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I grasp her naked shoulders, looking straight into her eyes and meaning every word.
“We’ll find him. Trust me, I won’t stop until the bastard is found. I’ll use every resource to get it back.”
“Stop talking like you’re going to kill him or throw him to the crocodiles.”
Not a bad idea.
A smile tugs at the corner of my lips as she graces me with a stern look, like a mother would to misbehaving kids.
“He took something that belongs to me. Believe me, Cassandra, he’s going to suffer for this.”
She snorts but then clutches her sheet closer to her chest.
“I better get dressed.” Before she goes to change, she pauses by the door to the bedroom. Her eyebrows crease, her lips parting to speak. “Do we have cameras in your bedroom?”
“Not in the bedroom,” I admit the truth, hating the glint of mistrust in her eyes.
Cassandra turns around and without a single word exits the living room. I follow. She methodically retrieves her dress and underwear, avoiding my gaze altogether.
“Talk to me.” I close the door to get some privacy. “Tell me what’s going on in your head right now.” Her ability to compartmentalize is making me nervous.
“Someone broke in and filmed us having sex. How do you think I feel? You’re clearly convinced this person has malicious intents since you have tons of security analyzing everything like a forensic team would examine a murder scene. So, I ask myself what I’m doing with you because my decisions will impact not only my life but also my children.” Tears pour down her cheeks as she looks at me, clutching her clothes to her chest.
Desperation grips me as I reach her in a few strides and cup her face, looking straight into her pale eyes. I’m ready to give her everything just to keep her.
“Beside successful business at Fading Ink, I have a growing marketing company in the States, and I also invest in many other successful venues. I’m no hitman, but when you have money, certain people try to seize control and use you for their benefits. Let’s put it this way. I learned to live in a world of wealth, know how to play political games, and survive corporate sharks. Sometimes business and the criminal world is the same thing. Just the game is more refined, resourceful, and secretive, but nevertheless corrupted and dark.”
“Perhaps you should talk to the Cades. They could help, Mark . . .”
A sarcastic snicker leaves my mouth as I stride to the window.
“Mark?”
I twist to look at her. Confusion, hurt, and denial filter through her eyes. “After they tried so hard to keep their name clean?” She recoils when it clicks what I try to tell her. I grasp her wrists, pulling her closer.
It’s hard to
understand, but to some extent, we all have our hands muddied to survive thirst for power. It doesn’t care if money’s bloody or clean, it cares only about the benefits it provides. It’s a beast you must feed. If it’s starved, you become prey to every other predator out there. Just like someone in the Middle East tried to fuck me over and failed. You always have to think a few steps ahead to come out on top.
“I don’t want to hurt you or change how you feel about your family. Just know this. The Cades aren’t as innocent or honorable as they pretend to be. Lucas and Leif didn’t turn their backs on business just because. They’ll do what benefits their family.”
Her hand falls from my wrist to her sides. This is my fault. I put that empty look in her eyes. Shit! And I haven’t told her that Darren saw the tape yet.
I bet he’s combing through contacts trying to get to the bottom of this. She is their family member, and to allow anyone else to gain the upper hand would mean they’re losing their stand.
But they might also use this against her.
“Until we know what they want, we need to prepare for the worst-case scenario. Go, take a shower, and I’ll make breakfast and coffee. We need to talk strategy and find a way to keep you safe. Just stay with me, okay?”
Cassandra nods, but she looks far too numb from the shock and way too withdrawn for my liking to cope with this on her own.
~Cassandra~
Dressed up, I sit on the edge of the bed we slept together in just an hour ago. My mind reels from the things Mark told me. Can it be true? I’ve never seen anything illegal as I worked at the bank, but I also never had this kind of clearance to see those accounts.
“I want you to stay away from the bank.”
“Why?” I huffed, annoyed.
