Cassandria POV.Entering the house that I live in with my brother. I know things are going to be different now. He now knows the truth and will no doubt wrap me in bubble wrap and keep me away from everything and anyone who can hurt me.But I need to get away, I need to leave. I don’t need the pity or the over protectiveness. I need to live my life, get back on the damn horse, as it were. Not be couped up at home like a laying hen. No, I need to go to the one place that always felt like home.Sicily. To my zio Francesco and zia Sophie. They will help me, and I can start to heal without people breathing down my neck. I love my brother, but he is too overbearing and I need to breathe. I can’t do that here.I need the sea, the sun, the fresh air. I need to go home. Andros thinks that I don’t know the truth about who I am. I have known for a short while now. I know I shouldn’t have kept it from him, but he, too, has kept it from me. So it’s tit-for-tat.I grab my phone and dial the number
Cassandria POV.Seven years was the last time I was here. Seven years and the area has changed so much. We drive along the costal road. I look out of the window and smile, watching the blue waters of the Mediterranean Sea glisten under the blazing sun.I’m already feeling at ease, like the crushing, oppressive weight is starting to lift from my chest, the black cloud of depression or the black dog as it is known is shifting, evaporating from my being.We drive towards the gates that keep the Romano compound secured. The pine trees line the drive and terracotta tall planters warm in the sun with roses in various colours. We drive up the driveway to a small fountain in the centre. The cars come to a stop at the door.My door is opened, and I take a deep breath of the sea air. I smile as I climb out and look up at the mansion that I always felt at home in. This was my madre’s childhood home. It hasn’t changed much.It’s warm jagged quarry stone front with arch windows encased with wrough
Matteo POV.Checking over documents in the office, the door opens with a bang and I look up and see a furious-looking Andros as he storms forward. I move the laptop away and stand to look at him.“What crawled up your ass?” I ask. This is not usual to see him like this, a bull in a damn china shop.“She is gone.” He shouts as he clutches at his black hair. He paces and I sigh. I knew this would happen. Cynthia said she would. I didn’t think she would leave so soon, though.“Where?” I ask him and he looks up at me. His blue eyes are raging with fire.“Sicily.” He hands me an envelope and I take it from him. I open the lip and pull out the paper. Unfolding it, seeing her beautiful cursive handwriting. I read it.Andros, my big brother.By the time you read this, I would have left. I’m sorry for not being strong enough and for being a burden to you. It was never my intention to drag you into my mess.I have sold my car and left my phone and key in the house.Know that I am safe and I hav
Cassandria POV.Entering the bedroom that was once my madre’s, but when we stayed here during vacations, it became mine. I smile up at the posters on the walls, the familiar pictures on the dresser. The chest at the foot of the kingsized bed. The white voiles around the posts of the bed and hanging from the canopy.A proper bed fit for a principessa, she would say. I can see her as I would sit at the vanity dresser with her behind me as she would comb my hair and braid it, speaking to me in her native tongue. I walk closer and pick up the comb and clutch it to my chest. Looking at the wallet sized pictures of us all around the mirror. Happier memories of when Andros and I were children.I allow myself to break down in the privacy of the room. I walk to the chest and move to my knees, and open the lid. The old wooden style chest. I lift the heavy metal catch and lift the lid, allowing it to open completely.I can smell the perfume she used to wear. Chanel Coco Mademoiselle. It wafts ge
Cassandria POV.FOUR MONTHS LATER!I used to love doing this as a child. Laying in the dewy grass looking up at the sky, especially if there were clouds, so I could let my imagination run wild. But without the taste of blood in my mouth and the winded feeling in my gut.“Ohh, look at you. On your back panting for breath. Tap out, little one, you are not ready.” The mocking, arrogant asshole that is Ivan is blocking my sun with his taunts as he leans down, trying to make me feel inferior. But fuck him.He stands and holds his bear paw of a hand out for me to take. I slap it away and roll onto my knees with a groan, and spit the blood into the grass. I stand up, catching my breath.“That’s it, little one, run along. You don’t have what it takes to beat me.” I look at him over my shoulder and smile at him, my eyes watching him. A glint in them, a promise of both pain and humiliation that I, a little five foot eight girl, will take down the Russian mountain.“Keep telling yourself that, p
Cassandria POV.“Cass, earth to Cass, snap out of it!” fingers click in my face and I blink to come out the momentary stun.“I’m fine.” I say as I walk towards the bar. I grab a bottle of vodka and open the lid and drink it down. Allowing the burn to remind me I’m here, I’m alive and he can’t hurt me anymore.“Did any of you know about this?” I ask as I look at the wall. This is a new betrayal. After I shared my pain of everything that bastard did to me and many other women, why is he with Matteo? Was this planned all along? Is it because I left?“No, we didn’t know, but you need to listen before you go all stabby stabby.” Dimitri says and I take a breath to calm my racing and anxious heart.“I’m listening.” I say as I lean against the wall, looking at him and not the news interview.“Valentina has connections with Cur …” I hold my hand up and I shake my head.“With that man, Matteo thinks she is connected somehow with the trafficking. Do you know why Matteo is so against it?” he asks
Cassandria POV.I’m woken by the sound of an alarm blurring in the villa. I sit up and climb out of bed as the bedroom door opens and Ivan comes into view. His finger to his mouth. Tati comes in behind him holding a vest and gun. She hands them to me.I take them with shaking hands and put the vest on and grab the gun.“There is a breach. We need to move. Stay down, stay calm and don’t fucking hesitate.” He says and I gulp, nodding my head as I hear the first shot fired. I jump and yelp as I duck down. Ivan grabs me and shoves me behind him. I’m shaking as I hear screams, then multiple bursts.I grab the back of his vest, and Tati has me.“We move as one. Remember your training, Cass. This is real, not a drill.” Tati says and all I can hear is the blood pumping in my ears. We inch closer to the stairs, hearing more screams and shouts coming from outside and inside.“DOWN!” Ivan shouts, and I hit the floor as he fires his gun. I lay there in shock. I’m grabbed up and dragged around. It
Matteo POV.No sooner had Alina and Dimitri arrived than we received the news that Francesco and Sophie were killed in the compound in Sicily. The only word we have is that the staff and the occupants were slaughtered, but Cass and her team are still alive. We have all tried to call them, but no answer. But we have kept trying. I have a feeling in my gut that something bad has happened to her. To my Regina, tesoro mio.One of the local police officers reached out to me and so here we are, in Sicily. We are speeding towards the compound. Andros is beside himself. We don’t know who it was who attacked the compound, but I have an idea. My only thoughts are getting to Cass, and fast.We drive through the gates of the compound and park up. No sooner has the cars stopped Andros is out and running to find his sister.“Where is she?” he shouts as he runs through the villa, shouting her name. I look around and see the grass littered with blood and shell casings. This was organised. They came h
Cassandria POV.I limp through the mansion. I need my phone, my laptop, and my team on their A game. I fall onto the sofa with a sigh. I lean my head back and close my eyes. So much for my relaxing evening. I scoff before I chuckle. It will never end unless I get to Nikolai first. The only way I can do that is by going after this monster’s family. I will use them to lure him out of hiding. I won’t hurt them. I don’t want them; I want him.I want him to know how it feels to have your family’s life in someone else’s hands. The fear of losing them. He will come for them and when he does, I will take him. I won’t kill him, no I will leave his fate to the others. He is a stain on this world, the amount of innocent men and women he has taken and destroyed countless families all for greed.I know it will never end, not until I have him. He thinks I am a prize, no it’s him. He is the one every mafia family is after. And it will be me who brings them all justice. If these were medieval times,
Cassandria POV.I sit there on the bathroom floor, huddled against the claw-footed bathtub. I’m shaking. Is it from the cold, the rage, the realisation that I was the reason they died?“Tesoro, look at me. This is not your fault.” Matteo has my face in his hands and the tears are just pouring down my cheeks, dripping off my chin. I’m numb. They did this to get to me. How could people be so fucking cruel? Well, I know how.“They wanted me. My parents died because of one mans greed. So it is my fault.” I move my face from his hold and he sighs when I look back at him and it clicks. I shove him away from me. He hits the floor and I launch myself at him. I straddle him, not caring that the towel has slipped, my hand around his throat.“You knew.” I say through gritted teeth, and he looks at me. He opens his mouth to speak, but I squeeze, restricting his air flow. When I’m pulled off of him. I snap.I thrash and scream, throwing elbows at who has me, kicking my legs out wildly as I remembe
Cassandria POV.I’m gently jolted awake. I rub the back of my neck from sleeping on Matteo’s shoulder. I’m dazed as Matteo lifts me. I wriggle and rub my face against his neck, like a child who is still half asleep. Which is what I feel like at the moment.Everything that has had happened has taken its toll on me. All I want to do right now is have a bath and go to sleep. Whatever needs sorting can be dealt with tomorrow. Right now, I need time.“Matteo, I’m so tired.” I mumble and I hear a chuckle. I lift my head and squint to see who it is that is chuckling at me. I blink a few times and see Hulk looking at me, and I smile at him.“Hulk, don’t laugh at me.” I say, and he smirks at me and winks. Asshole.“Come on, tesoro, you are exhausted. Rest up and sleep.” Matteo says, and I shake my head.“No, I need a bath and then sleep. Oh and food, I’m so very fucking tired.” I mumble, and he tightens his hold on me.“Cass, what’s wrong? Are you ok?” I look up and see Luna and she is fussing
Matteo POV.Cass is such a bad ass. Not once did she flinch as she watched Valentina and Rocco get their comeuppance, not once did she tell her team or the king’s or the yakuza to stop. She sat poised, calm and collected and directed what was to happen like a director on a film set.The only time she got her hands dirty was when she decided it was time to end them. Me personally I would have toyed with them for days, giving them every single ounce of pain she felt. But Cass is different. She wanted to end it quickly, and she did.I know she will be concocting ways to get to Nikolai for his role in her suffering, but the question remains. Do I tell her the truth about her parents? Or do I let sleeping dogs lie, so to speak? If I don’t tell her and she finds out that I knew, then that will only incur her wrath, but if I do tell her, then she will no doubt hunt down Nikolai and it will be one huge fucking mess.“Tesoro, where are you going?” I catch up with her as do the rest of the team
Cassandria POV.I sit there sipping on a coffee, listening to the screams coming from all three of my prisoners. Why should I dirty my hands when I have people to do it for me? The coppery tinge of blood hangs in the air as I watch Valentina crawling on all fours, naked and bleeding from the whip strikes on her back.Rocco is the same and Baron, well, he is restrained against the wall, watching everything that is happening to his precious daughter.“You better keep your eyes open, Baron, unless you want them pinned open.” I say, blowing on the coffee as Tati kicks Valentina in her stomach. She curls up in a ball and endures the assault. I have not had her defiled. I would never wish that on anyone. But she has been beaten, whipped, tortured. The same as Rocco has.“Please, I’m sorry, I’m sorry.” She sobs, her face covered in blood, snot, and dirt. I sip my coffee like I can’t hear her. The same she did to me.“Tati, ya dumayu Valentina nuzhno prinyat vannu.” (Tati, I believe Valentina
Cassandria POV.I go and change back into my white pant suit and red blouse. My Katana is now sheathed and in my hand.I still can’t believe that I beat Boss Tadashi Hamada, and that the Yakuza are now mine to command.Once I’m ready, I open the sliding door and Matteo is standing there, waiting for me. He walks to me and kisses me.“You sure you want to do this?” He asks me and I look up at him and nod my head.“Yes, it is time to put this to bed. I want to be able to live without worrying about them lurking around every corner. They have already caused me so much pain and suffering, it is time they had a small taste of their own medicine.” I tell him and he looks at me. His eyebrows furrow.“I won’t do everything they did to me. I’m not that sick and twisted. I will humiliate them, beat and degrade them, before I kill them.” I tell him and there is a sense of calm that has washed over me. Which is strange. Up until now I have felt nothing. Maybe me giving into my feelings for Matteo
Matteo POV.“Don’t hurt her Tadashi.” I say after Keomi led Cass away to change into more comfortable clothes for this duel.“It is not her you should be worried about. I’m no fool, Matteo. I have heard what she is capable of. This, however, is not a sparring exercise. Alina, explain to them what it is.” We all turn and see Alina standing there in an Akido uniform, or Gi, as it is known. The long flared black trousers look like a skirt and a black top that ties to the side. In the belt at her side is a long wooden sword. Her long black hair is pulled into a ponytail. She bows to Tadashi.“This is a ceremony. If she passes this spar as you want to call it, she will be recognised in the ranks of the Yakuza. If she knocks Tadashi down three times, she will be recognised as a master.” She tells us and I look at her in wonder.“Did you ever knock him down three times?” I ask her and she shakes her head no.“I came close. No one has ever knocked this old fool on his ass. He is too sly, too
Cassandria POV.For the rest of the conference, I keep replaying Baron’s words over in my head about my madre. Like father, like daughter. No wonder Valentina is the way she is with a father like that.I listen to the key speakers, which are older and more experienced Don’s, but I drone it out. I need to leave and get to the prisoners of the Yakuza. Matteo hasn’t left my side since the incident with Baron.Matteo has hold of one hand, and Andros has the other. He is pissed, just like I am. When I go with the Yakuza later on, Andros will come with me. No one, and I mean no fucking one, talks ill of our parents. Not if they want to keep breathing.People start clapping and I join in. Matteo kisses me before he leaves our table to go and give the closing speeches.“Well, little one. I hope you are happy. I know Matteo will never hurt you. He loves you and I hope you will let him in. Sis, you deserve to be happy.” Andros says before he kisses my head. I look at him and just nod my head.I
Matteo POV.After the shower incident, every time Cass looks at me she is blushing and I don’t know if it is because of the cold water thing or the sight of my cock that has made her embarrassed. Either way, that blush makes her look cute.I had Tati bring clothes for her this morning so we can get to the conference. Today is about making connections, settling old grievances and up dating laws. We do this so it stops war over territories and keeps everyone happy.Cass is sitting next to me in my SUV as we both drive to the Los Angeles Convention Centre. We also have food and drinks, so it takes the edge off. The whole area and surrounding buildings and roads are secured. Private security, military, and police.If anyone wanted to take us all out, it would be at this event, even though no one would be so fucking brave to try. It is always best to be safe rather than sorry.We have an escort like always whenever I go anywhere, seriously you would think I was the president, but then agai