Checkmate (The Cassano Series Book 5)

by Scarlet Wolfe

  “Mom, don’t make me cry.”

  “OK, we must go. Wait until you see the men. They’re handsome in their tuxes.” She gathers her composure and helps my sisters with the train.

  I meet my uncle Martin in the hallway, and he gives me an approving grin. His salt-and-pepper hair is slicked back, and he’s distinguished in his tux.

  This is it. I’ll soon be a Cassano.

  Nestling my bouquet made up of white and cream roses closer to my belly, I think about our baby and how thrilled I am for the life I’m beginning.

  The music starts, and Nicole walks down the aisle. Her round belly fills out the plum chiffon maxi dress in an adorable way.

  It has a similar heart-shaped neckline as mine and short sleeves. Victoria glances back, giving me a reassuring smile before she begins her walk next.

  As my nervousness swells, I take a few deep breaths. I’m overcome with emotions once Simon comes into view. He’s anxiously adjusting the bowtie of his tux, but the second our eyes meet, his hand drops and he smiles.

  He appears overwhelmed by surprise and happiness, and the sight instigates my tears. Leaning into Zev, he whispers something, and I make a mental note to ask him about it later.

  Zev and Kruse are standing up with him, and Mom was spot on; all three look extremely handsome today. As we approach our waiting audience, I take a quick glance at them and notice Theo, Adrian and Aggie in the front row.

  Theo’s wrestling with a squirming Elijah while Miranda sits next to him in the pew. The rest of the church is filled with family and friends.

  Reaching the altar, where Father Clark and the men are standing, Simon is eager to get my hands inside his.

  “You’re breathtaking, doll,” he whispers. A bashful smile is returned to him as he grins. “I’m nervous as hell,” he adds.

  I giggle since we’re in church and he’s already using hell in the wrong context. Father Clark clears his throat, hinting for us to quiet.

  A Catholic wedding includes Mass, so the long ceremony begins, and I struggle to follow. All I want to do is stare at Simon and the proud look he’s bestowing.

  Having a feeling he would say something inappropriate, I had insisted we say traditional vows. It was assurance he’d stay on my mother’s good side.

  Finally getting to our vows, Father has us begin, and we get through them with ease, Simon smiling the entire time.

  “I have something I want to add,” he says.

  Ah, oh. I’m certain the apprehension is evident on my face.

  “Sadie, I want to thank you before our family and friends for making me a better person. You’re the most determined and smart woman I know, and I promise to spend every day living a way that speaks of how much I deserve the honor of loving you.”

  “Simon.” His name leaves my lips longingly, and I mouth the words I love you. Recalling our first meeting, I have to stifle a giggle. He really did kidnap me. He stole my heart, and I couldn’t be more grateful.

  Simon

  After the longest hour of my life, Father Clark pronounces us husband and wife, and I kiss Sadie like I’ve never kissed her before. I don’t give a damn who’s watching.

  Sighing with relief, I thread our fingers together, and we stroll down the aisle. I might have a bit of a strut to my walk. Just sayin’. I did marry the most incredible woman, who happens to be carrying my child.

  To appease Sadie’s family, we’re attending a dinner at the church. After, we’ll head over to Caged, where there will be a killer celebration with our friends.

  “Congratulations, Simon,” Adrian says as he pats me on the back and slides something inside my hand.

  “What’s this?”

  “A key to the penthouse suite at Bellagio.”

  “We were just going to stay at Submission.”

  “Uh, Zev already christened that suite with his bride, so I thought you might like something special of your own.”

  I chuckle. “Thanks for thinking of that and for the suite. Oh, Happy Birthday, too. Sorry our wedding is overshadowing the important day.”

  “It’s fine, Jersey. I’ve had enough birthdays. I think it’s safe to say Aggie feels the same.”

  “Are you calling me old?” Aggie utters as she approaches us. Her arms are soon around me, and she kisses my cheek. “I’m proud of you, and Sadie’s a lucky girl.”

  “Thank you, sis,” I say against her hair. As I’m letting her go, Sadie entwines our fingers.

  “Sweetie, I want you to meet someone. Cora, this is Simon. Simon, meet one of my closest friends Cora.”

  “Cora, it’s nice to finally meet you. Sadie mentions you often.”

  Batting her lashes at me, she leans in and touches my shoulder, giving me a view of her cleavage, which is snug in a tight, short dress.

  “I hope she’s not sharing the embarrassing details of my life.”

  “Only the juiciest parts.”

  “Simon!” Sadie says. “Don’t listen to him, Cora. Your secrets are safe with me.”

  “You should share how fun I can be. Maybe he has a friend he could introduce me to.” She gives a sly grin, and I must ask Sadie how she got to know Cora.

  Her friend is certainly not as reserved, and her revealing attire for a wedding portrays her as ditzy rather than smart like my girl.

  “Actually, I do have a friend you could have some fun with. Kruse!” I shout. Once he looks across his shoulder from the table he’s sitting at, I wave him over.

  “Simon, I didn’t mean at this moment,” Cora says, her head ducking as if she wants to hide.

  “No time like the present. Anyway, Kruse is overdue for some fun.”

  “Kruse, I’d like you to meet Cora, Sadie’s good friend.” With barely a smile, Kruse reaches out to shake her hand.

  “Hi. Nice to meet you.”

  Cora stammers to return the greeting as she sizes him up. Countless times I’ve watched women be at a loss for words when meeting him, but lately he has seemed off his game. Like now, when he’s looking around the room instead of at the beautiful blonde I’ve stuck right in his dick’s direction.

  “Uh, Sadie and I should probably make our rounds and have a bite to eat before we head to Caged.” Pulling on Sadie’s hand, I lead her away, hoping Kruse has enough sense to stick around and get to know Cora.

  Aggie

  Ordering my second vodka tonic, I cautiously take a seat on a stool at Caged. I must watch how I sit in this short, racy number I changed into.

  It’s an ebony and gold sequins dress that has no back to it. What did Tara call it? Scandalous. She’s a funny girl. I guess my world has been a little scandalous lately.

  I started on the champagne once I had to stand next to Kruse and some bimbo at the reception hall. Simon introduced them right next to me, and they chatted it up for a while.

  Well, it was mostly her chatting, but still, Kruse partook, and it incited jealousy I wasn’t aware I could feel.

  After they parted, I texted him, expressing how handsome he looked. He replied that I looked gorgeous, but honestly I wanted more. I wanted to be by his side as his date.

  So, now I will have my fourth drink of the day and keep my back to the dance floor in case the bimbo propositions him for a dance. I’m happy for Simon, but this birthday of mine is sucking.

  “Care to dance?” Adrian asks. He has discarded his suit jacket, leaving him in a midnight blue dress shirt and tan pants.

  “Sure. Charlie, guard my drink.” After taking a sip of my vodka, I use Adrian’s hand to help myself off of the stool and lead me to the dance floor.

  “Since when do you show this much of your assets?”

  “Assets. So, is that what my curves are called here in Vegas?”

  “You’re showing more than your curves.”

  “What’s it to you?”

  “Simply curious. You’ve changed since moving here.”

  I shrug as we move to the melody.

  “Tara took me shopping.”

 
“This change wouldn’t have something to do with a man would it?”

  “Uh, why would you ask that?”

  “Reggie filled me in a bit, but I told him you probably used the other guy line as an excuse not to date him.”

  “It’s none of your business, Adrian.”

  He leans his upper body back so he can look into my eyes. “It is my business. I haven’t introduced you to any man worthy of your time, so I need to know if this guy you’ve supposedly met meets my approval.”

  “I thought we turned thirty-six today, but I guess we’re fifteen all over again.”

  He grants me his signature frown.

  “Fine. I’ll drop it for now, but if it starts becoming serious, I want to meet the man.”

  “I think he’ll meet your approval.” To distract him, I make him twirl me around. He grins once our eyes meet again, and I love this happier Adrian.

  For the first time in years, he isn’t lost or angry. Victoria has made him whole, and I’d like to think us talking again has something to do with it, too.

  “Happy Birthday, little sister.”

  “Remember, those two minutes only make you older, not wiser.” I wink at him. “Happy Birthday, big brother.”

  The song ends, and before we part, Adrian kisses my cheek. I glance around the room as I make my way to the bar.

  Kruse is standing off to the side, sipping a drink. Our eyes meet, and his gaze reads mine possessively, stirring the butterflies in my stomach.

  The force to be physically close to him is greater than any explanation I could give to describe the intense bond between us, but since I’m unsure of how he would feel about me approaching him, I fight the pull. I fight it with all my might and go back to my lonely stool and abandoned drink.

  Chapter Twenty-Three

  Kruse

  It’s eleven o’clock, and the private party at Caged is going strong. Only people who know Simon or Sadie have been allowed in. A ton of Simon’s friends and business acquaintances are present.

  The place is packed, drinks are flowing and music is blaring, but I’m checked out of the celebration. I’m emotionally exhausted from thinking about Aggie the entire day.

  Should I approach her? Will anyone become suspicious? Will she think this thing between us is more than it is? Of course she will because it is more, but I can’t give her everything she longs for in her life.

  While Simon and Sadie said their vows, all I could picture was Aggie and me in the same spot, and that freaked me the hell out.

  And if another man licks his lips over the sight of her, I will smash their head in until they can no longer think dirty thoughts about her. What the hell was she thinking wearing that skimpy dress?

  It was for me, and knowing that makes it more tolerable. I can’t take this separation between us a moment longer. Pulling out my phone, I shoot her a text.

  Me: Meet me at my hotel room in fifteen.

  Aggie: I was beginning to think you forgot about me.

  Me: While you’re wearing that damn dress?

  Even with her back to me, I can tell she’s snickering.

  Me: I think you need birthday spankings. See you soon.

  Her posture straightens as she stares at the screen. She’s frozen, and observing the effect I have on her makes my blood boil and my cock swell. Fuck, yes. She’s finally mine today, and I plan on making the most of it.

  Aggie

  After freshening up in the restroom, I head straight to Kruse’s hotel room and tap on the door. Opening it, his big hand wraps around my wrist, and he pulls me inside.

  I’m stumbling as fingers shove into my hair, grounding me to the floor. He groans against my mouth, his tongue plunging its way inside.

  He’s hungry for me, and his ferocity is a confirmation I’m not imagining this force field between us. The day finally feels right, the moment everything I’ve been craving and more.

  His fervor is my cue, so I drop my clutch purse to the floor and wrap my arms around his waist. I yank him close, and his dick grows hard against me. We kiss and kiss, grinding against each other, needing so much more.

  Kruse lets my mouth go, leaving both of us panting.

  “All I’ve wanted today is the opportunity to talk to you, kiss you, touch you …,” his lips press to my head, “hold you.” Bringing me to his chest, he peppers my hair with kisses. “I missed you, Aggie.”

  “I missed you, too.” His words contradict his behavior today, only feeding my confusion. I pull free and turn my back to him. Biting my lip, I still fight to get air.

  “What’s wrong?”

  “You’re telling me these sweet things, yet you don’t want us to be seen together. You’re a confusing man.”

  “I was trying not to out us to your family.”

  “Why? Why can’t they know we’re dating?” I spin back to face Kruse, and he grips my shoulders.

  “I thought we agreed on a month.”

  “We did, but after you practically held me hostage in my bedroom this week, I thought maybe the circumstances, or I should say conditions, had changed.”

  Ducking, he softly kisses my lips.

  “It was Simon and Sadie’s important day, and I didn’t want to possibly disrupt that.”

  “What we shared in my condo this week was intimate … special. We weren’t just fucking.”

  “I know that.” Walking with purpose over to a table, he opens a square white box and pulls something from his pocket.

  Busy with his hands, he finally turns around and reveals to me a small, round cake. A single pink candle is lit in the center as he strolls toward me.

  “We’re together now, so let’s enjoy our time. Happy Birthday, Princess.”

  I can’t be mad at him. He frequently shows he has feelings for me by way of his loving words and gestures.

  “Kruse, that’s so sweet of you.” I cover my chest with my hand.

  “It’s not only an important day for Simon and Sadie; it’s the date you were born. That makes it important to me. Make a wish, Aggie.”

  I don’t have to think up a wish. I know it with all my heart. I want a relationship with Kruse, and I want to be able to share that amazing news with everyone.

  Aside from the force field magnetizing us to one another, he’s everything I could wish for in a man. On that thought, I close my eyes, make my wish, and blow out the candle.

  Victoria

  I piddle around the penthouse, getting more frustrated as the afternoon drags on. I need a job. If Reggie doesn’t make a decision this week, I’m starting this business without him.

  No, screw that. He’s making a decision today. Grabbing my phone off the kitchen counter, I shoot him a text.

  Me: I need an answer, partner. What’s it going to be?

  Reg: I’m over Sarge’s shit, and if my current partner gets any duller, I’m going to fall into a coma, so I’m in.

  Me: Halle-fuckin’-lujah. I can retire my apron. Come to dinner tonight so we can work out the details. Oh, and send me a pic of Sarge’s face when you tell him to kiss your ass.

  I’m setting my phone back on the counter when it rings. It’s Sadie. “Hi, sis.”

  “Victoria, we have to talk. It’s about my professor. I’ll be over soon.” Sadie ends the call before I can push for details, but the seriousness in her voice tells me the boredom of my day is coming to an end. I shoot Reg another text.

  Me: We may have our first assignment.

  Reg: No holstering a weapon without me. I mean it, Vic.

  Me: Oh, I can’t wait to test your patience again. We’re going to have so much fun.

  Sadie

  I pace in front of Victoria as she sits on her sofa. I’m not even sure where to begin this conversation.

  “I’m surprised Simon left you able to walk this briskly after your wedding night.”

  “You’re my sister–gross.” As I recall the last two days, I can’t help but grin. “It was a great weekend. I still can’t believe I’m a married woman.�
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  The reason I’m here crowds out the happy memories, so I regain my composure and stop pacing.

  “Sis, my visit is serious. Of course, from my education, I’m knowledgeable about the chemicals Professor Edward has been ordering. What I can’t understand is why he ordered this specific combination of chemicals, so much of them, and had them shipped to his home.”

  “So, what’s your theory?”

  “Some of the chemicals are commonly used and can be purchased easily, such as hydrochloric acid and sodium chloride, but what stood out to me was the amount of acetic anhydride and potassium permanganate he ordered.”

  “Being in law enforcement, I know why criminals want to get their hands on those specific chemicals; it’s to make heroin and cocaine.”

  I point at Victoria. “Exactly!”

  “Damn, do you think your professor is manufacturing drugs at his home?”

  “It was my first thought, as well, but I feel he’s too sophisticated for that.”

  “If he’s not manufacturing drugs, then he must be getting the chemicals for someone else to make them.” Upon standing, Victoria begins pacing, the pinch of her brow revealing her concentration.

  “Your professor has so much to lose if he’s busted. Who or what is worth the risk? I mean, those chemicals are on the DEA’s watch list. If he orders enough of them, it’s going to throw up a red flag with the chemical company. They’ll have to report it.”

  A thought paralyzes me. “Russell … I bet he’s selling drugs for Professor Edward. Shit, Victoria, what if Noah was, too? This is big–like huge.”

  “I gave your professor’s personal information to Reggie. I’ll ask if he’s discovered anything, and if not, we’ll do some serious digging. He agreed earlier to go into business with me.”

  My sis grins, and her eagerness for some thrilling action is mirrored in her twinkling green eyes. She can have at it, but I want no part of it. I have a child to protect.