Chapter 12
TWELVE
FRANKIE
It’s party night—again. Jesse’s planned it to welcome Jack and for once I’m looking forward to it because he insisted on inviting Cassie. Ordinarily, I would refuse because where she goes, my cousin goes, but if my plan to pair Siri off with Jack is going to work, I need her to be present.
I don’t care if my uncle finds out. I have my reasons watertight. Jack will be warned off doing anything other than kissing, and Siri will be under my watchful eye at all times. This way, I keep my cards in play without compromising my promise to her family.
Then there’s Cassie. A spirited challenge that will be the sweetest victory. With her as my exclusive girl for the semester, she will keep everyone away, and I’ll enjoy the challenge of breaking her spirit.
I’m upbeat for once and as I head to the gym for a long workout, I’m surprised to find the lady in question on the running machine.
I take a moment to admire her ass as she jogs in the cutest running shorts. Her dark hair is bunched behind her in a messy up-do and I am almost salivating at the thought of what I want to do to that ass.
I say nothing and take the bench behind her so she is in my eye-line as I lift the weights.
A few other students are working out and I notice a couple of guys openly staring as she runs. I don’t blame them because I’m guilty of that and yet it angers me unnecessarily. They won’t stare when she’s my girl. Nobody will give her a second look when I’m around because I’m possessive of my things and she will definitely become one of them.
Once again, it strikes me how I think of her in this way. I don’t claim women. Why would I? There is plenty of time in my future to chain myself to one woman and yet there is something so sinful about Cassandra King.
I work out for thirty minutes before I make my move.
One of the guys has taken the machine beside her and constantly stares across, hoping to catch her eye.
I’ve heard the whispers about the newest kid in college. Cassie stands out from the rest and it won’t be long before some other guy makes his move. Jack’s arrival has set that back a little—for the other guys, anyway.
As I head over, I glare at the guy running beside her who takes the hint and stops the machine, slinking back into the shadows where he belongs.
Rather than take his place, I stop at the head of her machine and lean against it, a move that diverts her attention instantaneously.
I chuckle at the glare she throws me as she removes her ear buds and slows the machine to a fast walk.
“Do you want something?” She snaps and I reward her with a lustful gleam in my eye as I openly drag my gaze the length of her, noting the lycra stretched tight against her tits, perspiration running in a valley down her breasts.
“Gross.” She fires back, causing me to smile.
“Well, you asked.”
She walks at a steady pace.
“So, why are you here?”
“The Claiming.”
She shrugs. “I haven’t made up my mind yet.”
“Why not?”
“Because–” She sighs and stops the machine. “Because I want to see the place for myself first. I mean–”
She reaches for her water bottle and takes a large gulp.
“What fool agrees to the unknown? I would require a visit to the dungeon to check out the route and confirm there is an escape and not just a figment of your imagination.”
“I don’t lie.”
“It may be true, but I don’t know that. If I believe I stand a fighting chance, then yeah, it could be fun, but until then I’m signing up for nothing.”
“So, come and check it out. I have nothing to hide.”
“What, now?”
Her eyes widen and I nod, loving the control I already have over her and she doesn’t even realize. I will always have what she wants, and so a tour of the dungeon will be a pleasurable way to pass the morning, especially when she is dressed like that.
“Okay.”
The challenge in her eyes feeds my desire, and I heave off from the machine and nod toward the door.
“After you.”
She grabs her water bottle and heads to the door, once again giving me the pleasure of studying her ass.
* * *
As we cross the campus toward the perimeter, we attract curious attention from the students nearby. They stare at Cassie in awe, probably wondering if we’re an item because I never walk with girls. Why would I?
“So, how did you find out about this dungeon?” She asks, her curiosity bigger than her disdain for me.
“My father told me about it.”
“Siri told me he went here and it’s where he met your mother.”
“That’s true. They didn’t have it easy though, but that’s a story for another time.”
“So, did he claim her—in the ceremony?”
“No, it wasn’t a thing back then. It was abolished several decades earlier. My father learned about it and when he told me, I was intrigued.”
“I can understand that.” She smiles suddenly and I’m surprised at the bolt of electricity it shocks in my veins. Cassie is a stunning girl but when she smiles, it transforms her and magnifies the attraction a million fold.
“I love a challenge. I suppose that’s why I’m intrigued.” I attempt to re-focus my attention.
“Tell me about yourself.”
I already discovered everything I need to, courtesy of a call to my Uncle Malik who sent me over the finer points. He is the information gatherer of our organization and a useful tool in my weaponry.
“There’s not much to tell. I live in a motorcycle club—my father’s the president. Jack lives there too and his father works alongside mine.”
“Interesting.” I reply because it’s unconventional, but I like that. I’m used to living a different life from most anyway and I’m guessing there isn’t much difference in the way we were brought up.
“It’s funny, but when I usually tell people, they back off.” She turns and her impish smile causes me to chuckle softly.
“I’m not scared of a bunch of bikers. Why would I be? I’ve done nothing to cause them to have issue with me.” I refrain from adding ‘yet,’ on the end of my sentence.
She nods, appreciation reflecting in her eyes.
“Thank you.”
“For what?”
“For not judging where I come from.”
“Is that usual?”
“Yes.” she states simply and then adds.
“So, tell me about yourself, Frankie. Siri told me you are family but hasn’t really expanded on that.”
“Much like you, really.” I shrug. “We are an organization made up of several families. We have many homes, but one in particular is where we meet the rest of them. It’s in the middle of nowhere and heavily guarded.”
“Like a fortress?”
“Kind of.”
“I know a lot about that.” She smiles as if we share a bond. “The place I live at is called The Rubicon.”
“The point of no return?” I say and she nods, a soft expression in her eyes as she thinks of home.
“We live in the middle of nowhere too and it is also heavily guarded. Perhaps we have more in common than I first thought.”
“Perhaps.”
We reach the dungeon area and, as I push through the trees, she is following close behind me.
“I haven’t been here before.” I love the curiosity in her voice.
“You’re excused – you just arrived.”
“I guess, but I like to scan the area and learn what I’m dealing with.”
“Military style.” I grin and she laughs, a sound that echoes through the trees, sweeter than birdsong.
As we walk deeper through the trees, the twigs crack under our feet and the dense woodland eats up our escape route.
Cassie is shivering in her thin vest and shorts and her nipples press against the fabric, causing my cock to wake up and pay attention.
Fuck, now all I can imagine is banging her against a tree, so I take a deep breath and point at a door in the distance.
“There it is.”
As we reach the door, Cassie’s eyes widen in disbelief.
“Wow, this is amazing. Who built it?”
I admit it’s impressive because it’s a fortress in itself and I explain, “Generations ago, this place was a monastery. The monks lived here in solitude with only prayer to lighten their day. They were peaceful, loving men but had great riches due to the donations from people who believed they could buy their way into heaven. Subsequently, many thieves targeted the monastery, and the monks were forced to build the dungeon.”
“That doesn’t sound very charitable,” Cassie adds in disbelief and I shrug.
“They were different times back then, and the church was corrupt. Anyone hostile who came here ended up in the dungeon. Their excuse for putting them here was that the devil had sent them. The thieves and murderers were locked in here until they escaped or died.”
“That’s horrible.”
She sounds disgusted, and I shrug as I reach for the iron key that is kept on the ledge above the door.
“Wow, they keep the key hidden in plain sight. Why not just leave it open?”
Cassie is incredulous, and I shrug. “They don’t. We were working in here yesterday, and Jesse was the last to leave. He left it here so Ali could make his delivery and he was supposed to return the key. He forgot.”
“What delivery?”
Cassie is full of questions, but she’s getting no answers from me.
“You’ll see when you sign up. There are many secrets in the dungeons and The Claiming is shrouded in mystery to anyone but those taking part.”
“Fuck, Frankie, you’re an asshole.”
I chuckle softly at her obvious irritation and as I edge open the door, I beckon her to follow me inside.