Chapter 2.

Cassandria POV.

The last month has been difficult as what would be my wedding anniversary is approaching and I know I will break down. Everything is still pretty fresh in my mind and I’m finding it harder and harder to hold the memories off.

I have been waking in the night covered in sweat and shaking as I relive the memories. So I have not been sleeping. Andros knows something is wrong, but I brush it off. Lying to him that I am working on designs for the latest contracts. I know he knows I’m lying, but he won’t push me for the truth.

Tonight I am being taken to a new exclusive night club called Sinners and Saints. Apparently everybody who is anybody in this town will be there. So I have to go. Even though I would rather stay home surrounded by snacks and crappy TV. But Lola has other ideas.

Lola is Andros’s girlfriend. I caught them in the kitchen and that is an image I need acid to remove. Apparently, they have been dating for nearly a year and he didn’t tell me because he didn’t want me to be uncomfortable. That hurt that he had to sneak around because of me. But he reassured me that Lola was cool with it. She is a nice girl, two years older than me, and is a little firecracker.

So here I am, currently sitting in my bedroom on my closet floor, surrounded by clothes that you can’t wear to a swanky nightclub. According to Lola, I need to dress to kill and jeans, sweats, and PJs won’t cut it.

I haven’t been to a nightclub like ever. Functions and galas, yes, but not a nightclub. Once the abuse started, I was kept in the mansion. Under lock and key. I was only allowed out to functions with Curtis the rest of the time I was confined to my room.

“Ok, ohhh, look, I have found it. It’s gorgeous.” Lola pulls a dress off the rack and holds it out in front of her body, and I look at it. I don’t really remember when I bought that. But to be honest, the majority of clothes in here. I haven’t worn and bought them because I could.

It’s a cobalt blue short dress, deep plunging neckline, and the back is backless. Cost a fortune for a scrap of fabric. It did look nice on, though.

“Up, put it on oh and these silver heels.” She says, thrusting the dress at me as I stand and groan out. I quickly strip down and throw the dress on and smooth the fabric down and over my ass.

“Oh, my god! Yes, girl. That is the dress for tonight.” She makes a clicking with her fingers and I chuckle at her. Lola is the same height as me, five foot eight, with long blonde hair and perfectly tanned and flawless skin. She has green eyes and is stunning.

I turn to look in the mirror, ok it does look good on. My girls look great and my butt as well. She ushers me to the chaise lounge in the closet and sits me down and grabs the silver embellished Jimmy Choos. I put them on and stand up and she squeals, clapping.

“YESSSSSSS! Bitch, you look fucking stun-ning! WERK it!” she says and I giggle at her as I turn and walk in them. Everyone needs a Lola. She is so full of life and is always smiling and encouraging. She may be my brother’s girlfriend, but I would say she is my best friend. The only friend I have, that in itself, is just sad.

“Ok, go and curl your hair and do your make-up. We are leaving at ten. Andros got us VIP. So tonight is going to be awesome.” She says as she disappears to get ready and I move to the vanity in my bedroom and get to work taming the natural wave in my hair and to do my make-up. I can do this. It is just a night out.

I go for a natural make-up, a nude lip and a blended natural smoky eye to make my blue eyes pop. When I’m done, Lola struts in and my jaw drops.

Bloody hell, she is a goddess. She is wearing a little black dress with a red platform Christian Louboutin heel. Her long blonde hair is straight, and she has gone for the smoky sultry look with a bright red lip. Damn!

“Wow, you look amazing.” I say to her and she does a twirl.

“Thanks, so do you. Now come on. Let’s go. The car is here.” I grab my silver clutch quickly, putting on my jewellery and follow behind miss thing.

After an hour, we arrive outside the club. The driver helps us out and we walk to the front of the line. Lola speaks to the doorman, and he nods and opens the velvet rope and she smiles at me, takes my hand and pulls me inside.

The music is pumping the closer we get to the inside. The place is packed. There are woman dancing in cages and on a small stage above the bar. The dance floor is filled with people grinding and dancing. Lola leads us to the side of the dance floor where a man is standing in all black.

“We have VIP, under the name of Andros Bristol-Romano.” Lola shouts as the man leans down to listen to her. He speaks into an earpiece and nods as he escorts us up the stairs and towards our VIP section.

“Have you ever been here before?” I shout at the music and she shakes her head no.

The Booth has LED flooring, the table in the middle is flashing in different colours. A woman approaches and she is wearing black booty shorts and a black corset with fishnet tights and high heels.

“Hey ladies, my name is Sam. I will be your server tonight. How about we start off with some shots?” She says as she grabs the bottle of Sambuca and pours us both a shot. I look at Lola and she nods her head eagerly as I pick up the black liquid and knock it back. I wince and cough after I’ve swallowed it down and Lola cheers and does another one.

“Drink up, we are getting drunk tonight.” She says and I do another one. After a few drinks, I start to loosen up. I’m sat dancing in my seat to the music as the alcohol buzzes in my system.

“Lola, I want to dance.” I say to her and she stands up and takes my hand and we walk back to the dance floor. Pushing through the sea of people dancing and grinding on each other.

I don’t feel completely comfortable, but I push it away and start to dance. Well side step until Lola grabs my hips and we move together.

“Don’t think. Let the music move through you. Do what you feel is good.” She says and I nod my head as I get lost in the music. Thrusting my hands into my hair as I roll my body against hers and she screams, “yes, girl.”

We dance close to each other for a while as I lose myself to the beat. I grind up against her as I let the inner vixen out. I have never danced like this before. This was never my scene and I am really loving it.

I twirl around her and wiggle down behind her, thrusting my ass out as I move up, throwing my head back. After a while, we are laughing and having so much fun. She signals to drink again and I nod my head with the biggest smile on my lips. I look around and feel eyes on me. I look around and my eyes lock on to a man in the upper levels. His forearms are resting across the railing. His dark hair is slicked back, and he is wearing a dark suit. I can’t really see his face for the flashing lights.

He is watching me like I’m prey. I lower my head as I follow behind Lola back to our booth. Lola squeals and lets go of my hand and launches at the person. As I get closer, I see it’s Andros. I sit down as Sam pours us all a drink.

“You having fun?” He asks and I nod my head as I feel slightly buzzed but I’m happy, this is what I needed.

“Yup, this place is amazing. Why are you here?” I ask as I drink my cocktail. Which is more vodka than anything.

“Business.” Is all he says and I nod my head, not really interested, as I want to dance some more.

I stand up, and Lola follows as we go back to the dance floor. Dancing with her to DNA Loving You by Billie Gillies. I get lost in the music once more when I feel hands move to my waist. I stiffen slightly, but for some reason, I relax as I dance back into who it is. I turn my head and see the most gorgeous man I have ever seen.

His hazel coloured eyes watching me, and he smirks. He is tall, muscular and has that dangerous vibe to him. The dark tattoos peek through the two buttons that are unbuttoned. His pecs and abs are strong. His jawline could cut glass. This man was sculpted by the gods.

“You having fun?” His voice is deep yet smooth. I gulp and nod my head as I turn in his arms. This is not me. I haven’t let a man touch me in this way. I usually run away and hide. But call me drunk or crazy, but I feel safe with him.

“I am, are you?” I ask, and he smiles at me, showing me his perfectly straight white teeth. As he nods his head, he leans down to my ear.

“I’ve been watching you all night. Tell me, how is it that a woman of your calibre can dance like a little seductress?” he says with a groan and I move back to look into his eyes, his nose brushing mine. His minty breath fans across my lips. He is the man from the upper level.

“You don’t know me. So with that …” I begin to panic. Did Curtis send him?

“You are Cassandria Bristol-Romano. CEO of Bristol-Romano International. Your brother is Andros, and you moved here a little over a year ago.” Warning bells start going off in my head as I step back when Andros comes over and moves me away as he hugs the man.

“Matteo, let me introduce you. Cass, this is my friend and boss, Matteo DeAngelis.” I blink, looking from my brother to this sex god. He is the mafia king, the man who is untouchable.

Oh shit!