by Laura Morgan
“Morning, Mr. Sanchez. What can I do for you?”
“I need you to pack my wife a weekend bag. We’re going away for a few days.” He decided not to tell his trusty henchman where. Victor knew he was taking a risk by going to Leo’s party, but he had to know if all of this was real. He would put his wife to one final test of loyalty before he could fully put his trust in her.
Cassie had asked for no explanation for their trip when she joined him at the limo. Victor was glad she’d learned to bite her tongue, and now knew better than to question. He couldn't deal with her accusations today, bristling so visibly that they made their way to the runway in tense silence.
The pair of them, along with Victor’s group of top henchmen, boarded his plane and took off. They didn’t need to worry about check-in times and passport control, and Victor could tell she enjoyed traveling this way. Her fears of flying seemed long gone now, and he knew they’d been replaced with far more real fears thanks to Victor’s domineering nature and consistent threats.
He softened a little once they were on board, but she seemed to know he was wound up, so showered him with kisses and affection once they were settled. He enjoyed the distraction and let her keep him busy in bed as the miles disappeared, her body completely at his command.
When they neared New York, Victor climbed out of bed to make them both a drink. He slipped a strong sedative into her coffee as he stirred in the sugar, watching with a satisfied smirk as she drank it down. As soon as Cassie was out cold, he instructed Grayson to get her ready for the cool weather on the other side.
Victor watched as he slipped her into a warm coat and jeans in readiness for the cold, before carrying Cassie out to the main seating area. He checked to be sure she was okay, and buckled her in as they prepared for landing. After a quick passport check, the group left the private jet behind and traveled into the suburbs. Victor had rented them a large house, making sure to choose one with plenty of room for his men to stay close by during their visit.
***
By the time Cassie roused, she was lying in a strange bed. She tried to figure out her surroundings. She felt rested, but had a vile taste in her mouth, and a dizziness which let her know for sure Victor had drugged her again. She frowned when she spotted him in an armchair across the room, the dim red light of his cigar the only thing giving him away in the darkness.
“Why did you drug me, baby?” She sat up in bed, peering into the darkness. Victor said nothing. He pulled the cord to his side that opened up a huge set of curtains. The scene before Cassie quickly became clear, and she didn’t know whether to laugh or cry. “We’re in New York?” she asked, but still Victor said nothing in response to her questions.
“Get some rest. We have a long day tomorrow.” Victor stood and turned to leave, his entire demeanor sending her into a spiral of fear. She jumped off the bed and wrapped her arms around her husband’s back. Victor stopped, his hand on the doorknob. He turned to face her in the still heavy darkness of the bedroom.
“Why are we here, baby?” She leaned closer, kissing his lips in an attempt to read his mood. Victor pushed her away. Cassie’s breath caught in her throat, and she began to cry. “Why are we here, Victor?” she asked again, louder and more insistent. He stepped forward, grabbing her face in his hands and yanking her toward him for an almost violent kiss.
“Because I fucking said so.” He let Cassie go, and she retreated. She slid back under the covers, where she cried herself to sleep after Victor headed back downstairs.
***
The next morning Cassie awoke to Grayson’s warm smile as he stood over her, and she tried her best to smile back. She’d had the worst night’s sleep since before Victor had come into her life, and knew she must look terrible. Grayson said nothing, offering her coffee and a bowl of chopped fruit with yogurt, which she wolfed down in record speed. She hadn’t realized how hungry she was until the spoon hit her lips.
She showered and dressed, waiting for Victor to come get her, and it felt like hours. All the while Cassie looked across the water at the vast metropolis she had once called home. She yearned to go into the city and see her friends, to catch up with Mrs. Brown, Hanna, and Jamie. Especially Leo. Part of her even wanted to check on how Jonah was doing, but for now she knew she’d have to sit and wait for Victor to tell her why they were here, or what he wanted from her. Either way, Cassie could not be sure if it was going to be a good visit or not.
Victor came storming into the bedroom later that afternoon, with a dress bag over one arm and a box in the other.
“We’re going to a party, and I want you to wear this. I cannot stress enough how important it is that you stay by my side at all times during this event, Cassie. Is that understood?”
She climbed off the bed and took the items from him, forcing herself to smile, even though she could tell he was still in a bad mood.
“Of course, I won’t leave your side. I promise,” she replied, kissing his cheek softly. “What’s wrong, baby?”
Victor ignored her question and left her to get ready.
Inside the bag was a stunning black lace gown with a high front that covered her cleavage, but it had an open back, and was so long it dragged along the floor behind her. In the box were shoes and a jacket to match, and a mask. It was the sort of filigree design she’d seen many times before in the theater. It tied behind her head securely, rather than being on a pole for her to hide behind only when necessary. Cassie knew Victor must want her face hidden. This mask covered more than half her features. She knew she’d need her hair pinned back to accommodate it, which was an easy task for Grayson. He set about perfecting her hair and makeup, and she was glad to have him around to help.
When Cassie was ready to go, she looked in the mirror and saw a young woman, just like any other girl. She was a blank canvas, and knew that was exactly how her husband wanted it. In this outfit, she could play whatever role Victor expected of her, and she was determined not to let him down. When he came back, Victor had on a black suit, black shirt and tie. The whole outfit created a darkly seductive air, and Cassie looked him over with a smile. He looked hot, and he was all hers.
As he eyed his wife’s efforts, he smiled as though impressed. He donned his mask and held out his arm with an expectant stare. Cassie took it and followed his lead down to the car. He barely spoke during their ride to the party, but when he did, his voice was harsh and terse. He was seriously on edge.
“You can trust me, baby.” Cassie leaned in close and nestled into her husband’s neck.
“We’ll see,” he replied.
Cassie soon realized why he was so tense when their car pulled into the driveway of Leo Solomon’s house. She looked at Victor, staring at him with tears in her eyes, and she shook her head. Every bone in her body suddenly felt heavy. Daggers stabbed at her chest and stomach, dread sweeping over her in waves, and they made her feel as though she might be sick.
“I won’t go in, I don’t want to see him. Please, Victor. Is this a test?” she asked, desperate to know his plan, and he just smiled.
“Of course it is. This is the biggest test you’ll ever take, and if you pass, I’ll never question your loyalty again,” he replied, making her stomach drop. Fear gripped her in a way that shocked Cassie to her core. She began to realize at last how right Victor had been about breaking her will and owning her. She was scared to see Leo, absolutely terrified of him and what he meant to her. It was as though he was every one of her nightmares personified, and in that terrible moment Cassie hated the person she’d become.
By the time they reached the front steps, she forcibly steadied herself and took her husband’s arm, smiling sweetly at their greeters before climbing the steps to Leo’s front door. She followed Victor’s lead every step of the way, eager to show him she was telling the truth. No matter what, there was no going back. She had chosen him.
Being in the house again was surreal. Cassie had so many memories of this place. So many of her hopes and dreams st
ill lingered here, but they were forever lost. Her hand held onto Victor’s sleeve as tightly as she could without making her knuckles turn white, and together they wandered the house. He chatted with many guests along the way, whom he seemed to know through their crooked business dealings.
Cassie stayed quiet, playing the dutiful wife, but when she spotted Jamie and a very round looking Hanna standing a few feet to her right, her tiny yelp gave her away. Victor continued his conversation, while she watched her friends fawning over one another and bickering just like old times, and she longed to go to them. She was desperate to see and hug them both, but Victor maintained his control. He even began leading Cassie in the other direction after finishing his conversation, and she had to beg him to turn around.
“Very well, but you owe me,” he whispered, grinning down at her.
Cassie nodded. She was desperate for some time with her friends, so any treat would be worth giving him in return for this moment. As they reached them, Cassie gave Jamie a wink along with a dazzling smile.
“You’ve gotta be shittin’ me!” he cried, grabbing Hanna and turning her in the direction of her long lost friend, and his fiancée squealed in delight. She threw her hands around Cassie, forcing Victor to let her go for a few seconds, much to his obvious distaste. Cassie hugged Hanna tightly, but watched as Jamie eyed her husband with a scared, yet clearly vengeful stare. He greeted him politely, out of courtesy, but didn’t bother making small talk. Cassie was glad he seemed to have made a full recovery, and was obviously still working for Leo. She wanted to ask after him, but didn’t dare. She just held onto her dear friend and lapped up the affection she felt pouring into her in their embrace.
Standing there, Cassie suddenly felt very afraid that Jamie might be considering something foolish. He looked as though he wanted nothing more than to punch Victor in the face and make off with his wife. There was a purpose in his stare, but she knew he was no fool. They could all see Victor’s guards around the room, watching their every move. Most of all was the huge man who watched Cassie like a hawk, her Gentle Giant, Grayson.
Even she had figured out that if things kicked off, he would be the one to watch out for. She knew he’d not only watched over her all this time, but he’d learned her tells, and more than likely knew things about Cassie she didn’t know herself. His protective affection had given Victor one hell of an advantage, and she’d been so desperate for a comrade, she’d never even realized how dangerous her friendship was.
Having a loyal henchman who had an incredible insight into his prisoner’s psyche was worth its weight in gold to any strategist, and Grayson would no doubt track her with ease if she got away.
“You look so beautiful,” Cassie said, pulling back from her hug with Hanna and rubbing her tummy. She felt Victor’s hand return to the small of her back, gripping the low-cut edge of her dress between his thumb and forefinger in a possessive way, so Cassie was mindful not to make him jealous of her in any way, just in case.
“I’ve missed you so much. I can’t believe you’re here,” Hanna said. Her eyes flicked over to Victor, but she didn’t say anything to him. Cassie guessed he would expect a thank you from her for bringing his wife along, but Hanna was not about to inflate his ego by doing anything of the sort.
This attitude was what Cassie loved and missed about her. She remained focused on her old friend for as long as Victor would allow. They chatted for a few minutes, until a huge cheer erupted around them, and the crowd divided.
Leo waded through them like a god who had parted the sea. The men and women fawned over him and hung on his every word, cheering him on with sultry smiles and affectionate gazes. He paused when he saw faces he recognized, stopping for a quick greeting, but then carried on.
Cassie’s heart stopped when he wandered right past her, not knowing who she was. Only then did he clock Victor. Underneath her careful façade, Cassie’s mind and body were going into overdrive. Seeing Leo again after so long, and after so much had happened, sent her spiraling into a whirlwind of fear and anger, passion, and even a throb of love. She hid it all as best she could, barely smiling politely when his gaze briefly swept over her.
“Victor, so wonderful of you to have come all this way. I hope you and your wife enjoy the party,” he said, wandering away again without so much as a backward glance.
Cassie felt weak, nauseated, and heartbroken. Leo had barely looked at her, let alone shown her any sign of affection. She had paid the price for his mistakes, and now he treated her like nothing more than a stranger. The hangers-on followed him, as did the rest of the crowd, Hanna and Jamie included. Leo and his guests made their way to the terrace, where his huge cake sat awaiting his attention.
“Victor, baby, I need to use the bathroom,” Cassie whispered, fighting back her tears. He was tense, and she knew he’d been watching her every move since Leo had appeared. He seemed coiled tightly, ready to attack, and Cassie was terrified of him. She felt like this whole thing had been a terrible idea, and she wanted to run out the door, screaming and throwing things on her way. “I think we should go. I don’t want to be here,” she added, stroking his cheek gently.
The crowd of minions and whores began singing to the birthday boy, wishing him well and praising him loudly, but Victor didn’t move or say a word.
“We’re not going anywhere,” he eventually told her, before waving Grayson over to take her arm. “She needs the bathroom. I’ll be at the bar. Bring her straight back to me when she’s done,” he told his henchman, and Grayson nodded.
He led Cassie down the hall, eyeing her warily, but didn’t bother to ask what had gotten them so shaken up. She knew he must’ve seen their interaction with Leo, and couldn’t even begin to tell him how lost and angry she felt about it.
“You have one minute,” he told her when they reached the bathroom. His voice seemed cold, but Cassie nodded. She slid into the small room and didn’t bother to lock the door, knowing all too well her watcher always expected unlocked doors where she was concerned.
Inside, Cassie had a quick pee and sat for a minute, trying to regain her composure. She smiled as she felt a breeze on her face from the window beside the toilet, the slight draft cooling her hot cheeks. Looking at it, she realized the window was so large and wide open that she could easily fit through. They were on the ground floor as well, the grass on the other side just a short climb away, and she could see the gates to the mansion from here.
Cassie was suddenly filled with an overwhelming urge to shoot through the window and make a bid for freedom. She longed to feel free at last, but then a panic attack sent the air rushing from her lungs, and a stabbing pain to her chest. She’d been right earlier when she had come to realize how much power Victor had over her. She was terrified by the sheer idea of running away, and she truly hated who she had become.
“Breathe, Cassie. Just breathe,” said a voice, and she looked up into the warm brown eyes of the only friend she had in all of Mexico, Grayson. “Don’t do it. Don’t even think about it. He would never trust you again.”
“I wouldn’t. I’m too weak, GG, and I hate myself for it. Would you have stopped me?” she asked, still trembling, and Grayson nodded.
“Of course, but I would dislike doing so, and I would hate having to tell him what you’d done even more. You know I would have to,” he said, reminding Cassie that his allegiance was to Victor, not to her, and no matter what, he would always follow his boss’s orders. She wanted to sneer at Grayson and call him Victor’s lapdog, but thought better of it and bit her tongue.
“It’s a good thing I wasn’t planning on doing anything so silly then, isn’t it?”
“Yes. Don’t forget, you chose Victor over Leo a long time ago. It’s my job to keep you safe, but also to remind you of the promises you’ve made, as well as ensuring you keep them.”
“I get it, GG. Please just take me back to Victor.” Cassie washed her hands at the sink. She took a deep breath, and then held onto Grayson’s arm again. She fol
lowed his lead back to the main hallway of the mansion, where he deposited her at Victor’s side but didn’t say a word about what had happened in the bathroom, and she was grateful.
Chapter 35
The party continued around them while Victor held Cassie tightly to his side, watching everyone and everything as though they were all predators stealthily trying to get one over on him. He knew he was being paranoid, but his fraught mind was in overdrive, just like Cassie’s seemed to be.
He hated being here with her. Testing Cassie was just as hard on him, and he longed to take her back home and never look back. He’d been surprised by Leo’s reaction. He genuinely seemed unperturbed by her presence, and had not looked over at them once since making his entrance. Victor wondered if Leo had been telling him the truth when he’d promised he had no intention to try and take Cassie from him.
After a while he’d had enough of the party, and led Cassie upstairs to one of the guest rooms, needing some space and to let off some much needed steam. He knew she wanted to leave, but he wasn’t satisfied, so wanted to see if she would let him have her here in her paramour’s home. Spending some time in one of Leo’s open guestrooms was not his idea of a better alternative to the bustling party, but he pulled Cassie upstairs with him anyway. He was glad she was so agreeable. After all, he’d taught her many times she had no choice but to go along with his desires, and she did as she was told, as always.
“You remember how you wanted it hard, and you were dying to fight me off, to tell me no?” he whispered once they found a room to his liking at the end of the hall. Victor pulled Cassie’s back into him, and gripped her biceps tightly in his hands. He held her immobile and nuzzled from behind, kissing his wife’s neck, and biting her a little as he nibbled at her earlobe.