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But then she responds, “All the time I’ve known him. Pretty much every night to get me to sleep.” Her voice is soft, broken, and my chest tightens both with the need to protect her and the ache to kill Paulo with my bare hands. I want to rip him to shreds.
Her head hits the pillow gently before her lashes flutter along the apples of her cheeks. Silence descends, and I’m able to finally take her in.
Her beauty has always astounded me. She’s a natural. She doesn’t need makeup, or injections, or any of that other shit girls in this town think are what men want. Kalyn is pure, in every fucking way.
My jeans tighten as her soft breaths escape her plump lips, and I have to shut my eyes to focus on something other than how good her warmth would feel right now.
Her phone buzzes on the nightstand, and I quickly push to my feet to grab it. Swiping the screen, I open the message and grin.
When you get home, we need to have a talk. I’m not happy.
Don’t worry, motherfucker, I’m coming for you, and I’m not happy either.
23
Kalyn
When I wake up, I’m alone. For a moment, I’m confused about where I am, but the moment I look around, I realize I’m still at the Thorne mansion. Last night was exhausting. My need for a high hit me, but Cassian walked in and offered me solace in the form of confessions. He finally openly admitted it; the truth was in his words, in his affection. He wanted me as much as I did him, and even now, he still wants me.
There’s no longer a doubt in my mind that he is the one. Only, I have so much baggage to deal with before I can even think about being with Cassian. The tension in the room from last night still lingers, and I wonder just how long it’s going to be before I can go home.
He wants me to stay here, but I have to face Paulo. I can’t disappear and expect him to just accept it. There’ll be anger, threats, and violence, I have no doubt. But I wonder if Cassian’s going to do something. Last night, he vowed to kill the man.
Ice takes hold of my veins, and I close my eyes once more, focusing on my breathing before a panic attack takes over. I don’t want Cassian to get into trouble because of me, again.
He may have helped me last night, but it’s time I fought my own battles. I’d love to lie in bed all day and ignore what’s happening around me. But I can’t. I have to be an adult and face this. No matter how difficult.
I push to my feet as the door slides open and Cassian steps into the room. He’s dressed in a black suit with a white button-up that’s undone, offering a view of smooth, tanned skin.
His eyes are sparkling with something I can’t quite put my finger on. He sets down a tray he’s holding that has breakfast on it, including a mug of steaming coffee and a bottle of chilled water.
“I thought you might be hungry,” he says with a smile that steals my breath and has my heart thudding wildly against my ribs.
“Thank you,” I say, padding barefoot to where he’s set down the tray. I grab the water and quickly swallow down a few mouthfuls before looking at Cassian who’s watching me with amusement. “What?”
“I just like looking at you,” he says.
Narrowing my gaze, I ask, “What happened to making me pay for my lie?” I pick up the mug of coffee and bring it to my lips as I wait for his answer.
Cassian shrugs it off before walking to the chair he sat in last night. He settles in comfortably before saying, “I will ensure you’ve paid for that, but for now, we’re going to sort out the other shit going on in your life.”
“Has Paulo called? Has he figured out I’m here?” I sit on the bed, facing Cassian as he shakes his head. “Then what’s happened? Is my father doing okay?”
“Yes, he’s fine. I’ve got my men watching him. Don’t worry so much. The first thing we do need to sort out is Paulo. Once he’s out of the picture, you’ll be mine. Without any other complications.”
My mouth falls open; shock must be clear on my expression, judging by Cassian’s chuckle. He rests his left ankle on his right knee before pulling out his cell phone and taps out something. When he’s done, he lands his focused gaze on me.
“So, tell me more about this man you agreed to marry,” he says. “I’ve done some research, and it seems he’s settling into the Narro home as if it’s his.”
I was afraid Paulo wouldn’t want to sell. My folks need the money. And the only way for them to get free of his hold is if they can pay back the money Dad owes Paulo. The problem is, when he saw the house upon our arrival, he said something that clicked in my mind—It could be a good base for us.
