by V. A. Dold
Cassidy blinked. She blinked again. How the hell had he done that? One second the glass was inches from the edge, tipping at a thirty-degree angle. The next, it was upright in the center of the table. When she raised her gaze from the glass to his face, he simply smiled and shrugged.
“I have fast reflexes.”
“That was more than fast reflexes. I didn’t even see it move. One moment it was there”—she pointed at the wet ring on the table—“now it’s there. And I didn’t see you, or it, move. How did you do that?”
Marcus waggled his brows and teased, “I have secret superpowers. If I told you about them, I’d have to kill you, so I won’t.” Not yet, anyway.
Cassidy frowned at the glass. Hard. Then glanced from the wet ring to the glass again. How did he do that? And how did I not see him do it? He isn’t just drop-dead gorgeous, he has the reflexes of a cat.
Damn, she was cute. He liked the path her thoughts were wandering down. He liked it a lot. But he loved her eyes on him more. Her every emotion showed in their depths, regardless of her guarded expression. She could fool others but not him. Never him.
Duane picked that moment to return, order pad in hand. He looked at Cassidy and asked, “What would you like today?”
“The turkey and prosciutto sandwich sounds amazing. I’ll try that.”
“And you, Mr. Le Beau?”
“I’ll take the Catfish Pecan.”
“Both excellent choices.” Duane gathered up the menus, and like the wind, he was gone.
Reaching across the table, Marcus took Cassidy’s hand, brushing his thumb across her knuckles. “Dating was designed for men to court their intended and learn all about her. So, tell me more about you.”
Her inhale was swift. He may have shocked her, but she was affected. Her eyes darkened and nipples peaked. She most definitely wanted him as badly as he wanted her.
“You told me a little about your brother yesterday. He’s younger, right?” Marcus prompted to get the conversation rolling. He knew the answers to most of the questions he’d ask, but he wanted to see what she’d reveal.
“Colin is five years younger than I am. He was two when we lost our parents and doesn’t remember them. I tell him stories and show him the few pictures I was able to locate over the years. I don’t ever want him to forget that we were loved by wonderful parents before our lives went to shit.”
She didn’t tell him that she had only been a foster child for a week before a very stern man took her away to train her as an assassin, separating her from her brother. Raising her in the most brutal of conditions.
“You also said that he’s an adult now. What does he do with his time?”
“He’s working in a machine shop. Without a college degree, it’s difficult to find anything but minimum wage jobs or manual labor. But I’m going to change that.”
“Really? How?”
“I haven’t told him yet, but I’m enrolling both of us at Tulane for the fall semester. He has always wanted to be an architect, and I’m majoring in business.”
Marcus nodded. “Those are both excellent degrees. As a matter of fact, I know a construction firm that would love to sponsor his education in exchange for summer employment and a job upon graduation. Also, the Le Beau Corporation offers tuition reimbursement. You can take advantage of that.”
Cassidy’s eyes lit up with excitement. “Really? I put away money for both of us to attend college, but if we can both get scholarships, I can use that money to buy a house.”
“You could. Colin will need a place to live, and campus living can be… distracting. Particularly in a town like New Orleans, where we celebrate something every day of the year.” He purposely left her out of the equation of living in the house. She’d be living with him.
“Tell me about your childhood. Was your adoptive family good to you?”
Cassidy lowered her eyes. “I didn’t have a family, per se, just a man who claimed he was my uncle.”
Marcus zeroed in on that. “He wasn’t?”
“He told everyone that he was, but I’d never even heard of him before he showed up at the foster home I was staying at. Honestly, I don’t believe he’s related to me at all.”
That was a truth Quin had already unearthed. “I’m curious about what you did as a little girl. What you enjoyed. Were you a reader then, or did you pick that up later in life?”
“I was always a reader. We had a library room filled with books on every topic imaginable. I worked my way through most of them. When I wasn’t reading, I enjoyed martial arts of any kind.” Cassidy glanced up and grinned sheepishly. “Maybe that’s why I’m working in security now?”
What she didn’t say was that she did all of that reading to learn how to protect herself. Knowledge was power when utilized efficiently and had kept her alive more than once. As for the martial arts, even though she enjoyed them, they had been a requirement.
She made a point to excel at every challenge Jones threw at her, be it physical training or academics. She learned to use her body as a weapon, though she mostly employed her black belts for self-defense when needed. As a sniper that was a rarity. By the age of ten, she was an expert with a blade or a gun. The truth of her childhood wasn’t what Marcus needed to hear, so she glossed over it.
Thinking about Jones reminded her that she needed to send him a final text. “Could you point me toward the ladies’ room?”
Marcus released her hand and sat back. “Of course. It’s right over there.”
Cassidy palmed her phone and got to her feet. “I’ll only be a minute.”
The instant she was behind the closed door she brought up the app and sent a final message to Jones.
C: Le Beau is innocent. Cancel the contract. And call off your mangy dog, or I’ll take care of him myself. Also, as of this moment, I’m retired. Don’t contact me again.
She shut off her phone before Jones had the chance to respond. She didn’t want to read the lies he’d come back with.
Taking a minute to wash her hands, she checked her wig and makeup before heading back to her lunch date. A flutter in her chest brought a smile to her lips. She was on a date.
When she got back to the table, she decided it was her turn to ask questions. “So, tell me about your family. Do all of you work for the corporation?”
Cassidy was curious to learn everything about Marcus and his life. The bonus was, if she got him talking, she could sit back and listen to his sexy voice. His deep, sensuous baritone made her toes curl.
“Cade and I do. Simon runs a PTSD dog charity, Stefan works with his wife on her horse ranch, and Lucas bought a cattle ranch in Texas. Seth works for my father as his personal security, along with my step-nephew Thomas. My youngest brother Rylon just came home from traveling the world. He’s going to be the executive chef at the ranch Lucas owns. They have a dude ranch on the property and apparently, it draws a specific clientele that requires a fancy chef.”
She leaned her chin on the heel of her hand, her eyes on his face. “What were you like as a child?”
Marcus chuckled before saying, “Trouble with a capital T. When Cade got his first car, he called the most popular girl in school and talked her into a date for that evening. Stefan and I couldn’t pass up the opportunity. We wedged the car between two trees and then watched from the corner of the house as he came out and realized his car was gone. When he spotted it, we laughed so hard we had tears in our eyes.”
“What did he do?”
“He chased us down and got a few punches in before he realized he couldn’t get his car out without our help. In the end, we got him on the road. He was only a few minutes late picking up his date, so no harm, no foul. We did stuff like that all the time as kids.” As he ended his story, Duane arrived with their meals.
“Your sandwich, Miss Cassidy,” he said, placing the plate before her with a flourish.
“And your Catfish Pecan, Mr. Le Beau. Is there anything else I can get for you?”
“This i
s perfect, Duane. Thank you,” Marcus responded as he placed his napkin on his lap.
Duane nodded before rushing away to another table, leaving her alone, once more, with the fascinating Marcus Le Beau.
Cassidy picked up her sandwich and took a bite. Her eyes closed on a moan. “This is delicious.”
Marcus swallowed his bite of fish. “I know, right?” Then he leaned into her and brushed her lower lip with his thumb. Automatically, she jerked away and pulled her knife. Thankfully, she stopped herself before stabbing him. Her heart thundered in her ears. She froze, willing her hand to lower. Very slowly, she sheathed the blade. “Sorry, automatic reflex.”
“You had a little sauce just there. I should have said something before coming at you. I’ll do better next time.”
Gasps from the people seated throughout the restaurant reminded her that they were being watched. She felt her face flame again.
Marcus laid his hand palm up on the table. “Ignore them. You and I are all that matter. I’m proud to be with a woman who can take care of herself. Never be ashamed of who you are.”
Cassidy placed her hand in his. “I could have hurt you,” she whispered so no one else would hear.
“But you didn’t. It’ll take time for you to be comfortable enough to let your guard down and not react to my advances. Until then, I’ll make sure you know what I’m about to do. And Cassidy—”
She glanced up from their clasped hands when he didn’t finish his sentence.
“I plan to do many things. Holding your hand, touching your face, and kissing you are the least of what I’ll do.”
Marcus’s declaration sent a shiver of anticipation down her spine.
“We good now?” he asked, still grasping her hand.
Cassidy nodded. “Yes.”
“Perfect. Enjoy your lunch, before you know it, we’ll have to go back to work.”
* * * * *
After following Cassidy and the mark to Canal street and watching them enter the Palace Café, Roger Turner circled around the block and parked the nondescript car he’d rented two blocks down. He glanced at the clock on the dash and pulled his phone from his pocket. It was time to check-in and receive new orders.
R: Sir, she’s showed no signs of preparing for the hit.
J: Do you have her in sight?
R: No. She’s inside a restaurant having lunch with the mark.
J: Perfect. Cassidy thinks to leave the family.
Roger sucked in a sharp breath. The only way an assassin left Jones’s employ was in a coffin. Then his phone pinged an additional message.
J: No one defies me without repercussions. Take any action that presents itself. I want both of them dead. How you do it matters little to me. Just get it done.
Roger drummed his fingers on the steering wheel. Cassidy was well-liked by all of the assassins. If he followed Jones’s order, the other assassins would target him. If he refused, Jones would punish him until he prayed for death. Either way, he was fucked.
“God damn it, Cassidy. Why can’t you do as you’re told?”
Eight
Marcus watched her closely. Cassidy’s makeup hid the circles under her eyes, but her exhaustion beat at him. “You aren’t sleeping well?”
She swallowed the bite of sandwich she was chewing and took a sip of tea. “I didn’t realize I looked haggard.”
“Cher,” he chided. “You look beautiful. I don’t see your exhaustion, I feel it.”
She shrugged and picked up her sandwich again. “It must be living in a new place. Once I settle in and get used to the new bed, I’ll sleep better.”
That may be true, but he also knew the neighborhood she was living in. Any woman alone in Tremé would lose sleep, fearing for her safety.
“I’m sure you’re right.” At the first opportunity, he was going to her apartment to see to her safety personally.
Dropping the topic, he returned to recounting hilarious childhood stories. Cassidy needed to get to know him, for now, silly memories would do.
As they rose to leave, he held out his hand. His heart sang when she took it without reservation. His wolf sighed. Finally, they were making headway with their mate.
When the persistent vibration of his phone made it impossible to ignore, he pulled it out of his pocket. Opening his messages, he was ready to flay the idiot blowing up his phone, but his anger came to a screeching halt when he saw it was Quin with urgent information.
He texted back, using one thumb, refusing to release Cassidy’s hand.
M: Where’s the fire?
Q: We need to talk. NOW.
M: I’m on my way to the office. I’ll call you in a few minutes.
Q: Make sure you do. This can’t wait.
Stepping out onto the sidewalk, Marcus checked for the limo. A traffic cop must have moved Stefan along. His brother knew better than to double park, but he always had to try to get away with it. He sent another text, this one to his irksome babysitter.
M: We’re waiting on the sidewalk.
S: On my way. Meet me across the street.
M: Will do.
When he dropped the phone in his pocket and glanced down, Cassidy gazed back at him with sexual interest in her eyes. Unable to deny his bone-deep desire for the beautiful human, he turned and placed his hands on her hips. He had to kiss Cassidy, or he’d go insane. More than likely, he’d get a dagger slipped between his ribs for his efforts, but even the slightest brush of her lips was worth the injury.
“Fair warning, mon amour. I’m about to kiss you. Please don’t stab me with your little knife.”
Ever so gently, he spanned her throat with one large hand and tipped her chin higher. When she didn’t protest, he leaned in. As his lips closed the distance, he felt her heartbeat thunder into his palm.
The roar of desire in his ears was deafening. Trembling with need, he forced himself to press his lips to hers with the lightest of kisses until he felt the softness of her lips part.
She didn’t stab him. In fact, she tentatively kissed him back. He tried to control his hunger, but all too soon, his kiss grew urgent.
His thumb stroked her jaw before sliding his palm to the back of her head and tangling his hand in the hair at the nape of her neck, careful to not dislodge her wig. He would allow her imagined façade to remain in place until she chose to reveal herself.
Marcus explored her mouth hungrily, his tongue dancing against hers, gliding and fluttering sensuously. Her taste intoxicated his senses. He wanted to kiss her forever, stroke her, and if she let him, make sweet love to her.
Cassidy’s hands slid up his chest until her arms encircled his neck, her fingertips massaging his scalp, adding kindling to his already blazing desire.
He pulled her closer, pressing her body flush to his. She was so sweet, so hot. His tongue dueled with hers, demanding a response, and she gave him what he wanted.
A wisp of mating magic swirled around them, urging him to claim his mate. Fire raced through his blood, stealing his last remnants of sanity. Thankfully, a car horn blared, jolting him back to reality. One last soft kiss and he pulled back.
He framed her face with his palms as their ragged breaths slowly calmed. Marcus groaned in frustration. His mate’s lips were kiss-swollen, her eyes heavy-lidded with passion, and he was helpless to do anything about it. For the moment anyway. Taking a deep breath, a shudder rolled through his body as he wrestled his wolf under control.
“You pack quite a punch, Marcus,” Cassidy whispered, her face dipping from sight, as she touched trembling fingers to her lips.
Marcus grinned. His heart soared when his name fell so easily from her lips. “I believe half of that punch came from you.”
When her face remained hidden from him, he grew worried. His heart ached at the loss of her beautiful eyes. “Cassidy, look at me.”
She shook her head once. “If I do, you might kiss me again, and I’ll combust right here on the sidewalk.”
He laughed softly and tucked a f
inger under her chin, using only the slightest pressure. He wanted her acquiescence to be her choice. “I promise not to kiss you again. Not here, anyway.” He tacked on the last because he had every intention of kissing her again.
After several heartbeats, she lifted her face, a shy grin quirking up the corners of her lips. “We’ll see,” she countered, a teasing note in her tone.
Marcus released her chin with a wink. “Challenge accepted. Stefan is waiting across the street.” He took her hand as he checked the traffic for an opening, then stepped off the sidewalk.
There was no squeal of tires to warn them. That didn’t mean Cassidy’s watchful eye wasn’t searching for danger.
Instinct had her twisting to look up the street just in time to see the car accelerating as it barreled down on them. Cassidy yanked her hand from his grip and tried to shove him to safety. She swore under her breath. The man was built like a tank and barely wobbled.
To her horror, he swept his arm around her waist and tossed her toward the curb where Stefan waited.
The car’s engine whined as it was pushed to its limit. She lifted her head in time to see the car run Marcus down. Only it didn’t. Marcus leapt straight up, the speed of the car landing him on its hood.
The car swerved left, then right in an effort to dislodge him. Cassidy rolled to avoid the tires when the car raked down the side of the car she lay near.
Suddenly, she felt hands grip her under the arms, then Stefan growled in her ear, “Get the hell out of there.” He pulled her to the sidewalk as the car roared past, missing her by inches.
In the last second before she was pulled to safety, she saw the driver’s face. It was the same scrawny man as before. God damn Jones.
She watched as Marcus pulled back his fist to punch through the windshield. The car jerked violently left, taking a corner on two wheels, and he lost his grip. Cassidy screamed.
Marcus flew off the right side of the car and hit the street hard. His shoulder struck the pavement first, but it was his head that took the brunt of the impact. Bleeding like a stuck pig, suit coat torn, and hair in his eyes, he rolled until he bumped the curb with his back.