by Jacey Ward
You’ve always been dark, unscrupulous. It’s never bothered you before. Why should her words have such an effect on you?
But he knew why.
He cared what Cassie thought about him.
Stopping at the Crews’ driveway, he jumped out, pulling the keys from the ignition in one fluid motion. He pounded on the double doors with his bare fist until a maid opened it, her eyes wide and wary.
“Is John home?” he demanded.
“Who may I say is calling?”
“His old friend, Evander,” the hybrid vampire grunted, pushing his way inside. The woman grunted in protest but Evander’s long legs were already striding toward the back of the brownstone where he was sure he’d find the lawyer.
“You have a lot of balls showing up here, Evander,” John snarled when the PI threw open the door to the main floor office. “What the hell do you want? You better be here to tell me you changed your mind.”
“I came to give you your money and tell you to stop trying to contact me. Our business is done.”
John snorted contemptuously and rose from behind his desk as Evander threw a thick envelope of money on his desk.
“You must be out of your mind if you think it’s over just like that. We had a deal, buddy. You can’t just back out because you have a change of heart.”
“Sure, I can. It’s a benefit of being self-employed,” Evander retorted, spinning away. “Stop calling me.”
“I will ruin you if you don’t see this through, Evander!”
“You know, John, much better men than you have tried and failed to get rid of me. Do your worst.”
“I know about your kind, Evander. That’s why I chose you in the first place.”
The PI stood still a moment before slowly turning to confront the lawyer who smirked at him from safely behind the desk.
“You look surprised. Do you really think you beasts can run amok among us and we wouldn’t find out about you sooner or later?”
He doesn’t know anything, Evander thought reasonably. And if he does, I’ll have to end him. Oh well. He couldn’t deny that the thought made him just a teensy bit really fuckin’ happy.
“I have no idea what you’re going on about, John but there really is nothing tackier than a sore loser.”
John smiled coldly, no humor in his expression whatsoever.
“And there are other people that know too. But I’m the only one that knows about you, Evander. You’re the ace-up-my-sleeve, so to speak. So, if you want to keep your little secret, you’ll do exactly what I command you to do. And if getting rid of my bitch of a wife means draining every drop of blood from her treacherous corpse, then you’re welcome to her.”
Evander’s breaths began to deepen as his body readied for attack, his nails elongating against his palms.
Don’t make too much of a mess. You still have to get back to Cass and get rid of her threat too.
“You sound like you could use a therapist, John. Let me help you with that.”
He whipped around and flew over the desk before John had a chance to even open his mouth.
“Cassie?” he called, dropping his keys on the table near the front door. “I’m back.”
There was no answer and Evander was slightly relieved she was still hiding out in her bedroom. It gave him more time to clean himself up a bit.
He padded toward the kitchen and dampened a paper towel. He dabbed at droplets of dried blood that marred his shirt as he headed toward her room.
“Cass?” he called again, sticking his head down the hallway. “Are you hungry? I can whip up some paninis if you want.”
There was still no response and Evander felt a prickle of worry.
“Cassandra? Can you just say something? A yes or no will suffice.”
He made his way down the hall and up the stairs to the second floor, pausing to knock on her door.
“Cass!” he snapped, his patience expiring. “You can’t ignore me forever.”
Silence met his words and he grunted to himself.
She probably fell asleep, he thought, trying the door. To his relief it wasn’t locked and he pushed it open, peering inside.
The room was completely dark.
Full worry attacked his body and he hurried toward the ensuite bathroom which was open and empty.
“Cassandra!” he yelled. “Are you here?”
He flipped on the track lighting to the guest bedroom and peered around, his heart thudding dangerously in his chest.
“Aw, fuck…” he muttered, noting her cell phone and purse still on the night stand. “CASSIE!”
He whirled and bolted out of the room, shoving open every door in the condo, looking for a sign of his lover. But as one room proved as empty as the next, Evander was forced to accept the horrible truth.
Cassie was gone.
Chapter 10
Cassie looked at her watch for the third time, rubbing her hands over her arms.
I need to get back upstairs before he gets back or he’s going to flip his lid, Cassie thought, once more glancing at her watch. What is taking her so long?
It bothered her that Circe had requested such a secret meeting, but Cassie was hardly in a place to argue when her boss was footing the bill for her protection. The text had come in unexpectedly not long after Evander had left and very cryptically read:
Cassie had stared at the request for a full minute, debating whether to call Circe what to do.
The texts came from Circe’s phone and the crisp tone was certainly one that Cassie recognized as her boss’ but she couldn’t help but feel uneasy, especially when Evander had warned her to stay put before he left.
I should text Evander and let him know where I am.
Dammit! She had forgotten her cell upstairs, but she would be back in a minute…wouldn’t she?
Suddenly, Cassie was consumed with fear. The only reason she could imagine Circe being so evasive and frantic was because Evander suddenly couldn’t be trusted.
This is such a nightmare. I can’t trust anyone besides Circe.
“Cassie!”
She spun at the sound of her name, the hairs on the back of her neck rising when she saw who it was.
“W-what are you doing here?” she demanded as the sleek black Mercedes slowed beside her. “How did you know I was here?”
Lisette looked around nervously and waved at her from the backseat.
“Circe wanted me to come and get you. Get in the car. It’s dangerous for you to be out here.”
Cassie stared at her, eyes narrowed.
“Where is Circe?”
“She’s waiting for us,” Lisette insisted, waving harder for her to come near. “Just get in. We don’t have much time.”
Cassie stared at her, weighing her options.
“Where is she waiting?”
Her assistant stared at her in surprise.
“It’s me, Cassie, Lisette! You know me. I’m not going to hurt you. Just get in the car.”
“Why didn’t she come?”
“Oh God, Cass, we don’t have time for this. If that guy comes back…”
Cassie’s eyes narrowed.
“That guy?” she echoed, thinking of Evander and his warning that Lisette might somehow be involved. “What guy?”
Confusion filled Lisette’s face and her mouth parted again to respond but no words came out.
“Circe didn’t send you, did she?” Cassie mumbled, backing away from the car.
“She did!” Lisette growled. “You can call her. Here. Use my phone.”
She held up her iPhone from inside the car and Cassie hesitated, her eyes darting about as she tried to make sense of what was happening.
“I-I don’t have my phone or purse with me,” Cassie said slowly. “Let me just run upstairs and get everything.”
/> Out of the corner of her eye, she saw the flash of headlights traveling down the street and the blonde exhaled with relief. Evander was home.
But is that good or bad? If Circe is really trying to get me away from him…
“There’s no time!” Lisette’s voice was beginning to take on a fever pitch. She opened the car door and stepped into the alleyway.
“What are you doing?” Cassie demanded, her stomach flipping as her assistant rose to her full height of nearly six feet.
“I’m trying to bring you to safety,” Lisette said quietly, gliding toward her, heels clicking ominously against the pavement.
“I-I just need to go get my—” the words died on her lips as she saw the cold, silver steel in Lisette’s hands.
“I didn’t want to do this,” Lisette sighed. “Please, stop making this any more difficult than it needs to be, Cassie. Just get in the car.”
Cassie opened her mouth to scream but Lisette raised the weapon fully and pointed it at her face.
“You don’t want to do that,” she muttered. “I’m not going to tell you again, Cassie. Get. In. The. Car.”
Evander was right. I needed to be suspicious of everyone. Including Circe? Could she be behind this?
“I really don’t want to shoot you, Cassie, but you’re beginning to leave me no choice.”
Cassie gulped back the lump in her throat and nodded, hurrying toward the waiting car and slid inside as Lisette pressed the barrel of the gun to the small of her back.
“Is that really necessary?” she snapped, turning her head to glare at the girl. “I’m in the car.”
Lisette didn’t respond but she turned to the driver.
“Let’s go.”
Cassie turned to stare at the man in the driver’s seat, her mind racing. There was something elusively familiar about him, something—
“You’re a hard woman to get a hold of,” Lisette muttered. “Why did you cut me off?”
“Where is Circe?” Cassie retorted. “Why don’t you just tell me what’s going on.”
Lisette scowled but there was a spark of unhappiness in her brown eyes which told Cassie that she wasn’t on board with whatever was happening.
“How could you do this to me, Lis? Haven’t I been a good boss? Treated you nicely?” Cassie demanded, sensing that she might have an opportunity to appeal to Lisette’s empathy. “Is this about money because I can get you money, you know I—”
“Shut her up!” the driver growled and Lisette nodded curtly.
“He’s giving you good advice, Cassie. Take it.”
Again, Cassie peered at the man, trying to work through her panic to understand where he’d come from.
I know him…but from where?
She cursed her short memory but the harder she struggled to remember, the farther the recollection went.
“You won’t get away with this,” Cassie told them both with more confidence than she felt. “Evander will find you. He’s the best PI in the city.”
“A lot of good he’s doing you right now,” the driver snorted.
“Shut up, Damien,” Lisette grumbled and suddenly Cassie knew exactly where she’d seen the driver before.
“I know you!” she choked before she could stop herself. “W-are you two working together?”
None of it made sense, not Damien, not Lisette’s betrayal.
“You don’t know me,” the man snapped back, eyeing her through the rear-view mirror. “Saying things like that will get you killed.”
Cassie looked at Lisette uncomprehendingly.
“How do you know each other?” she whispered. “Lisette, who is behind this?”
“Just keep quiet and do as you’re told, Cassie, and everything will be fine.”
“You killed my bodyguards!” Cassie growled. “I find it hard to believe that I’m safe with you.”
“Your bodyguards got in the way,” Lisette muttered weakly and Cassie shuddered at the coldness of the statement.
“In the way of what?”
The Mercedes drove just under the speed limit and Cassie looked for an opportunity to jump out of the car but she was distinctly aware that Lisette had the gun pointed directly at her.
“Don’t do anything stupid, Cassie.” There was a pleading to Lisette’s words and Cassie looked at her in disgust.
“How did you become like this, Lisette?” she whispered. “I thought we were friends.”
Lisette hung her head miserably.
“I’m sorry,” she breathed miserably. “Believe me, this wasn’t by choice.”
A surge of hope sprung through Cassie’s veins as she realized that she might have an ally in Lisette yet.
“Where are you taking me?” she murmured, her eyes fixed on the driver who didn’t seem to hear them talking. “Why is this happening?”
“You’ll see.”
That was all that Cassie could get out of the girl and Lisette turned her head away, the guilt on her face evident.
Evander was right about me, Cassie thought grimly. I’m too naïve, too soft. Why didn’t I listen to him?
She closed her eyes and thought about what he would do when he returned to the condo to find her gone.
Will he assume I just left or will he know something’s wrong?
Her eyes flew open as she realized that her purse and cell phone were in plain view in her room.
Oh please, please go in my room, she begged him silently. Please don’t think I’m ignoring you and go inside.
“We’re here,” Lisette mumbled and Cassie’s head jerked up to look at the house at the end of a cul-de-sac on a residential street.
“Don’t make a fuss,” Lisette warned her. “Just come inside quietly and you’ll be okay.”
Cassie scoffed but she didn’t respond.
The car stopped and the driver opened the door, yanking her out by her arm.
“Let go of me!” Cassie snapped. “She’s already got a gun on me. What the hell else do you need?”
Damien snickered but he did release her and again, Cassie’s eyes scanned her surroundings, looking for a place to run to safety.
If I scream, a neighbor will surely hear me, Cassie thought, her gaze darting about as she was ushered toward a side door. If I run, I might make it to those trees…
She reminded herself that she was dealing with cold-blooded killers. Whatever they wanted from her, they probably wouldn’t hesitate to kill her if she gave them too much trouble.
“In here,” Damien growled, pushing her inside the door and guiding her to the right where a set of stairs led the way to a well lit basement.
Terror gripped Cassie’s heart and she froze, her head scrambling back to flight mode.
“Move!” Damien growled. “Keep going.”
“Cassie, just keep moving,” Lisette begged. For a fleeting moment, their eyes met and Cassie read something in her assistant’s expression which told her to run.
I can do this. I can get out of here.
But before she made one move, a voice rang out from the lower landing, one which made Cassie’s blood curdle with recognition.
“Cassie, you’re not quick enough to make a break for it,” the woman drawled. “Just come downstairs before Damien shoots you in the back.”
Damien took advantage of her moment of distraction and grabbed her arm roughly, almost throwing her down the stairs. Cassie stared open-mouthed at the perfectly coiffed woman who remained just out of arms reach.
“You!” she choked. “What the hell is this?”
The woman smiled but there was no emotion in her cold eyes as she waved a perfectly manicured hand.
“I wouldn’t expect you to understand, Cassandra. That’s why I chose you. Damien, bring her inside before she starts screaming.”
The woman watched dispassionately as Damien pushed her forward, gripping her with enough force to cause a gasp to escape her throat.
Analeigh Bowman. Of course. But why?
It didn’t make sense, and yet it
did at the same time. Analeigh had once owned one of the most successful modeling agencies in New York City, representing both Cassie and Circe.
Until Circe had ruined her by exposing her.
Cassie hadn’t seen nor heard from the woman in over a year and to be honest, it had never dawned on Cass that Analeigh would have anything to do with the threats against her.
I never thought about her, not once, Cassie realized, but as her eyes shot toward Damien and then Lisette, she saw the connection.
Damien used to drive us when we worked for Analeigh, but Circe had trusted him and given him a chance to work for her. Lisette must have always been on Analeigh’s payroll.
The basement was set up as a rec room, a dark-paneled bar in one corner and God-awful orange shag carpeting lined the floor. It was as though the seventies had vomited all over the subfloor and the musty smell of mothballs assaulted Cassie’s nose.
“What is this place?” Cassie asked, as she was forced into an ancient armchair with springs poking through the backrest. “An auction for the ‘Three’s Company’ set?” When scared, Cassie often resorted to sarcasm. And it didn’t always work in her favour.
“This?” her captor laughed. “This is my parents’ house. It’s where I was forced to move after you guys ruined me, Cassandra. I had to come back and deal with my wretched, outdated parents and their ‘All in the Family’ reruns while you and Circe lived the high life with my money!”
Cassie scoffed at her.
“I ruined you?” she echoed. “You ruined yourself, Analeigh. You and your greed and your attempts at blackmail.”
Analeigh glowered at her.
“You always were so weak, Cassie. Beautiful, but useless. Circe I always expected would betray me eventually, but you? I made you!”
“You’re ranting,” Cassie spat. “Tell me what the hell you want or kill me. I’ve wasted enough time listening to you as it is. You’re hardly the last voice I want to hear before I leave this earth.”
Analeigh scowled at her.
“You’re really in no position to be making demands, little girl. Did you think that Circe was going to protect you, really? Can’t you see that she only looks out for herself? She couldn’t even get you proper security.”
“You killed my security,” Cassie reminded her flatly.
