CASSIAN
I sat on the plush leather chair across from Don Dante's desk, my left leg propped over on my right knee.
The clock ticked. Smoke lingered in the air.
Father was mad—we only shared this kind of silence whenever he wanted to remind me of something stupid I'd done.
Not that I could think of anything bad I'd done lately though, so I relaxed more into the chair and enjoyed the tension.
"Elton Blackstone informed me the deal on the properties is yet to be concluded… or even signed." Father's voice cut through the quiet in the study.
The unfortunate truth was, having Ayla on my radar distracted me. I'd forgotten about the deal.
"Been too busy taking care of important business to remember that piece." I said through half-lidded eyes.
Dante blew out smoke from his mouth, then shook his head, "I believe that business includes the fucking kitchen assistant."
Irritation crawled up my back. I was losing patience with my men when it came to this girl. Right now, I felt the same towards father.
The loud disapproval in his voice unnerved me.
What infuriated me the most was that I didn't think he had the right to disapprove of my women. Only I had that right.
I studied him. He'd probably been tailing me and that fucking pissed me off real bad.
I despised how she got to me and made me do stupid things, but I hated being called out on my own shit.
"Stop playing with your fucking whore. You have Karen Vellani right where you can have her, and I need you to fix your damn balls into your pants and get the fucking alliance sealed. Goddamnit!"
He slammed a hand on the table. "Getting distracted by a whore? That's nothing like a Moretti. We go for gold!"
The moment he called Ayla a whore, my gaze flickered with something dark and if Don Dante wasn't my father, I'd have a bullet in his head right now for that.
I suddenly needed a smoke.
My face found father's through a haze of smoke. "You think Karen fucking Vellani is gold?" I scoffed. "The bloody bitch has her cunt open to every fucking dick and harry in Lake Como, and you want her to be my wife?"
I stroked a hand on my lower lip. "I don't think that's happening."
He didn't confirm or deny what I'd just said.
He blew out smoke from his cigarette, and narrowed his gaze at me. "Every bloody woman in Lake Como has been fucked by someone. If you want a virgin, you're going to have to create one."
I wasn't sure every girl in Lake Como had a sexual past. But getting married to a woman fucked by an ordinary dance trainer, or anyone except me, wasn't something I thought was going to happen.
"Fine."
He knew I didn't mean it but he knew I was too fucking pissed right now to continue this conversation.
He'd done his time. Now was my time and I was going to call the shots from now.
"Good." He muttered, then coughed, clutching at his chest. He shouldn't be smoking; not with his health condition.
"When do you conclude the deal with Blackstone?"
I straightened my black tie, checked the Rolex Daytona on my wrist. "I'll fix a meeting for noon."
He nodded, a glint of satisfaction in his eyes. "And get the damn Vellani girl something; a surprise or a dinner date. Makes sense why she didn't look at you the whole time during their visit."
Resentment crawled into my chest. I wasn't sure I could stand Karen Vellani right now, much worse fixing a date with her. But I'd definitely give her a surprise.
Father glanced at me briefly, "It's normal to expect infidelity in marriage you know, but you don't have to flaunt it in her face."
My tongue ran across my teeth, a deep, unsettling ache unfurled in my ribs. "...Interesting."
Death was making this old man soft, fuck!
"Just in case you've forgotten, I don't fucking have much time left!"
You didn't have to say that.
I straightened and adjusted my suit. "I'll see you before you leave for Monaco."
He had important business deals he needed to sort out before the cancer made movement impossible.
The thought of him dying made something violent spread through my veins. I had no idea how I would live with that.
I turned and left the study.
_—_—_—_—_—
Impatience crept into the air as I inhaled slowly.
"Don Cassian…" Elton Blackstone sat across from me in his office. I could smell the nervousness oozing out of him.
I sighed. "I don't think I'm a fan of you talking to my father about me." I drawled.
A sweat broke on his temple. "It was hardly my intention…I'm sure you think so too if not I'd be in a box by now."
A small silence stretched.
"Smart man." I drawled.
"I wanted to inform him I was leaving for New York soon."
I let out a sardonic breath. "I didn't come all the way here to know why you did it. I really don't give a shit about you Americans because you fucking talk too much." I sent him an intimidating stare. "But I'll pardon you. Now let's get the deal done."
He nodded and moved for the files.
It didn't take long to sign the deal and purchase another property belonging to the Selarnos.
I had Tony make the transfer and headed for the dance studio where Karen practiced.
—----------
There was no one else inside the hall except Karen.
She laid on her back, her short hair pooled around her head, her belly button visible through the opening in her mid section.
A blond prick I believed was the dance instructor came and stood in-between her open legs like she'd purposely spread them out for him.
How had I ever fucked a girl this stupid?
"You look beautiful..." He muttered, before whispering something else.
Karen smiled in a way I'd never seen before as his hands slipped behind her back and pulled her up to himself, her legs wrapped around his waist.
I walked in, and clapped once. Twice. Slowly, drawing their attention to the door.
His hands around her waist fell as she pushed to her feet.
"Oh my God…" Karen paled like she'd seen a ghost.
"Who is he?" The blonde beside her asked.
She didn't look at him. She adjusted, pulled herself away like it would undo any of what I'd seen.
"Sam go." Karen muttered.
The blonde trainer hissed, turning to meet my gaze. "I'm not leaving you here."
I stood at the centre of the hall, gun tucked inside my waist-coat.
Impressive.
The saccharine smile on my face took a cruel edge. "I think your father lives with a version of you that doesn't exist."
Her cheeks burned red and it irritated me more. It irritated me enough to know a fucking ordinary trainer was sharing the same woman my father wanted me to make my wife.
"Hey, who the hell…" The words died in his mouth as a bullet from Nico pierced through his side.
A scream tore through Karen's throat. Raw. Scared. Pained. And I bloody didn't care.
I'm sure Nico had no plan to kill him or he'd have had a clean shot with that fucking skull.
Nico came downstairs and stood beside me.
I'd asked him to come here the moment I left father's study and sure as hell Karen had been having a good time.
"What did you do?!" She yelled, crouched beside him, her hand held his head.
"You're only alive because of one thing." I turned and started towards the door, paused midway, "I'm sure you understand what this means"
Tears dripped from her face as she held a hand over the bleeding blonde.
I knew she'd hate me.
"There's not going to be a wedding between you and me, Karen Vellani and I need you to play your part of the script well till I'm ready to deal with this shit."
I turned and walked out.