A pause for a moment, then Zak came on, “We’re out of here, activating explosives as ordered. No civilians around, the base is secure. We’re gone, D. Text you the new location.”
“No. Wait for my call.”
Paco was next, breathing heavily as though having run. “Boss, I checked the cameras from Cassandra’s street one more time before destroying everything. You better hurry, your girl may have trouble on her hands.”
Damon threw the phone to the ground and hit the gas – hard. He checked his rear-view mirror once, but there was no cop in sight. Sean better stay out of my fucking way right now. He couldn’t be sure he was still being tailed, but he wouldn’t have put it past the guy.
Gunning the engine harder, Damon’s hands clenched the steering wheel. He had only one priority, and it was Cassandra’s safety.
♥∞♥
The voice behind her was deep, almost superficially so, as if modified by some device. And he was male, judging by the faint spice of his cologne. Cassandra’s every muscle froze, but still she focused on Renzo’s immobile form.
“What did you do to him?” she asked, trying to gain time. To show her good faith, she kept both hands up, palms facing away from him.
“He will survive."
“Then let me check on him.” Cassandra’s plea fell on deaf ears, and she knew it was the wrong thing to say the moment she sensed movement behind.
The intruder shoved her against the wall, and it was only her flattened palms that saved her a bruise on her face. Still, he moved in closer, his breath on her neck. “Don’t do anything stupid.”
His hands moved over her almost surgically, patting her down to make sure she had no weapons.
“You do realize it’s hard to hide a weapon in this outfit?” Cassandra was well aware of the shorts and tank top she was wearing, which didn’t offer much coverage. I’ll be damned if I let this bastard intimidate me.
The man chuckled low, and the hairs on her neck rose. “Oh, I know. But why deprive me of the pleasure?”
His hands slid over Cassandra’s front, this time no longer surgical. He passed over her breasts, lingering briefly. When he reached the end of her shirt, he moved to her back and patted from one foot up her leg. His hands reached close to the apex of her thighs, and Cassandra saw red.
With her free foot, she angled and kicked behind. Her heel connected with something, and without the sneakers the impact was lesser than she’d hoped – but it was something.
Cassandra whirled around without pause and, palm angled, hit towards the intruder’s nose. Or rather, what she thought was his nose. Her first face-to-face look at him revealed a ski mask covered any features. A satisfying crunch resounded, and he staggered behind.
“Son of a bitch!” Cassandra’s shout echoed in the house, but she was beyond mad. “You treat all women this way? Cause unless you’re missing my cue here, you decided to rob the wrong damn house, buddy.”
It was all rhetorical, not that Cassandra intended to wait for a response. Since he was still cursing under his breath and holding his nose, it gave her free rein to act. She moved in closer and lifted her right elbow, digging into his collarbone. Her knee was next, straight into his crown jewels, and he dropped to the ground.
“Who sent you?” Her breathing came out in short pants, but she kept her fists clenched just in case.
The man muttered something, but she didn’t catch it. Cassandra leaned forward, ready to repeat her question, but he lunged upwards and slammed her into the wall. Pure hatred burned in his dark eyes when they connected with hers. His hand was on her neck, but before he got a grip, Cassandra ducked under and punched him in the solar plexus.
There was an inhale of breath, then a muttered curse in some Slavic language. Cassandra moved out of his way and got her hands on a statue from the side-table.
She turned around and threw it at the intruder, catching him in the shoulder. He moved away, and she could have sworn feeling his glare across the distance. A groan from the kitchen made her itch to go by Renzo’s side.
The man looked past her to the kitchen, as if guessing her thoughts. For a scary moment, she thought he would go finish her friend off.
Instead, tires hitting the gravel and Damon’s voice yelling her name seemed to have the desired effect. With a mocking salute, the attacker took off for the back door and disappeared.
By the time Damon walked in, Cassandra was in the kitchen by Renzo’s side. “Help me, he got hit on the head!” She tried to grab Renzo’s head in her hand, but found herself barely supported by her own muscles.
“Cass…” Damon’s soft voice got through and a beat later he was there, caressing her cheek, eyes filled with worry.
His gaze moved upwards and his hand came away with blood on it. It was the last thing Cassandra saw before everything went black.
♥ Chapter 16 ♥
Damon caught Cassandra before she passed out and picked her up bridal style, then carried her to the sofa in the living room. Movement in the kitchen drew his attention away from her, only to see Lorenzo struggle to stand.
Though he knew he should be checking on the younger man, Damon’s entire focus was on Cassandra. Once he’d located her first aid kit in the powder room, he cleaned her wound and checked her for a concussion.
Luckily for Cassandra, she seemed to be well – for the most part. Bruises on her light skin had him clench his jaw, cursing all hells for not being there for her.
If this was Wraith or Viktor’s doing, they’ll pay like they’ve never paid in their lives.
A groan in the kitchen distracted him. With a last check on Cassandra, Damon moved to the island. Lorenzo held a pack of frozen peas to the back of his head, and nursed a glass of vodka with his free hand.
When Damon moved closer, Renzo looked up. “That motherfucker! What happened?”
“You tell me.” Damon glanced outside in the backyard, but noticed no one lurking nearby. He moved back to the counter and poured himself a shot, downed it and followed up with another. “Cassandra said you got hit by an intruder?”
At his prompt, Renzo frowned. He paused in rubbing his head, trying to remember. “Some dude in a ski mask. I was getting vodka from the fridge, trying to figure out with Cass why someone would try to shoot at me. He blindsided me when I came in here.”
“So he was already in the house?”
Renzo paused with the vodka glass halfway to his mouth, and grimaced. “Honestly, I don’t know. After you took off, I never left, just waited for Cass to return from her jog. When she did, I was at the front door for a bit. He could have snuck through the patio backdoor.”
Damon moved to the door, sliding it open and checking the lock for signs of tampering. At first glance, nothing seemed out of the ordinary. He would have missed the silver reflection, if not for a trick of the light that illuminated the aluminum stuck in the hole.
After fumbling for a bit, he managed to dig the aluminum out and showed it to Renzo. “Someone was waiting for you guys, and he took measures to make sure he’d be able to get in.” Almost to himself, he added, “He must’ve been casing this place for a while.”
“Wanting what, exactly? Is this some random robbery or something else entirely?”
Damon met Renzo’s gaze over the kitchen island, and tried to figure out a way to tell him the truth, without actually mentioning who Wraith was. The last thing he needed was Fabrizio Moretti out sabotaging the entire operation for the sake of revenge.
“I wouldn’t say random, especially considering someone tried to kill you a few hours ago.” Renzo paled at the reminder, and Damon pushed the shot glass closer to him, waiting until he’d drank before continuing. “It’s all my fault. That shooter, the sniper, he was a pawn. A decoy. Meant to draw me away, and I fell right in it.”
“Wouldn’t you say it’s my fault, considering it seems to be someone who’s after me?” Renzo’s head was bowed, and something about his countenance struck Damon as extremely vulnerable. He had to
remember the kid was only half a year younger than Cassandra, but in that moment he seemed much more.
“No.” He tapped the table to get Renzo’s attention, then said, “Because whoever is after you isn’t doing so for you. It’s all tied to Cassandra.”
“What makes you say that?”
Damon opened his mouth to tell him everything, then closed it. “Call it a hunch.” He sipped the last of his vodka shot, then locked the patio door and crossed the kitchen towards the living room.
Renzo’s voice stopped him mid-way. “How’s Cass?”
“Looks like she fought him well, but she’s injured.” At the reminder, Renzo rubbed the back of his head again and winced. Damon moved closer once more. “Let me check your head.”
Before he could protest, Damon moved his hand out of the way and checked through the strands of brown hair. There was no blood residue, not even a cut, but upon closer inspection he could feel a bump growing.
“What did he hit you with?”
“The vodka bottle.” A wry chuckle escaped Renzo when he pointed to the still-intact bottle.
“Well, either you have a very hard head, or that’s a very strong bottle. But you’re good. If you get any dizziness, go to a doctor or something. This is the extent of my first aid knowledge.”
Renzo rolled his eyes. “Sure, I will.”
Damon moved back into the living room where Cassandra was fast asleep. He crouched by her pale and bruised form, clenching his fists. I could have avoided all of this, if only I hadn’t fallen for Wraith’s games.
There was no doubt in his mind the assassin was behind both the attack on Renzo and this latest intrusion. Only someone of his calibre could have disarmed the alarms he’d set up in the house and rearm them without leaving a single trace.
Damon recalled Derek’s warning words, of keeping his head in the game. Look how well that turned out.
A stomach’s growl pulled Damon out of his thoughts, and he glanced up at Renzo. The younger man was still holding the peas to the back of his head, and he shrugged. “What? I’m hungry.”
Damon snorted with laughter, then tossed him his car keys, recalling the takeout from Viktor’s restaurant. “There’s food in my car, back seat. Grab whatever.”
Renzo nodded and took off, returning only minutes later with the bags and displaying them in the kitchen. Damon didn’t budge from his spot, all thoughts of hunger forgotten. He pulled a chaise by the sofa and stretched out his legs, pulling the gun out of the waistband of his jeans.
From his vantage point, he had a view of the front door, the patio and Cassandra’s sleeping form. Come try something now, Wraith. I fucking dare you.
♥∞♥
Cassandra’s return to consciousness proved to be difficult, as expected of someone who’d hit the wall head-first, then still tried to be a heroine.
Her head pounded, and an ache spread through her bones with dogged determination. The image of her masked attacker burst into her mind, jolting the remainder of her groggy self. She would find this man and get answers. Eventually.
Though her eyes were closed, she could sense someone was in the room with her. Damon’s voice somehow got to her fuzzy brain, flickering in and out as if through a bad connection. And was it her imagination, or did he sound worried out of his mind?
“Renzo, I’m telling you, I have to take her to a hospital!” The shout had Cassandra wince, but her eyes were too heavy to open.
Some of the conversation cut off, and Damon must’ve missed her wince, as he next said, “I don’t care if she hates hospitals! I’m not about to lose her because of her stubbornness!”
Instead of taking offense at his take-charge attitude, Cassandra let out a faint chuckle. She regretted it when the vibration increased the pressure in her head, feeling like it would explode.
Damon moved closer, still seemingly unaware of her awake state. He lifted Cassandra off the surface she’d been previously on, and his arms held her close. She would’ve enjoyed the sensation, if not for the nausea engulfing her and the sudden roll of her stomach.
A few deep breaths later, Cassandra had a lid on it and was able to speak. “Damon,” her voice was strained as she whispered, “please, whatever you do, don’t move me, and don’t yell.”
Cassandra continued to inhale deeply, aware of the sound of a cell phone being shut off. They moved in the house, Damon’s hold on her still tight. A few seconds later, a ring started off somewhere in the house, and a weak groan escaped her.
“Shh, it’s ok. I’ll take care of it.”
At the strained sound of his voice, Cassandra forced her eyes open, worried she was too heavy for him. But what greeted her was not an expression of exertion, rather of pain. Guilt filled Damon’s sharp green gaze, as well as contained anger. His mouth was downturned, and he was frowning hard enough to give himself wrinkles.
“Damon…” Cassandra trailed off, at a loss on how to continue.
He shoved his shoulder against a door, then entered a familiar room. Next thing she knew, Damon set her down on her bed. He fumbled with her pillow and blanket, avoiding her gaze. When she was finally settled in, he had no choice but to look at her.
“I…” Damon cleared his throat, then stood. “I’ll be back. Please don’t move, okay?”
Cassandra nodded, unable to do anything else but stare at him in amazement as he left the room.
She settled for turning her head from one side to the other, taking in her surroundings. Damon had brought her up to her room, and she was grateful for the familiar bed. Murmurs from downstairs brought up faint echoes of another male voice – Renzo's.
Satisfied she knew her location, Cassandra closed her eyes, letting the whispers of their conversation lull her to sleep.
♥∞♥
“Cass?”
A soft voice by her ear was insisting she wake up, and no matter which way Cassandra moved her head, it wouldn’t let go. She groaned as the pain between her temples returned, stronger than before.
Cassandra opened her mouth to say something, to stop the torture, but all that came out was a whimper. Sharp, insistent bursts of lightning flashed behind her closed eyelids, and no amount of willing them away helped.
“I know it hurts,” the same voice said. “It’ll be fine. Open your eyes, Cass. I have something for the pain.”
Almost afraid to do so, Cassandra listened and found Damon’s gentle green eyes – for all of two seconds. The overhead light became agonizing and she held up a hand to block it, then rolled over and covered her head with a pillow.
“Shit.” Damon moved around the room and she heard a click. “It’s okay, I turned the light off. Wake up, love.”
When Cassandra didn’t move, he pulled the pillow off her head little by little. She blinked at him, and it took her a few seconds in the darkness to locate him. Once she did, she noticed his extended hands. One held a glass of water, the other two pills.
Without questioning, she swallowed the pills. Exhausted by the simple movement, Cassandra let her head fall back on the pillow, and shut her eyes again.
“I swear, when I get my hands on that guy, I’ll bloody kill him!” It was Damon again, but all softness had vanished from his voice, replaced by pure anger.
“Would you calm down?” Cassandra wasn’t surprised to hear Renzo. “Seriously, Damon, you’ve been like this since you found her. Relax, all right? We’ll find the guy. But we have to make sure Cass is okay.”
As if to prove his point, Renzo moved closer, speaking gently. “Cass, how are you feeling?”
Cassandra blinked again, noticing he’d changed his clothes to some sweatpants and a t-shirt. He looked so different from his regular self, that she arched an eyebrow. “Change of style?”
Renzo chuckled, then perched himself on the edge of her bed. “Funny. I just figured I’d better be comfortable for the next few hours, is all.”
He paused, glancing at Damon who was leaning against the wall. His arms were folded over his chest and h
is eyes shifted from the bed to the window, scanning the outside. “We good?”
Damon nodded, and Renzo focused his attention back on Cassandra. “Seriously, how are you?”
She gave herself a mental once-over, trying to figure out how the fight with the intruder had injured her. Little by little, Cassandra tried to move each muscle. Her right shoulder was in pain, but it was diminishing as the pills kicked in. Her head wasn’t pounding anymore, although more painkillers would be needed later as the effects of the first ones wore off. Though her right cheek stung a little, she felt capable enough to stand up.
Feeling the guys’ gazes on her, Cassandra cleared her throat. “I’m great. Just… great.” She grimaced and despite their dubious looks, sat upright in the bed.
She noticed Damon’s disapproval first. He was quick to voice it out loud, too. “Cass, I don’t think you should try anything right now. Maybe you should just lie down and sleep.”
He’s only trying to help.
Cassandra tried to get her brain on board, but his authoritative tone was enough to set off her hackles. “Damon, I’d rather you don’t tell me what I should be doing. I’m an adult, remember?”
Rather than argue with her, Damon dragged his eyes away and seemed to step farther into the wall. Cassandra frowned, noticing his bleak expression and something akin to regret and guilt flash before he turned his head away.
She turned to Renzo, asking with her eyes what was going on. He shrugged, then cleared his throat. “We’re both really sorry this happened…when we should have been able to protect you.” Especially Damon.
The words were left unsaid, but Renzo’s meaningful look completed the sentence. Cassandra glanced back at her ex-boyfriend. How could he think this is his fault, when he’s done nothing but try to keep me safe since he got back here? Maybe if I’d listened instead of fighting him on everything…
Blood Ties, Love Binds Page 13
