Besides, he understands my worries and is ready to appease my concerns. But I already knew this.
“I promise they’ll never witness this kind of behavior. I’ll never hurt your babies or you . . .” he trails off as if it’s too hard to finish the thought.
“The honorable man is the one who gives his word and keeps it.”
Long dark eyelashes brush his cheeks like wings of butterflies when he closes them shut to rein in his emotions. But then, he opens them, and I see the sunlight beaming at me and my own army of butterflies bats their wings inside my belly.
“I’d rather shred the skin off my bones than become him.”
“I know, and I get it, why you fought with Lucas too. He was edging for it. I can’t blame you. I just didn’t expect you to lose control that easy.”
He kisses my temple and walks to the bathroom to change.
“Can you put on a T-shirt or something? You might cause some brawl in the street if anyone sees you like this.”
His lips tug at the corners as my demand spills from my lips full of fierce possessiveness. This man might have claimed me whole, but so did I, and I won’t allow any monsters to touch him.
“Sir, paparazzi are gathered outside. We’ll go with you in case they get too aggressive.”
Mark nods, and they make arrangements.
“How do they know where we are?” My eyebrows crease as an uneasy feeling creeps up my spine.
“Bastard’s sending us a message. Showing his upper hand.”
“Who is he, exactly?”
“Lester Belington,” he spits out, yanking his clothes on. Something else nags at the back of my mind, but I can’t remember what it is, so I let it go.
As soon as we leave his condo, we’re attacked by the crowd, charging toward us. My neck prickles in awareness and my belly tightens, watching them swarm us like insects’ circle food.
“Cassandra Cade! Cassandra, Mark! Mr. Lawson, answer us a few questions!”
The onslaught of the lights flash in my face as the crowd presses around us. The chaos quickly becomes disorientating and confusing. The crowd keeps shouting and snapping pictures of us, blinding me. My inhalations become shallow, my legs start to tingle from all the adrenaline. If not for Mark covering me from the crowd, I would have collapsed.
“Cassandra, can you deny the accusations of you being a gold digger?”
Mark’s security detail appears from nowhere and surrounds us, cutting through the mass of paparazzi before I can answer.
“Is it true you married Logan Cade only to receive his inheritance?”
The pain like blade digs into my chest. I gasp into Mark’s shirt, drawing in his musky scent and the crispy cleanliness.
“Were your children part of the agreement to inherit his riches?”
The blood leaves my face and my legs give out beneath me. But someone seizes my armpits before I tumble down to the ground.
“Are you with Mark Lawson because he’s inherited billions too? Why have you set your sights on this family? Haven’t they suffered enough?”
My chest heaves, unable to draw in a breath, and my vision starts to dot.
Everything blurs. The questions, the verbal attack, and the scent of blood blasts in my mouth as I bite my lip, fighting nausea. Finally, the shock numbs me, and I space out, floating in the bubble until the door shuts us inside the car with dark windows. Everything rushes back, and I feel like hands are on my throat, squeezing the living shit out of me.
“Breathe, breathe with me, Cassandra. Through your nose, that’s right, exhale through your mouth. Once again, listen to my voice, concentrate . . .”
My eyes flicker to Lucas behind the wheel. He seems in control of the situation, and it brings me a reprieve. Navigating through the sea of flashing lights and people jumping on the car with their cameras, he seems to handle everything with ease. Leif sits next to him in the front. He twists to look at me. Concern shines in his light green eyes as he reaches for my hand to squeeze. I start to tremble, and my teeth begin to clatter.
“ . . . on me, bird. Inhale deep and exhale slowly.” I realize Mark is the one who’s talking to me, demanding to follow his command, as he tries to pull me back from the chaos outside. “Shut them out, close your eyes, and take one breath at a time.” And we repeat the process until we escape the sea of reporters and my breaths become normal.
The panic subsides, but as soon as I open my eyes, my tears surge like a wave of a storm and blast through me. All my pent-up emotions erupt in torrents of helpless anguish.
“Call your parents to tell them to expect reporters and turn on the news. This will be on every news channel,” Mark snaps, and to my surprise, Leif doesn’t argue.
I curl up in Mark’s lap and close my eyes, allowing fatigue to do the job and drag me into the darkness away from the real-life dramas. His arms stroke my back, bringing me comfort and the timbre of his voice soothes me to sleep.
~Mark~
I watch Leif quietly talking with his father. From my angle, I can’t tell how Darren’s reacting to the news or what he’s saying. But Lucas keeps casting his gaze toward his twin, those eyebrows drawn in a line and his lips flat with irritation.
This paparazzi attack isn’t random. No, this was premeditated, like the break-in and the video. Lester fed the sharks with raw meat, and they came straight for us. This paparazzi attack was a warning, a show of power. He’s going to make us dance to his tune.
“Dad said there are plenty of reporters at the gates, waiting for our arrival. He arranged the security detail to guard the house, so we should be safe inside. Someone will open the gates for us upon our arrival, and Helen picked up the kids early from school.”
Leif’s hair falls into his eyes as he twists to look at me. His pale gaze darkens as he watches her petite form curled in my lap, sleeping.
“Mark, all of this might be too much for her to handle.”
I nod, knowing well she had enough issues in the past. Stress is something she should avoid, and this media attention might drag her into a dark place if not careful.
“I love her, Leif. She means the world to me, and I’ll protect her with everything I have. You don’t get to tell me I’m not good enough for her. I won’t leave her. It’s too late for that.”
“That’s not what I’m saying,” he breathes out. “Dating you will come with a lot of negative press and attention. She needs peace to heal. I want her happy.”
“So do I.”
Until I destroy my enemy, I won’t be able to give her what she needs. With Belington roaming free, I’m sure this chaos isn’t over. But leaving her isn’t an option.
“Okay, we’re here. Brace yourself, they’re even more aggressive than at your condo,” Lucas grumbles.
He’s right. My men jump out of their cars to help security at the gates to make way for us to pass into the driveway. I relax when the gates click shut, leaving them behind.
Cassandra jerks awake a little bit confused at first. “Are we at home?”
I nod, brushing away the hair from her pale face and enveloping her shoulders with my jacket.
We don’t waste time for talking. Instead, as soon as security surrounds us, we rush inside. As we enter the living room, the kids rush to her like two bullets, almost toppling her to the ground. My hands steady them as I watch their eyes sparkle with happiness.
“Mommy, Mommy, you’re back!” Cassandra hoists Leon on her hip and kisses his raven head smiling.
“I am. Have you done your homework yet?”
He shakes his head, playing with her necklace.
“Hi,” Liane greets me, while her brother talks with Cassandra.
The girl looks like a cherub angel with the lightest hair I’ve ever seen. I lower down to her level while she stares at me with those incredible eyes just like her father’s as if she can see straight through me.
“I know you.” She crooks her head sideways. “You came over the other night.”
I nod.
“Nice to meet you again. Your mommy talks about you all the time.”
“Do you want to give a hug to Mark, sweetie?” She raises her eyes to her and shyly nods. “Go ahead.”
She steps closer, brushing her hair from her face.
“I’m Mark, your mom’s friend. We work together.”
Liane stretches her hand to touch my face, her curious fingers trailing over my hair. “What do you do?”
“We publish books.”
Her eyes round in astonishment.
“Do you like reading?”
She nods. “A lot.”
I pull out from my overnight bag children’s books I’d brought from home, hoping her kids would love them.
She giggles. “Is this for me?”
I nod, and she presses them to her chest.
“Would you read with me later?”
“Of course.”
Her eyes lit up with excitement. I wink at her as she keeps flicking her messy hair over her shoulder.
“You definitely need to braid your hair.” At my words, her eyes round in horror and she steps back, bumping into Leif’s legs.
“I’m okay, thank you.”
A twinge of longing burrows into me as I watch Logan’s daughter full of childish happiness I’ve never experienced as a kid. She screeches when Leif bends over to whisper something into her ear, making her bounce on her feet like a happy bunny.
Leon uncurls from Cassandra’s waist and comes toward me. Those pale eyes glance at my extended hand and then my face as if gauging my intentions. But when he finally shakes it, my heart bursts with a warmth I wasn’t ready to experience.
While I still filter through emotions, his little hands coil around my neck. Not knowing what to do, I stay motionless, but when his small form melts into mine, so does my resolve. Something powerful tugs at my heartstrings as I realize Lucas and Leif might be right about me. My heart wants what doesn’t belong to me.
This situation is so fucked up. My eyes burn, and my chest tightens with inner conflict, but I have no will to push him away. Not after his sister squeezes her little frame next to her brother’s and lays her head in the crook of my neck. I feel whole and mighty and so damn overwhelmed. This is what it feels like to have a family, home, and be loved. And Logan had everything, died knowing what it’s like to have a piece of heaven.
“You smell nice,” Liane whispers as her brother asks, “Would you like to play football?”
I chuckle at Leon and nod since I’ll never win him over otherwise.
“Of course, we can play later.”
Excitement shines in his pale eyes as he looks at his sister, pondering something.
“Liane can play with us too, even if she’s a girl.”
“You’re so mean, Leon! I’m better then you at football.” She crosses her arms over her chest, sulking. “I won’t share my books with you,” she pouts.
“Okay, okay, we’ll play with you.” He winds his hands around her, and she shows him her new books. They start flipping through the pages.
“Hey, guys, Mark and Mommy need to talk with your grandparents, all right? Go play a little bit.”
They nod, hugging her legs and running upstairs like two energy balls.
“That went well.” Cassandra smiles at me. Her eyes shine with joy as I rise to my height and kiss those lips that are still too pale. I linger, needing to reassure myself she isn’t running, and I won’t lose her.
Our heads twist toward the stairs, hearing Darren’s raised voice, arguing with someone on the phone.
“Just two more to tackle,” she breathes out, and I squeeze her form, planning to fight by her side.
19
Battle
~Mark~
From their sour expressions, I can tell this will be an awkward conversation to have. Helen’s piercing gaze scans us both, standing side by side, and it begins to burn with cold, hostile fire. When she turns to her daughter-in-law, my skin prickles in awareness. She moves toward her with hatred permeating her perfect façade, and then she curls her lip in distaste and slaps her across the face.
“Helen,” I roar and push Cassandra behind me while the chaos of shouts erupts around us.
Tears trail down her shocked face as she holds her glowing cheek, gasping. Positioning myself between them, I block Cassandra from Helen’s view, determined to protect her.
“Move away, Mark, and let me talk with my slutty daughter-in-law.”
I stay rooted to the spot, burning with resentment for the only mother I ever knew.
Cassandra’s hand touches my back, and she rests her forehead against it like she needs a moment to process. My hand cups her hip, pressing her against my back to provide her with support.
“You don’t get to treat her like this, Mrs. Cade. Remember your place.”
She flinches, hearing a threat in my firm tone.
“Have you seen the video? If it gets out . . . our son’s memory will be tainted. That dirty sex tape is a disgrace to our legacy. This family will be stained by her depraved tastes, reputation trampled in the dirt. After so many years building this empire, our reputation will be tarnished by this—” Her lip curls in distaste.
“You better not finish that sentence, Helen,” I roar and she jerks back, gasping. “How about the fact I was the one who fucked your daughter-in-law, bound and at my mercy? She wasn’t the only one enjoying decadent pleasures.”
Helen’s neck becomes bright red as she tries to curb her feelings and push them under the ladylike façade.
“Mark,” I hear a whisper of warning from behind as if she’s begging to end this. She’s vulnerable today, and this family’s adding to the shitstorm.
“Do you want to crack my cheek also for degrading your son’s widow?” I’m done treating Helen like she needs to be handled with kid’s gloves. “Because I’m the one with perverted tastes and low morale, and your daughter-in-law was seduced by my dark desires.”
She swallows the lump in her throat and looks away because I’m her son too. I’m part of this fucked up family and damned legacy.
“Mark, take care, brother, will you?” Lucas moves to his mother, giving me a disapproving gaze as a warning.
“My wife is right, Mark. This kind of scandal won’t reflect well on us. They might stream the record anyway, and this way benefit from our downfall. This is now an inevitable outcome. We’re in their hands and whatever they demand they’ll get.”
Darren walks to the cabinet and pours some whiskey in his glass, chugging it in one gulp. His skin looks gray and his eyes are sunken from stress as if this situation sucked years out of him.
“Is it true that you and my son signed papers about you producing him children for the chance to inherit his wealth?”
Helen is on a rampage today. This family’s going to tear her apart if I don’t stop them. Cassandra steps around me.
“You and your husband are in control of our inheritance. You tell me, did we or didn’t we sign such an agreement? Because I’m starting to believe it isn’t beyond this family to trick me into signing such documents. I wouldn’t know the truth, would I? I lost not only my husband that night but most of my memories too.”
“How dare you accuse us of such things!”
“No, Helen, how dare you to treat me like I don’t belong? Like I’m the one who doesn’t deserve the name of this family. What do I need to do more to earn a sliver of respect or be considered a true Cade?”
“Nothing!” she spits the word, shaking, and Cassandra straightens her back, not backing away from the matriarch. “You’ll never be one of us, never! I’m their mother, who carried them in my womb, fed them, loved them, treated their wounds, and encouraged them to be better people. What have you sacrificed to deserve it?” she screams.
“I almost died with him!” she trembles, forcing back a sob. “I bled next to him, Helen. I didn’t kill him. I wanted to make him happy, and he wanted to show me the world.” Cassandra gasps as if admitting this, she lodged a knif
e into her soul. A tremor shakes her frame, but she straightens with resolve shining in her pale eyes.
Unable to stay away from her, I move closer as if my nearness could absorb her anguish and lend her strength.
“I loved your son with everything I am. We were happy once.” She forces the words out. “But somehow, you forgot I’m not only his wife but the mother of his children too.” Their gazes connect for one moment, and I see, one mother's sorrow like a tide flowing to another mother’s hollow abyss. The pain of loss is still fresh to them.
“Logan was an incredible man, father, good brother. But this doesn’t give you the right to treat me like trash. I won’t allow you to come into my home and try to make me feel like I do not deserve to live. Not in front of my children, sister, or your sons. Do not treat me like I’m nobody, unworthy to exist next to you. I tried to soothe your pain, but you used me like I don’t matter.”
Wails pour out of Helen and Lucas hooks his arms around her legs and carries her upstairs to settle down for the night.
Cassandra collapses in my arms the moment they leave as if this conversation sucked out all the strength of her body. I carry her to the sofa.
“Is she all right?” Darren asks from behind as Leif brings her water and pushes the glass into her shaking hands.
“This was intense.” Leif looks tortured and not his usual self either as I try to help her drink. He rubs his neck, concerned for both women. “But I guess necessary too.”
Dammit, she looks so numb and drained. “She needs to rest,” I tell him, sinking importance in my demand. “I’ll take her upstairs. Show me her bedroom.”
I watch Leif internally debate what to do and then he glances at his father for approval. “Yeah, let’s go.”
~Cassandra~
Tasteless. Hopeless. Merciless.
Those words bounce in my brain, mocking me in misery this morning. My children play with Mark in the garden to distract them from the fact I’m not myself. Mark is excellent with kids, but my mind is in turmoil, and sadness is dragging me into a dark pit. I feel like I reached my limits like I have nothing to draw onto, nothing to give anymore.
Tangled IN LIES (Book#3, IN YOU) Page 20