Chapter 14
14
Cole
I t takes a few days before I get the chance to question Dante about whether he’s actually going to set Cass up with a man to date, possibly even marry.
Shit hit the fan over at Lochlan’s the very next day. Sophie was almost killed by Lochlan’s half-brother Flynn who also turned out to be the one responsible not only for the casino bombing a year ago that killed a bunch of people, but also for a drone attack on Sophie. Oh, and he sent exploding drones to take down Lochlan’s plane that never left the airport.
Dante and Eli happily agreed to help “question” Flynn for all the juicy details. The asshole also confessed everything to the district attorney before he met his end.
Which is apparently why Dante called me into his office today.
“How’s Sophie?” I ask when I take my usual seat across from Dante’s desk.
“Still shook up and recovering. She was lucky. Lochlan’s guards and Sophie’s weren’t, but several of them will make it.”
“That’s good that they kept her safe.”
“I still can’t believe she stabbed Flynn in his dick.”
“No shit,” I agree with a chuckle. “I’m surprised he didn’t bleed out then and there.”
“Lochlan allowed him medical attention, but only to keep him alive long enough to talk. And talk he did,” Dante says as he leans his head back against his tall, executive chair. “Flynn told us that it was Russians who funded all of his attacks.”
“The Russians? Did he give you names?”
“No. He claimed he didn’t know them, and Eli hurt him enough that he would’ve provided them if he had. Flynn said they only spoke by phone, then transferred funds to him,” he tells me. “My IT team is looking into the phone and bank records trying to track the fuckers down.”
“Hopefully, you’ll get a lead.”
“If I don’t, I’ll need you to try and infiltrate the Russians by telling them you could be their next boss.”
“Just let me know when and where you want me.”
“I’m working that out. For now, you should get changed into something comfortable. Your first challenge is in an hour.”
“Oh, yeah?”
“I’m starting with Cass’s strength—hand to hand combat. Don’t feel bad if you can’t beat her in this event. There will be plenty of other ways to prove yourself.”
“What’s the challenge?”
“You’ll both go against Cass’s martial arts instructor, Saul. Whoever lasts the longest and impresses him wins.”
Thank fuck I won’t have to fight Cass directly. I don’t want to accidentally hurt her, even if she’s more likely to injure me. And I definitely don’t want her father to see me get hard when we’re going at it.
Which leads me to the question I’ve been eager to ask him. “ You're not really going to set Cass up on dates with random men, are you?”
Sighing, he shakes his head and says, “Vanessa is helping me make a list of potentials. It's only slightly better than the alternative.”
“What's the alternative?”
“Cass sleeping with every man who steps foot in the penthouse,” he responds, knowing his daughter well. “I would rather be stabbed in my dick than let her end up anywhere near Eli.”
“Eli?” I say in surprise. Now that he mentions it, the psycho does live in the penthouse. He’s always around, making him easy prey for Cass to sink her claws in.
“Eli is a sadist. He's the last person I want near my girls.”
“No kidding,” I agree. “So, who will you let near your daughter?”
“That's the question I'm trying to figure out. I have a feeling that Vanessa isn't going to let me put it off for long either. Her and Cass are ganging up on me every time I turn around.”
I feel the exact same way.
For the first time in my life, it feels like my mom is doing everything she can to screw me over.
Being so gung-ho against me becoming Dante’s heir I can understand. She grew up in the mafia and hates everything about it except Dante, apparently. But helping Cass not only beat me but also find her a husband? It’s so fucked up.
Not that my mom knows that the thought of Cass dating other men makes me crave violence more than I ever have in my entire life.
An hour later, and I’m in my sweats and a tee, ready for the first competition to take place in the second-floor gym.
Dante and my mom come in with an older, gray-haired man in tow.
“Vanessa, Cole, I want you to meet Saul,” Dante says. “He's been Cass's instructor for years and he's agreed to be the punching bag and judge today.”
“Won't he be biased toward Cass?” I ask honestly.
“I wish,” Cass huffs when she strolls in last. Seeing her in her tiny black shorts and matching sports bra feels obscene with her father in the same room. That’s probably why she wore it, to try and throw me off. In fact, I stare long enough that I forgot what we were even talking about when she joins our huddle. “But Saul is a man with strict morals,” Cass says. “He wouldn’t let me win just because I’m his favorite student.”
“You’re my only student currently,” Saul remarks. “And I have no favorite. I only have pupils who are willing to work hard to become whatever they desire.”
Cass rolls her eyes but smiles fondly at the man.
“Cassandra is right,” the man says, using her full name. I think it’s the first time I’ve ever heard it. “I've got no skin in this game, as they say. Dante is paying me ten grand to be a fair judge. Besides, Cass may be rusty since she’s been slacking off on her training lately.”
“What do you mean she's been slacking off?” Dante asks the guy, voicing my same question. When I first got here a few weeks ago, training was all she did, not once but twice a day.
“Cass didn’t tell you? She’s canceled our lessons every day for the past week.”
Cass busies herself pulling her long red waves up into a messy bun when everyone turns their attention to her. “I had PMS,” she mutters. “And I don't have to train unless I want to, right?”
“That’s right, honey,” my mother agrees. “Cole, do you have any problem going against Cass’s instructor?”
“Nope.”
Seeing that the instructor is in fact as old as Cass claimed he was, and that he doesn’t seem to have any interest in her, I don’t have any ill-will toward the old man. Still, I won’t mind throwing down with him. While Cass may have years of training, I’ll at least have a height and weight advantage.
“Ladies first?” I ask. “And what are the rules?”
“There are no rules,” Dante says. “Cass?”
“I’d rather go last.”
“Fine. I’ll go,” I offer.
I pull my tee off over my head so the other man can’t use the material to grab me, and also to try and throw Cass off-balance.
“Let’s go, old man.”
“Being so cocky will only lead you to quick embarrassment,” Saul replies before the two of us meet in the center of the mat and then begin circling each other.
I’ve never seen the man fight, so I have no idea how he plans to attack.
He doesn’t at first, waiting for me to make the first move.
When I make a grab for the back of his neck to bring my knee up into his face, he’s ready. His fist slams into my gut, momentarily stunning me long enough to sweep my legs out from underneath me, taking me down to the mat.
I roll into the fall, quickly gaining the upper hand and grabbing for his throat. A second later, Saul flips us so I’m underneath him. I jab my fist into his throat, but he’s already moving again. Taking my right arm with him as he goes, he twists it awkwardly, so I have to roll with it. Once I’m on my stomach, his elbow digs into my kidneys while still leveraging my arm.
I cry uncle when my shoulder pops, losing to the man almost as fast as I came the first time with Cass who is laughing at me yet again.
Letting my arm go, the old man stands up and adds insult to injury. “Unimpressive. I could’ve killed you when you hesitated and tried to grab me instead of hitting me.”
“My bad,” I say as I roll to my back and sit up, clutching my throbbing shoulder. “I’ve only ever…been in street fights where guys st art out fighting dirty, like hitting you in the back of the head when you’re not looking.”
“When have you been in street fights?” my mother asks.
“There were plenty growing up. Most stopped by my sophomore year of high school when I finally towered over everyone,” I admit to her.
“Well, if Cass lasts longer than you, which should be easy, she’ll win this round,” Dante says, sounding disappointed in my performance.
I fully expect the crazy redhead to show me up as well. After all, I’ve been on the receiving end of her brutality when she tried to drown me in the pool.
Her and Saul face off right away since he’s not even out of breath from our short brawl.
They circle each other, both waiting for the other to make the first move. When Saul does a fancy spinning kick that would’ve made me look like a fool, his foot heads right for Cass’s belly. She grabs at his ankle while stumbling backward and falling on her ass, bringing him down with her.
“Fuck,” she mutters. Releasing the man, she holds up her palms to put a stop to the match. “I twisted my ankle.”
“Is this some feign to lure the old man in and then punch him in the nuts?” I ask, not sure I’m buying her sudden injury after she went ape shit on me without breaking a fingernail.
When she tries to stand up though, she winces and sits back down. I feel like a huge dick when she says, “I think I sprained it.”
“Oh, shit.”
“What happened, Cassandra?” Her trainer leans down for a closer look, and she doesn’t attack him. Dante and my mom move closer before I join them.
“Let me see.” The old man's hands on her foot and ankle have me seeing red. I don't like anyone touching her body. But he only prods the area with his fingers and says, “I don't feel any swelling.”
“It fucking hurts to put my weight on it,” Cass mutters .
“Maybe we should get it x-rayed just to be safe,” my mom suggests.
“I’ll call Dr. Gates and arrange it,” Dante replies.
“It’s not a big deal!” Cass says. “Let me just ice it and see how it feels later.”
She’s lying. I would almost bet my nuts she’s not actually hurt.
But why fake an injury?
To let me win after my pathetic performance?
No. Cass is a lot of things, but she’s not that magnanimous.
“Let’s call this one a draw,” Dante says. “What do you say, Saul?”
“I say they should both hope they never get attacked while walking alone in a dark alley.”
“Thanks, asshole,” Cass and I both mutter at the same time while simultaneously flipping the man off.
The two of us must have been spending way too much time together lately, and unfortunately, not nearly enough.