Chapter 179Katie's POVâCephus isnât supposed to be a part of this side of things, he canât do it⊠and I doubt youâre in a position to ask your mother for assistance. Caroline is an ideal choice.âI didnât like it, but she was right. I couldnât go about this the wrong way if I ever wanted to be on Cephusâs good side. I didnât want to go about it the wrong way. And while I was surrounded by Cephusâs family I needed to make connections unless I wanted to be treated the same way I was on my own. Caroline seemed like the safest option there so far.âIf youâre sure I wonât be inconveniencing you,â I told Caroline. âI could use the help. I donât have much experience with the whole wedding business, that much is for sure.âCaroline broke out in a little golf clap of delight. There might actually be some benefit in spending trying to absorb as much as I could of her elegance. âIâm so pleased to help. Now, I was thinking, I have the whole of tomorrow afternoon off work, so that would be a g
Chapter 180Katie's POVEven when it gets worked out in the end, it sucks for long-term relationships.âIt had to be even harder to find someone you could enter into the sort of long-term relationship most people were especially keen on with. Maybe I shouldnât be surprised Cephus had jumped at the chance to get me on board as a future wife.And speaking of my future husband, I had half-expected he wouldnât be there when I returned. Then when I saw him sitting on the couch in front of the TV where heâd been when I ran out to get in Carolineâs carâwhere heâd probably slept for all I knew, heâd gone out the night before and hadnât been back before I admitted defeat and crawled to bedâI half-expected to spot Angel somewhere in the room in the next moment. She didnât have anything further to add to her roster of manipulations for the moment: we were alone.âWhat was your day like?â asked Cephus without looking at me. I let my bag slip by degrees from my fingers, frozen in place by the p
Chapter 181Katie's POVâI was seven or eight, in a regular primary school not far from here.â His right hand moved, grasping for his phone, then he left it alone and pulled my hand he was still holding onto his knee, placing both of his hands over it. If the ring I was wearing was digging in, he didnât give any sign. âIt might surprise you to hear this, Katie, but I was not the best of children.ââShocking revelation.ââI was always targeting kids a bit younger, a bit smaller. The ones I knew wouldnât be able to give me any shit in return. Except this one time, there was this kidâBilly Burke, I remember his name vividlyâand he did give me shit. He told me he wanted me to stop pushing him around and trying to scare him, and no he wasnât going to give me his lunch money, by the way. Iâd never run into this situation before when I was running this scam, so I panicked a bit. I hit him in the face. Told me to his parents.âI didnât know what to say to this. It took me all too quickly b
Chapter 182Katie's POVâI see it as more of a protective arrangement for both of us. There are legal protections for each of us⊠incentives to keep one anotherâs secrets.âI fixed him with what I hoped was the most vicious look I had in me. âI never went to the cops after you kidnapped me, didnât go running to my parents begging them to find someone to break your kneecaps, and you thought you needed some other way of getting me to keep your secrets?ââIt mattersâŠâ I can hear the anxiety in Mackâs voice. Something is very, very wrong.âWhy does it matter? She was nothing before this whole incident and will be nothing after everything takes place. Sheâs clean. I know it.â Cephus sounds confident, and though I know I have done nothing wrong, if Mack convinces him I did something, I know I am as good as dead.âIt matters because I know sheâs not clean. After Jared called me and told me what Luccio said, I did a little digging on her and found some shit out.âHorror fills my mind. What i
Chapter 183Katie's POVAll I see is a blur of him as I try to get my mind and body to function so I can answer him. My legs hit the floor as he pushed me down, releasing me to walk away. His hand grips his hair as he stares at the gun in his other hand and back down to me.âNo. No, itâs not true,â I whimper, tears still falling. âDonât listen to him,â I plead, looking him straight in the eyes.âSilence,â he orders, walking over to me with his hand raised. Will he hit me? Will he hurt me?âThat isnât true!â I shoot back. âNothing he is saying is trueâŠâSilence ensues for a long second before Cephus speaks. âGet the ropes and tape!â he yells to Mack. Iâm lying on the ground on my side when his face comes into my vision.âWas it all a lie, Katie? Was it all some fucked up lie so that you could get into my head? So you could get the inside job done and walk away unscathed?â His voice is so loud in my ears, I push away from him.âWas it?â he shouts, demanding a response, his fingers gripp
Katie's POV."Paul! I'm home," I called out to my boyfriend of three years in our home, but no response."Is he not home?" I wondered to myself as I wander into the house. That was when I started to hear strange noise coming from our bedroom, I hurried down the hall towards the bedroom door, it sounded like moaning.As I neared opened the door, it was indeed moaning. I hesitated for a moment, wondering if I should enter. But my curiosity and fear got the best of me and I pushed the door open, only to find Paul in bed with another woman.My heart shattered into a million pieces as I saw them tangled together, their bodies moving in unison. The woman glanced at me for a moment and smirked before returning her attention to Paul.I felt a rage boil inside of me as I stormed towards them, grabbing the nearest object - a glass vase - and hurled it at them. It shattered against the wall, startling them both."What the hell, Katie?" Paul exclaimed as he sat up, his naked body exposed. The wom
Cephus' POV."For the last time, Vincent, where is my money?" I pointed the gun to the trembling man who is owing me a hefty amount of money.Vincent's eyes widened at the sight of the gun. He stuttered, trying to come up with an excuse, but I wasn't having any of it. I needed that money, and I needed it now.I tightened my grip on the trigger, watching Vincent's every move. He slowly reached into his pocket and pulled out a wad of cash. My eyes lit up at the sight of it.But then I noticed something strange. The bills were stained with blood."Where did you get this?" I demanded, my voice rising.Vincent hesitated before finally confessing, "I... I did a job for someone. They owed me money and paid me in this."I felt a chill run down my spine. Vincent was involved in something far more dangerous than just owing me money. And now I was involved too, just by association.But I didn't care, I wanted my money and everyone knew I was not a cool man to deal with.Vincent stuttered, "I-I'm
Katie's POV"Rıse and shine, stranger," came the deepest voice I have ever heard in my entire life.I woke up groggily, trying to fight the sleep off of my eyes as I rubbed my eyes, trying to take in my environment."Where are my?" I asked, sleep still deep in my voice as I peered at the shirtless man looking at me with murder in his eves from across the room."You're in my palace prıncess," he replied with a smirk, removing the huge tobacco from the parting of his lips as he played with a sharp looking blade between his fingers.I quickly scrambled from the bed, pulling the duvet over my body, but not before checking if my clothing was still intact."What did you do to me?" My voice shook, as I forced the tears away, seeing myself in another clothes.He chuckled evilly, "Don't worry pet, I did nothing to you," He suddenly stood up, his height scared me, so I pulled back on the bed and was about to scream.The look on his face scared me, but instead of coming towards me, he walked to
Chapter 183Katie's POVAll I see is a blur of him as I try to get my mind and body to function so I can answer him. My legs hit the floor as he pushed me down, releasing me to walk away. His hand grips his hair as he stares at the gun in his other hand and back down to me.âNo. No, itâs not true,â I whimper, tears still falling. âDonât listen to him,â I plead, looking him straight in the eyes.âSilence,â he orders, walking over to me with his hand raised. Will he hit me? Will he hurt me?âThat isnât true!â I shoot back. âNothing he is saying is trueâŠâSilence ensues for a long second before Cephus speaks. âGet the ropes and tape!â he yells to Mack. Iâm lying on the ground on my side when his face comes into my vision.âWas it all a lie, Katie? Was it all some fucked up lie so that you could get into my head? So you could get the inside job done and walk away unscathed?â His voice is so loud in my ears, I push away from him.âWas it?â he shouts, demanding a response, his fingers gripp
Chapter 182Katie's POVâI see it as more of a protective arrangement for both of us. There are legal protections for each of us⊠incentives to keep one anotherâs secrets.âI fixed him with what I hoped was the most vicious look I had in me. âI never went to the cops after you kidnapped me, didnât go running to my parents begging them to find someone to break your kneecaps, and you thought you needed some other way of getting me to keep your secrets?ââIt mattersâŠâ I can hear the anxiety in Mackâs voice. Something is very, very wrong.âWhy does it matter? She was nothing before this whole incident and will be nothing after everything takes place. Sheâs clean. I know it.â Cephus sounds confident, and though I know I have done nothing wrong, if Mack convinces him I did something, I know I am as good as dead.âIt matters because I know sheâs not clean. After Jared called me and told me what Luccio said, I did a little digging on her and found some shit out.âHorror fills my mind. What i
Chapter 181Katie's POVâI was seven or eight, in a regular primary school not far from here.â His right hand moved, grasping for his phone, then he left it alone and pulled my hand he was still holding onto his knee, placing both of his hands over it. If the ring I was wearing was digging in, he didnât give any sign. âIt might surprise you to hear this, Katie, but I was not the best of children.ââShocking revelation.ââI was always targeting kids a bit younger, a bit smaller. The ones I knew wouldnât be able to give me any shit in return. Except this one time, there was this kidâBilly Burke, I remember his name vividlyâand he did give me shit. He told me he wanted me to stop pushing him around and trying to scare him, and no he wasnât going to give me his lunch money, by the way. Iâd never run into this situation before when I was running this scam, so I panicked a bit. I hit him in the face. Told me to his parents.âI didnât know what to say to this. It took me all too quickly b
Chapter 180Katie's POVEven when it gets worked out in the end, it sucks for long-term relationships.âIt had to be even harder to find someone you could enter into the sort of long-term relationship most people were especially keen on with. Maybe I shouldnât be surprised Cephus had jumped at the chance to get me on board as a future wife.And speaking of my future husband, I had half-expected he wouldnât be there when I returned. Then when I saw him sitting on the couch in front of the TV where heâd been when I ran out to get in Carolineâs carâwhere heâd probably slept for all I knew, heâd gone out the night before and hadnât been back before I admitted defeat and crawled to bedâI half-expected to spot Angel somewhere in the room in the next moment. She didnât have anything further to add to her roster of manipulations for the moment: we were alone.âWhat was your day like?â asked Cephus without looking at me. I let my bag slip by degrees from my fingers, frozen in place by the p
Chapter 179Katie's POVâCephus isnât supposed to be a part of this side of things, he canât do it⊠and I doubt youâre in a position to ask your mother for assistance. Caroline is an ideal choice.âI didnât like it, but she was right. I couldnât go about this the wrong way if I ever wanted to be on Cephusâs good side. I didnât want to go about it the wrong way. And while I was surrounded by Cephusâs family I needed to make connections unless I wanted to be treated the same way I was on my own. Caroline seemed like the safest option there so far.âIf youâre sure I wonât be inconveniencing you,â I told Caroline. âI could use the help. I donât have much experience with the whole wedding business, that much is for sure.âCaroline broke out in a little golf clap of delight. There might actually be some benefit in spending trying to absorb as much as I could of her elegance. âIâm so pleased to help. Now, I was thinking, I have the whole of tomorrow afternoon off work, so that would be a g
Chapter 178Katie's POVI sat up with a gasp.It was just like the morning before when I had woken to unexpected voices. But this time I was in a strange bed again, and at least one of those voices didnât seem familiar at all.Iâd learned my lesson from the day before. I couldnât get myself into the single bathroom in the apartment, but I pulled on a proper outfit, brushed out my hair, and cleaned my face thoroughly with some wipes. I didnât dare put on makeup without a full mirror, but I was young and fresh enough that I could probably get away without it.Once I was decent, I made a quick and quiet tidy of my room and then stepped up to the door for a bit of strategic eavesdropping before I joined the action.A childish female voice was doing most of the talking. âSheâll need someone to guide her through the process.âCephusâs voice sounded both amused and exasperated. âSomeone who has never been even close to getting married before?ââYou know exactly what Caroline means.â The thi
Chapter 177Katie's POVI kept trying to convince myself that what I was craving was the worst craving anyone had ever had, including anything that had been thought up by a brain on pregnancy. But it was ridiculous to be so worried about whether I did or didnât sleep with him when I was already making myself vulnerable to him, right? Or was this just how I was convincing myself to go along with wherever my lust took me?I donât think about looking at my plate. Then when Cephus abruptly slid his chair backwards and stood, I startled like a tiny animal that could run away if provoked further. I knew damn well I couldnât run.Cephus came to my side and put his hand out for mine, drawing me to my feet when I complied.âYou have sauce on you,â he said and pointed it out on my shirtâhis fingertip pressing slightly into my breast in a way that was, Iâm sure, entirely necessary.I looked down at his hand there. Well, Iâd managed to at least try to eat something.I thrust my chest forward in
Chapter 176Katie's POVâMadonna and child.â Cephus folded his arms and leaned back; it felt like an acknowledgment that Iâd landed a hit, but I didnât have any idea how. Iâd just been trying to give a voice to my frustrations. âSo you know a little bit about art, then.ââI think thatâs kind of something I picked up through pop culture actually,â I said. I was hoping to screw with him while I seemed to have an advantage, and he did appear to deflate a little in response. âYouâd be more eager to get a leg over if I was the kind of girl who t art and how to engage with you because I have any desire to âget a leg overâ. And I have no intention of scorning you because you lack cultural polish. I assure you that I will be able to provide for you sexually in every way you might require.ââWhat kind of statement is that? Trust me, Iâm a sexy beast, even though from the way I behave you would expect pretty much any Arctic land to be less frigid than I am?ââDo you want me to provide referen
Chapter 175Katie's POVâAm I supposed to believe you are shy?âI was so startled by Cephus's Voice that here I dropped the capsicum Iâd been fidgeting with. It rolled across the bench, and Cephus caught it with one hand while he continued dicing its unlucky sibling with the other.âI guess you wouldnât,â I admitted, âbut if any situation was going to make me feel that way⊠I mean, weâve gone from you having me dragged out If bed to trying to cook with me?ââYouâve got to roll with the challenges life presents you sometimes, Katie,â said Cephus, rolling the second capsicum into the path of his knife.âAre you talking about me here or you?ââBoth of us, for once.â His expression visibly dulled. It struck me then just how much more animated he had become since we had first met. It was just a handful of hours but there was someone behind the mafia man front he was slowly letting me see, whether by choice or unconsciously I did not know.It bothered disappearing again. It was messing wi