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Chapter 10 - Casualties of war
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Tempting the Devil Chapter 11 - Surprises
Emma was waiting in the doorway when Cass got home. "Did you find her?" Emma's voice was filled with fear and anger. She looked around Cass searching for Olivia. "No." Cass walked past Emma and poured herself a glass of whiskey. She gulped the liquid down hoping it would warm her frozen body. "Where is she, Cass?" "I don't know." "You don't know?" Emma asked. "You don't know?" Her voice rose and she stalked toward Cass. Vance grabbed her arm and held her back. "You go back out there, and you find her!" Micheal stepped forward when Emma pulled free of Vance and took a couple of steps toward Cass. Cass held up her hand to him and he relaxed. "You chased her out of the safety of our home, and into the fucking lions' den! You go out and find her, or I will!" "You leave this house and I will have you locked up so fast your head will spin!" Cass said dangerously quietly. "I will find her. I came home to grab a shower and food, then I am going right back out there." "Food? You can thin
Tempting the Devil Chapter 12 - Broken
Cass jumped out of the car before Pedro could pull to a full stop. She heard him calling her and ignored him. He could catch up or wait in the car, she needed to get to Olivia. Cass was running up the drive none of her usual senses alert as her sole focus was on getting to Olivia. Pedro was running behind her his gun out and his eyes scanning the yard. Cass knew he would cover her back. She reached for the back door just as Pedro grabbed her arm. "Just wait a damn second." He snarled. His usual calm manner is gone. "It could be a trap. And if you would take a second to think, you will realize that." He bent and checked the handle, then ran his flashlight up and down the door frame. "It looks clean." "Fine, step aside," Cass ordered. "Pedro don't make me kick your ass. I need to get in there!" "Okay." Pedro nodded and reached for the door himself, blocking her with his body. If she wanted to be stupid and reckless he'd at least make sure he took the brunt of a blast. He braced and p
Tempting the Devil Chapter 13 - Losses
Cass wore a hole outside her bedroom door as she waited, she'd been kicked out when she'd told the doctor for the hundredth time to be careful. Now Emma was with Olivia, taking care of her. She was aware that Emma blamed her, and also very aware that she was to blame. She hoped Pedro was doing his job and doing it well, she needed to find the bastards, she needed to take the revenge demanded now. Nothing else mattered to her. If she lost everything making them pay, then so be it. She'd put Olivia in the position to be taken, but her father was the one who'd ordered the hit on his own flesh and blood. She'd leave him for last. "The Chief is here," Vance said from the stairs. "He's pissed to have been dragged out this late." "I don't care about that." Cass snapped. She took one last look at her bedroom door and turned away. The last person Olivia would want to see was her. "Tell Em to stay with her. I'll sleep in one of the spare rooms." "I think she might need you." "I'm the last m
Tempting the Devil Chapter 1 - Cassandra
Three years. She thought and shook her head as she stared out over the water, the waves lapping at the shore, the boats, sailboats, bobbing on the water, they always calmed her soul. She’d always believed that if fate had dealt her a different hand, she’d have been a sailor. Her hands clenched behind her back as she listened to David and Vance relay the latest fiasco to her. They were talking fast and over each other, clearly afraid of her reaction. Both were aware of her temper and her need to control everything around her. And her wrath when things don’t go exactly as she wanted them to. And from what she can tell from their mumbled and jumbled words, things were definitely not going as she wanted them to. Three years. She thought again. She’d been the head of this damned, cursed family for three years. And for three years, things have run smoothly. So why, in the last six months, had she had more problems than peace?Something was brewing, she had some idea what, but her sources ha
Tempting the Devil Chapter 2 - Olivia
Olivia wiped the counter of the hotel reception area she manned. She looked up when two men walked in. Her smile was automatic, a practiced thing, something she made herself do, to seem more inviting, more friendly. Working as the reception lady, she couldn’t be her grumpy self.“Can I help you?”“We need to speak to the guy that does the garden. Please.” The please was added as an afterthought.The man’s tone had her taking an involuntary step back. “I think he’s at the back.”“Thank you.” The men made to move toward the door and she jumped forward.“Wait, why?”“We just need to talk to him.”“He’s working now, can this wait?” Olivia felt a twinge of unease as the tall man fixed his eyes on hers.“Ma’am, stay out of this.” He led the other man out and she found herself following. Brody was working on the pool when he looked up and spotted the two men and Olivia. For a second he seemed to freeze, then he threw down the pool net and ran.Olivia watched Brody run, the fear she’d seen on
Tempting the Devil Chapter 3 - Emma
“Cass, you’re home!” Olivia watched as a younger almost twin image of Cassandra, Cass, ran downstairs and into Cass’s arms. “I’ve been waiting for hours! Vance said you had a surprise for me. What is it?” Oliva could swear the girl was in her twenties but the delight was that of a child.“Calm yourself. And stop acting. This is Olivia. She’s going to stay with us for a while.” She was smiling as she spoke and the other woman scoffed.“You are absolutely no fun.” She turned to Olivia. “Don’t mind her, she’s grumpy when she’s had a long day. I’m Emma.” She winked at Olivia. “The fun one.”“Hello.” Olivia found herself liking the younger Panagio. “I don’t want to be rude, but you owe me a phone call.” She fixed her gaze on Cassandra who nodded.“What’s for dinner?” She asked Emma.“Fried chicken and fries.” Emma grinned. “Vance is joining us.”“He is?” That right eyebrow lifted again. Olivia almost pitied whoever this Vance was. “I want to settle our guest in, then we’ll have drinks. I p
Tempting the Devil Chapter 4 - Nightmares
Olivia knew she was stuck in a nightmare. The images were hazy, and she felt like she was floating. But the fear was real. She’d known this fear once before and it paralyzed her. She was running, a corridor that just kept getting longer, a never-ending run from them. She could hear them laughing behind her. She knew they would catch her. They always did. When would she stop running and just let them do what they want? Maybe then the nightmare would be over sooner. But the thought of what they do, of the pain and humiliation, was too much to think about and she kept running. When the hand grabbed her arm, she screamed. And she knew it was the first of many screams.Cassandra jolted awake, she nearly dropped to the floor, in the moment of panic she forgot she was on the couch. What had woken her? Screams? Emma! She sat up and started for the door when she heard a low whimper. She looked to the bed and watched as Olivia thrashed around, she was fighting invisible hands, shoving at them,
Tempting the Devil Chapter 5 - Devil in her
Cassandra stood at the window of her office. She was waiting for Michael to get back. Vance sat in her visitor’s chair, his suit wrinkled, and hair dishevelled. Obviously, he’d not had time to shower and change. She ignored his mutterings and frantic tapping on the tablet in his hands. She thought back to a few hours ago when she’d been walking the beach with Olivia. It had been such a strange thing. To find herself enjoying the company on her usually solitary walk. Strange that it had been her, and not Emma that had come after her. Maybe Emma was worried that she’d be angry at her. She had to admit, it had hurt when she’d seen the accusation in Emma’s eyes. She couldn’t blame Emma. Cassandra had been on top of a screaming Olivia. “I don’t understand how he got the bodies past the first guards.” Vance said. “They should have seen something like that.” “They were paid not to.” Cassandra said stonily. “I want them fired.” “Cass, we don’t…” She spun around and he nodded. “Now, I need
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Tempting the Devil Chapter 13 - Losses
Cass wore a hole outside her bedroom door as she waited, she'd been kicked out when she'd told the doctor for the hundredth time to be careful. Now Emma was with Olivia, taking care of her. She was aware that Emma blamed her, and also very aware that she was to blame. She hoped Pedro was doing his job and doing it well, she needed to find the bastards, she needed to take the revenge demanded now. Nothing else mattered to her. If she lost everything making them pay, then so be it. She'd put Olivia in the position to be taken, but her father was the one who'd ordered the hit on his own flesh and blood. She'd leave him for last. "The Chief is here," Vance said from the stairs. "He's pissed to have been dragged out this late." "I don't care about that." Cass snapped. She took one last look at her bedroom door and turned away. The last person Olivia would want to see was her. "Tell Em to stay with her. I'll sleep in one of the spare rooms." "I think she might need you." "I'm the last m
Tempting the Devil Chapter 12 - Broken
Cass jumped out of the car before Pedro could pull to a full stop. She heard him calling her and ignored him. He could catch up or wait in the car, she needed to get to Olivia. Cass was running up the drive none of her usual senses alert as her sole focus was on getting to Olivia. Pedro was running behind her his gun out and his eyes scanning the yard. Cass knew he would cover her back. She reached for the back door just as Pedro grabbed her arm. "Just wait a damn second." He snarled. His usual calm manner is gone. "It could be a trap. And if you would take a second to think, you will realize that." He bent and checked the handle, then ran his flashlight up and down the door frame. "It looks clean." "Fine, step aside," Cass ordered. "Pedro don't make me kick your ass. I need to get in there!" "Okay." Pedro nodded and reached for the door himself, blocking her with his body. If she wanted to be stupid and reckless he'd at least make sure he took the brunt of a blast. He braced and p
Tempting the Devil Chapter 11 - Surprises
Emma was waiting in the doorway when Cass got home. "Did you find her?" Emma's voice was filled with fear and anger. She looked around Cass searching for Olivia. "No." Cass walked past Emma and poured herself a glass of whiskey. She gulped the liquid down hoping it would warm her frozen body. "Where is she, Cass?" "I don't know." "You don't know?" Emma asked. "You don't know?" Her voice rose and she stalked toward Cass. Vance grabbed her arm and held her back. "You go back out there, and you find her!" Micheal stepped forward when Emma pulled free of Vance and took a couple of steps toward Cass. Cass held up her hand to him and he relaxed. "You chased her out of the safety of our home, and into the fucking lions' den! You go out and find her, or I will!" "You leave this house and I will have you locked up so fast your head will spin!" Cass said dangerously quietly. "I will find her. I came home to grab a shower and food, then I am going right back out there." "Food? You can thin
Tempting the Devil Chapter 10 - Casualties of war
Emma and Vance were already at the breakfast table when Cass made her way down. She was dressed in her usual suit and ready for work. She planned on being gone before Olivia left, she didn't think she could hold to her resolve to send her away if she had to look into those beautiful eyes. "Where's Pedro? He should be here already," Cass asked as she sat down and pulled the lid of her plate to reveal eggs, bacon, and toast. For a second she thought maybe he might have been more injured than he'd led on. "They're gone, Cass." "Gone?" She repeated and looked up confused. "Olivia and Pedro. They left last night after she took care of you, she woke me to say goodbye and said you told her she was free to go." Emma narrowed her eyes. "Pedro waited for her downstairs so I assumed she was telling the truth." "Yes, I did. I just thought they'd leave this morning." "What happened last night?" Vance asked. Cass told him the same story she told Olivia and then added. "She wasn't safe here.
Tempting the Devil Chapter 9 - Sacrifice
"Cassandra." Olivia couldn't find anything else to say. She closed the door quietly behind her and leaned back against it. Cass watched her. There was no expression in her eyes. And for once Olivia couldn't read her. "Let me." She stepped forward when Cass reached for her pants. "You should go." "So you keep saying," Olivia said and ignored the hands that pushed hers away. "Stop it." She looked up at Cass and then just dropped her head carefully on Cass's shoulder. "Please, just stop it." She felt Cass sigh. "I'm going to run you a bath, then I'm going to go get the first aid kit." "What? No threats of a hospital?" "I'm not a complete idiot." Olivia snapped. "I didn't mean it like that." Olivia waved her words away and after taking her pants off carefully she opened the tap and let the water fill the bath. She took Cass's hand and helped her into the bath. "Just stay down as long as you can, it will soothe the sore muscles. I'll tend to the cuts and bruises as best I can w
Tempting the Devil Chapter 8 - Devil's weakness
Cass always felt at home surrounded by darkness. She sat in her living room, her tux jacket draped over the chair's back, her shirt collar unbuttoned and her sleeves rolled up. Her arms draped over the chair arms, and a half glass of whiskey dangled from her right hand. The fire blazed in front of her as she stared at the dancing flames. All her life she'd had to fight. She'd been trained from the age of six, to fight, to defend. She'd been honed by some of the best and her skills were that of a highly trained assassin. She scoffed and took a sip of the warm liquid. Maybe if she'd become an assassin her life would be simpler. She would never know the true meaning of feeling at peace. She shook her head this time she downed the rest of the whiskey and reached over to fill the glass again. She was lying to herself about that. For a brief moment, all too brief moments, she'd felt peace. Olivia. The woman was asleep in her bedroom, in her bed. The one place she could feel completely at
Tempting the Devil Chapter 7 - Tentative Trust
Emma watched Cassandra walk into the pool room, drop her towel and dive into the cool, clear water. She sipped her coffee and shook her head. Her sister had a burden she’d not wish on her worst enemy. Yes, it was their livelihood, and she’d been raised into the role, but still, the constant target painted on her back, on her family’s back. Emma couldn’t think she’d ever be able to carry that weight. She was afraid of this war between the families, a power struggle always left innocent people dead, hurt, or heartbroken.“Are you going to the party tonight?”Olivia’s question brought her back to the now. “Yes. It’s sort of mandatory for me. I’m the sister of the big boss, so I’m the host.” Emma snorted. “I hate these things. All those people pretending to like us, acting like they are loyal to my sister. It makes me sick. Most of them are only there to say they’d been to a Panagio party. The others want to rub shoulders with Cass. And mixed in between them all, there’s the few who’d tak
Tempting the Devil Chapter 6 - Devil in me
Three days passed before she saw Cassandra again. Olivia and Emma spent their days lounging at the pool, drinking and relaxing. At night she waited for Cassandra to come to the room, but she never did. Or she did because the couch was always ruffled in the mornings. Things were so calm and quiet that she could almost make herself believe that she was on some remote holiday with a friend. Pedro, for some reason nice to her, had brought her the report on the night the girls were dropped off at the gate and she realized that she’d treated Cassandra harshly and judged her wrongly. When she’d asked Pedro to talk to Cassandra, he’d said that she was unavailable and when she was ready to talk, she would. It had been the most words she’d ever heard him say in one go, and she stared at him. He’d winked at her and resumed his brooding. She stared at the bedside clock as she waited for her body to adjust to being awake. She sat up in shock as she realized that the shower was going in the bathroo
Tempting the Devil Chapter 5 - Devil in her
Cassandra stood at the window of her office. She was waiting for Michael to get back. Vance sat in her visitor’s chair, his suit wrinkled, and hair dishevelled. Obviously, he’d not had time to shower and change. She ignored his mutterings and frantic tapping on the tablet in his hands. She thought back to a few hours ago when she’d been walking the beach with Olivia. It had been such a strange thing. To find herself enjoying the company on her usually solitary walk. Strange that it had been her, and not Emma that had come after her. Maybe Emma was worried that she’d be angry at her. She had to admit, it had hurt when she’d seen the accusation in Emma’s eyes. She couldn’t blame Emma. Cassandra had been on top of a screaming Olivia. “I don’t understand how he got the bodies past the first guards.” Vance said. “They should have seen something like that.” “They were paid not to.” Cassandra said stonily. “I want them fired.” “Cass, we don’t…” She spun around and he nodded. “Now, I need
