessing she conveniently forgot to mention that if anything went wrong”—Vivienne’s smile widened slowly—“she was supposed to kill you.”
“Are you finished?” I finally said, needing to get her closer. “Why am I here, Vivienne?”
Her eyes narrowed slightly, clearly irritated by my calmness. “To prove to you that I’m the better choice,” she replied, stepping forward. “To show you that I deserve it.” Another step.
Her perfume drifted towards me, something floral and far too fucking sweet.
“Now you know,” she murmured, circling nearer, “are you going to kill her yourself?” Her fingers brushed lightly over the back of my chair. “Or have one of your men do it?”
The second she leaned in, I moved. My hand shot out, gripping her wrist hard enough to make her gasp as I yanked her forward violently. Vivienne stumbled against me with a startled cry, dropping the gun as my other hand clamped around her throat.
The chair scraped harshly against the floor as I stood, forcing her up on her toes. Her eyes widened in shock, mouth opening in a silent gasp. She clawed at my wrist, nails digging uselessly into my skin, but I didn’t let go.
I squeezed harder, watching with cold satisfaction as her face flushed red then began turning purple.
Only when her body went limp in my hand and her eyes rolled back, fluttering wildly, did I finally let her drop.
She crumpled to the floor like a discarded doll, gasping and coughing violently as she fought for air.
I kicked the gun away and kneeled, enjoying the terror spreading across her expression.
“You seem to have forgotten who I am.” I pressed my shoe down, crushing her fingers beneath my heel. “You really shouldn’t have threatened what’s mine. Because I’m really going to make this hurt.”