by Dani René
“She better fucking stay there; she’s as stubborn as Nesrin,” Damien says as he rolls his eyes in frustration, but he doesn’t look at me. Instead, his focus is on the screen. He’s probably working on Thorne Industry documents, so I just offer him a slap on the shoulder when I pass by him.
“She will. See you later.”
Pulling up outside the shop I know Genevieve works at, I shut off the engine and exit the vehicle. It doesn’t take long to find Harris, and I head toward him.
“What’s going on?”
“She’s been working, nobody hanging around beside me,” he informs me. “I called up our contact at the FBI; they’re going to make a move on Manny. I gave them everything we found, even the confession from Paulo. He’s waiting on a call from his team.”
“So the bastards will possibly be arrested before we even leave here?” I ask, wondering if that will truly be the end of our fight with the goddamned cartel. Manny was a dick, but he didn’t strike me as a leader of anything. Yes, he was all talk, showing off his guns, bringing in guys, and clearly getting the better of us in the fight, but there was something off about him.
“Let’s hope so,” Harris tells me before I head into the shop. The door causes the bell to tinkle at our entrance, and Gen glances up before offering a smile.
“Cass,” she says, coming around the counter to hug me. It’s a one-armed, friendly hug, and I’m thankful she’s given up on trying to get into my bed. For a long while, Damien would take a bite of the red apple, but once Nesrin walked into his life, that all changed. Quickly.
I take her in, noting there are no scars, no bruises. “Are you okay?”
“Of course, why?” she asks, and I can’t stop my assessment of her. Pupils aren’t dilated; she looks alert as if she’s had a fairly normal morning. Except she now has us in her shop.
“There’s just been a threat hanging around Thorne Haven. He’s targeting women,” I tell her honestly. I would never be able to lie to Gen; she can smell bullshit a mile away.
“Honestly, I haven’t seen shit go down in this town for a long time. Last night I was in bed by eight, and this morning, I was up late, racing to work. When I got in, I only had Hadley here, but there hasn’t been anything out of the ordinary happening.”
“You, in bed by eight?” I tease, a chuckle vibrating my chest. Gen has always been a party girl. She opened the shop a few years ago when her folks died, but other than that, she’s always enjoyed her drink, her late nights, and company for the evening who she then discards as soon as the sun rises.
“Shockingly,” she says with a smile. “If I see anything off, I’ll give you a call, Cass. Thanks for checking up on me.”
“No problem.” I turn to walk out of the shop, but Gen calls to me, stopping me before I reach the door.
“How is Kalyn doing?”
I didn’t think they were friends or even liked each other. Most girls in town don’t get along with Gen. But her concern is welcome. “She’s doing better. It’s not easy for her to be here with her folks in LA.”
“I meant…” Gen shakes her head. “How is she doing with the drugs?”
Sighing, I shrug. “One day at a time, I guess,” I tell her. There’s nothing more I can say. It’s not something that you can just get over. Even though the pain killers I took earlier have done their job, it’s not the same for Kaly. “But I’m with her, so she’s not alone.”
“She’s lucky to have you, Cass.”
“I know.” I wink when she laughs out loud. “See you around.” When I step out into the rain that’s started pelting down, I find Harris on his phone. I gesture for him to slip into the passenger seat of my car to get out of the rain while I slide into the driver’s side.
“Okay. That’s good news. Thank you for letting me know,” he says into the speaker, and I find relief washing through me. It must be Manny being locked up tight; that’s good news because I can’t imagine anything else fitting into that category right now.
I pull out my phone and tap out a message to Finn to let him know Gen is fine. They’ve been fairly close over the years, so I know he’ll be worried. By the time I slip my phone back into my pocket, Harris has hung up his call.
“They got Manny at the pier,” he tells me. “Looks like he’s been docked down there for a few weeks. They’ve found a few girls stowed away.”
“Do I want to know more about that?” I ask, my fingers curling around the steering wheel as anger takes hold of me.
“No.”
“Paulo?”
“Also taken in. He’s singing like a choir bird now that he’s got the threat of real jail time. I doubt he’ll be out any time soon, even if he does give the feds anything.”
Nodding, I start the engine. “I’ll see you tonight for a debrief. Even though Manny is behind bars, I don’t want to let down our guard. Also, can you get someone on Kalyn’s folks in California?”
“I’ve already done that,” he tells me. “Finn mentioned you’ll need that done. I have to contact him to make sure we’re good to go. All the clubs have been shut down, including the studio, which means her mom will be returning to Thorne Haven. The dad, we’ll have to wait and see what happens with his treatment before we can make any decisions.”
“Sounds good,” I tell him before he exits the vehicle and leaves me alone to think on the past few hours. It feels like Kalyn and I haven’t had time to really get reacquainted, but it’s time I changed that.
35
Kalyn
By the time Cassian returns, I’m out of my mind with worry. But the moment he walks into the room, he doesn’t speak; he makes a beeline for me. A predator about to devour its prey. I’m on the bed, so it’s not difficult for him to pounce.
“Fuck, I’ve missed you,” he growls as his mouth captures mine before I can ask what happened. He nestles himself between my thighs, his hardness pressing against me, sending heat coursing through my veins.
“W-what happened?” I mumble in between his assault on my lips.
“Manny and Paulo are behind bars,” he informs me as if he’s talking about the weather. “Can we not talk about this right now?” he asks before I can ask anything more. His hands are on me, tugging at the tee I found earlier in his closet. I love wearing his clothes; it makes me feel closer to him.
“Cassian—”
“I always thought I would be your savior, and most of our lives together, I wasn’t, but for the first time, I feel like the hero.” He smiles at me, the brightness of his joy sinking into me, sending warmth coursing through my veins.
But his words have my brows creasing in confusion. “What are you talking about?”
He pulls away slowly, his expression turning serious, and I realize there’s more to what he just said than I thought. He settles in and sighs—long and deep—before he locks those teal orbs on me.
“You saved me. I was so lost, so broken for such a long time. And you were the one who saved me first.”
I remember him telling me that the night we met, he wanted to end his life, but I still don’t see myself as his heroine. I’m merely a girl who fell for the boy who stole her heart.
“Let’s call it even,” I tease as I leap up and wrap my legs around him. “We saved each other.” He smiles at my words, and his harsh grip on my ass confirms he needs me as much as I do him. “Cassian.” His name is a whimper of need as his mouth captures one of my nipples and sucks on it until my hips undulate beneath him. His teeth graze along the hardened bud, tugging until I’m crying out in pleasure.
My panties are torn from my hips with a bite of pain that causes me to wince, and suddenly, two fingers are deep inside me. Cassian presses against that spot, sending sparks through every nerve in my body and causing my toes to curl and my eyes to roll back.
“Fuck,” Cass growls against my skin as he trails his lips over to my other nipple and mimics the teasing that sends me soaring to the edge. My orgasm is just out of reach because the moment my body pulses aroun
d Cassian’s fingers, he slows his movements. A growl vibrates through his chest, my core throbs with the need to come. Those teal eyes stare up at me from between my thighs.
A cry of pure agony rips from my lips when he pulls his fingers from me to bring them to my lips. He paints my arousal over them before crashing his mouth over mine and licking at me as if I were the most deliciously decadent dessert he’s ever tasted.
“This is what I will spend my life ensuring you feel. Nothing will ever tear us apart,” he promises before his cock presses against my entrance. The hardness slowly dipping into me. My arousal ensures his movements are easy, and he slips inside, sending me into an abyss of pure euphoria that shoots through every inch of me.
He doesn’t move.
I snap my eyes open, meeting those gentle, affectionate eyes he’s always looked at me with. For years, I spent nights fantasizing about him above me, his body cocooning me, and for a moment, it’s almost dream-like.
“Hey,” Cassian says, bringing me out of my thoughts and into the present. “You’re mine.” It’s a promise I know he’ll forever remind me of because once he’s convinced himself of something, there’s no stopping him or changing his mind. “I love you, Kalyn, more than anything in this world.” His admission fills my heart with warmth and clogs my throat with emotion.
“I know because I love you too, Cassian.” A smile dances on my lips when he slides out, then slams back in, stealing my breath, forcing a gasp of need to fall from my lips. He does it again, then again, and by the fourth time, my body is shaking.
“You’re beautiful,” he whispers against my lips. “So, fucking beautiful, it hurts to look at you.” His words are a balm to my soul. I spent too long listening to a man who was happy to tell me how inadequate I was. Paulo convinced me I was worth nothing. Only when I was high did he ever want me.
“Cassian, please make me forget,” I plead, my hands cupping his cheeks, holding him steady as he stares at me. There’s no need for more words because our bodies move in sync. Cassian’s hips move back before we connect once more. The way he stretches me, opens me for his cock, has my toes curling and my nails scraping down his back until I hear him hiss.
“Fuck, little liar,” he growls, his lips brushing along mine as his tongue darts out and teases along the seam of my mouth. “I’m going to fill you up,” he promises, causing my back to arch.
“Do it, please,” I beg. It’s like heaven. It’s almost as if I’m high, but this time, it’s a healthier drug than any I’ve taken before. This time, the high that tastes far too sweet is love.
Cassian fucks me then—hard and unrelenting.
My nails dig into his shoulders. His hot breath tickles my lips, and he steals them with a kiss that deepens with every drive of his hips. Our bodies are fluid, joined so closely, we’re one person. The pleasure that courses through me is indescribable, and the moment Cassian bites down on my lower lip, tugging the flesh toward him, the sting of pain sends me soaring over the edge, and I cry out his name.
The mumbled sound is nothing more than a moan of happiness. He throbs, his hips slamming into me, and a rumble of feral pleasure vibrates against me when I feel him pulse inside me; the warmth of his release causes me to shatter once more, and I know we’re forever bound.
Not only by pleasure.
But by love.
Epilogue
Kalyn
Four months later
It’s been a long while since I’ve felt true happiness.
And Cassian’s given me that emotion.
He’s gifted me with something I never thought I’d have again—a family.
But even though the sun is once again shining in my life, there is a dark cloud that seems to hang around. This time, it’s my father. The table is set for eight—me, Cass, Finn, their dad and his wife, my mom, Damien and Nesrin.
A month ago, I said goodbye to Dad, and they were all there to hold me. To support me. And I’d never felt more loved in times of heartache than I did that day. Even my mother was astounded at the affection we received.
I got to say goodbye, face-to-face when he came home to Thorne Haven. He went to sleep one night and didn’t wake up. Usually, I would deal with the pain by getting high, but that’s in the past.
I gaze at each face around the table, and I remind myself I am loved. It’s not easy letting go of an addiction, even when you’re happy and cared for. And every day is a battle, a moment where I could fall back into the same pattern, where I could choose a high instead of facing my demons. But so far, I’ve been strong.
Cassian’s hand grips my thigh, and he offers a reassuring squeeze, catching my attention. His eyes burn through me, and I smile.
“Are you okay?” he whispers in my ear, and I nod.
Looking into the eyes that have forever saved me, I smile. “Yeah, I am.” And it’s the truth. I’ve been going to therapy and focusing on healing myself. When I told Doctor Ulrich I needed help, I meant it. Cassian’s been beside me every step of the way. After spending a month in and out of the hospital, I’ve learned to focus my pain and talk it out rather than keeping it bottled in.
In the past, I wouldn’t tell anyone how I was feeling, not even Cassian, but now, it’s the first thing I do. We even have time set aside to talk every night, and Cass lets me get everything out.
He offers me an affectionate grin that has my heart filling with love. “He will always watch over you. I know it’s hard, especially with Christmas and the holidays, but we’re here,” he tells me, his hand holding mine before he brings it to his lips and places a soft kiss on my knuckles.
“There’s no doubt; I’m loved and surrounded by family,” I tell him. “And I’m so much stronger now, I don’t need…” I allow my words to taper off because I don’t need to tell Cassian anything more; he knows. He always knows what’s on my mind, sometimes even before I know it.
“I know,” he whispers before he turns back to the table and we dig into the delicious meal. The rest of dinner is filled with laughs, chatter about gifts and opening them, and of course, the Thorne Haven party that will ring in the new year.
I didn’t think I’d be so excited about the future.
There’d been a long time where I was lost, where I thought I needed a high to get through it. But even then, even when I was at my lowest, it was Cassian’s support that got me through.
“I’d like to make a toast,” Mr. Thorne says before pushing his chair back, he rises in one fluid motion. Lifting the flute of bubbly golden liquid, he smiles at each person. “This is a time for family. It’s always been our wish to have everyone at one table. Long after the boys’ mother died, I spent so much time alone; I didn’t think a happy family was possible, but now, we’ve only grown, and I’m so proud of all three of my sons. Welcome to the family, Kalyn and her mom, Astrid.” He offers a smile as everyone lifts their glasses in a cheer to us.
By the time Cassian and I head to bed, I’m exhausted from the long day. He slides under the covers beside me and pulls me closer, his arms wrapping around my waist, which immediately warms me.
“I have something for you,” Cass whispers, which makes me laugh because I can feel his hardness pressing against my ass. “Not that, little liar.” His growl sends a shiver down my spine.
“Then what do you have, handsome?” I question, rolling over in his arms to face him. His expression turns serious when he takes me in, and for a moment, panic twists in my gut.
“I’ve had this for years. I bought it for your birthday before you left, but that night, I never got to give it to you,” he murmurs, his words making my chest ache when I remember that night.
Cassian grabs a box from the drawer beside the bed before handing it to me. Scooting up, I take the item, a sleek velvet box. I snap the lid and find a gold necklace resting on the cushion inside. There’s a pendant hanging from the chainin the shape of a large, shimmering gold star. There’s a diamond in the center, shining as I lift it against the dim light in the bedro
om.
“This is… this is incredible, Cass.” My voice is a whisper of awe. I’ve never seen anything like it, and when I turn it over, there’s a small inscription—For my North star. I love you—with the date below it. My seventeenth birthday.
As I blink, tears fall easily down my cheeks. I fucked up so much when I lied. I should have been stronger that night. I should have listened to Cassian and stopped with the drugs and alcohol.
“Hey,” he says, drawing my attention to him. “I love you,” he whispers, causing my heart to leap into my throat at his admission.
“I love you too,” I tell him earnestly. It’s the most honest thing I’ve ever said. “I’ve loved you since I first saw you; I just didn’t realize it then.”
“Now you do?” he quips playfully as he takes the chain and laces it around my neck. Once the clasp is in place, I turn to press my lips to his in a gentle kiss.
“Now I do, and I’ll never let you forget it.” I smile, rolling him onto his back and straddling his hips. “I don’t ever want to lose you,” I murmur as I lean in and steal his lips.
Cassian deepens the kiss, his hands gripping my ass, squeezing until I whimper into his mouth. I don’t think we’ll get much sleep tonight, but I’d rather be losing precious minutes of sleep with Cassian than doing anything else.
Cassian
One year later
I’m pacing in my office when the door opens, and Finn saunters in, looking like he’s just been told his puppy died. The corners of his mouth have dipped in a frown as he settles in one of the wingback chairs opposite my desk. I stop, look at him, and arch a brow in question.
“Did I ever mention how much I hate Dad?” he complains as he leans back in the chair, his hands behind his head as he looks up at the ceiling.
“What’s happened now?” With Damien and I handling Thorne Industries, Finn has decided to leave the family business. When he told our father that he was no longer interested in being a suit, it didn’t go down well, but finally, Dad agreed and gave Finn the option of doing his own thing.