Chapter 35
THIRTY-FIVE
FRANKIE
I have a spring in my step as a result of everything working out in my favor. Cassie is the most amazing addition to my academy family, and I am not regretting my decision to make her mine.
It’s as if a huge burden has lifted and I am free to be me again. Now I have someone like her in my bed and by my side, I can focus on the rest of the problems facing me.
Santi is wolfing down a bowl of oats when I head into the kitchen.
“Fuck man. I’m wrecked. Last night was a lot.”
“You’re your own worst enemy. I have no sympathy for you.”
I fix us some coffee and Santi groans. “Is that second cup for me? I could use another shot of caffeine.”
“Get your own.”
He raises his eyes and I shrug, winking as I lift a third mug from the shelf.
“Cassie?” He cocks his brow and I nod. “Of course.”
“You lucky bastard.” He groans, rubbing his crotch. “I may need medical attention.”
“Spare me the gory details.”
I open the fridge and sigh. “What happened to the groceries?”
I swear they dissolve on contact with the fridge shelves and Santi shrugs. “The fuck I know.”
I slam the door. “I guess we’ll be dining out for breakfast then.”
Ali enters and yawns loudly. “I’ll come. Just give me a minute to enter the real world.”
“Has anyone seen Jesse?”
I can already guess the answer to that and the guys shake their heads. “Missing as of ten last night.”
Ali side eyes me. “What do you know?”
“He’s getting his entertainment outside of Rockwell.”
“Man.” Santi groans. “Good idea. I may go with him next time.”
“Good luck with that.” I grip two mugs as Jack enters, looking totally fucked, and as his eyes rest on the two mugs in my hand, I don’t miss how crushed he looks. He says nothing and heads to the cupboard and pulls out one mug, and my heart settles. Thank fuck for that. I may have engineered his make-out session with Siri, but moving that on will raise another problem entirely.
I say nothing and leave the room, shouting over my shoulder, “Anyone for breakfast at the diner, meet us by the door in thirty minutes.”
I leave Jack to process my use of the word ‘us’ and head back upstairs with an unusual spring in my step. Soon the whole of Rockwell will know Cassie is mine and the only man who could have changed destiny is now coming to terms with his loss. I have won because I planned my strategy and, for once, I love my fucking devious mind.
* * *
Cassie has showered and is dressed when I return, and I shake my head as I set the mug of coffee on the table by the bed.
“That’s disappointing.”
She rolls her eyes. “I’m starving and should really touch base with Siri.”
“She’s still asleep. Only the guys are up.”
“The guys?” I don’t miss her started expression as she grips the mug a little too tightly.
“Yeah, we’ve got nothing in, so are heading out for breakfast.”
“Out?”
I nod. “We have a couple of SUVs we use to head into town.”
“We?”
“The guys. We’ll head to the diner in town. They serve a mean pancake and we can decide on our next plan of action.”
“The Claiming?”
Her eyes light with interest and I nod, sitting beside her on the bed as we sip our drinks. “We need to plan it more carefully this time, because ten new participants are due to pass through the door on Friday night. This time, we will be ready.”
She nods, a soft smile lighting her face and once again it strikes me just how fucking beautiful Cassandra King is. She has curves in all the right places and obviously trains hard because her muscles are toned and her abs tight. Her dark hair is slightly wavy and thick and hangs to her shoulders and her green eyes flash with intelligence. I love her soft pale skin and naturally red lips, the pink flush to her cheeks adorable when she glances my way.
She is a natural beauty with a quick mind and after last night, I am ruined for any other woman. We are so compatible, sexually and mentally, and I can’t believe my luck that she rolled in through the academy doors.
“Was Jack, downstairs? Did he mention Siri?”
Her voice is small and holds a hint of doubt.
“He was but said nothing. Siri must still be sleeping.”
Cassie laughs softly. “That figures. She’s not an early riser.”
“Go and get her up if she wants to join us in town. We leave in twenty minutes.”
She stands and as she makes to go, I catch her hand and tug her down beside me, stealing a quick deep kiss to remind her what’s happening here. I grip her face and tangle my fingers in her hair and as she kisses me back, matching my passion, everything is right with my world.
* * *
When I’m alone, I consider the next problem to deal with and my thoughts turn to the predator. Whoever this guy is, he left a fucking great big clue, and it should be easy to find a guy with a serpent tattooed on his wrist. It’s a dead giveaway and when I think about what he put Abigail through, vengeance sharpens in my heart as I dream up exactly what I’ll do to him when he is caught.
And he will be. It’s only a matter of time, which is exactly what I need to sharpen another skill set of mine. Vengeance.