Cassandria POV.
I spent the day alone. Andros left a text on my phone telling me he had to go and do some work and Lola went to her apartment. So I have the house to myself. I guess he knew I needed my space after what happened last night.
So here I am, sitting in my sweats, his hoodie with the hood up obscuring my face, with the curtains closed, wrapped in a blanket surrounded by snacks and bottles of soda. I ordered a pizza and it should be here soon. I shut my phone off after I read his text message and ignored the door.
Now I’m binging my shows as I dig into my ice cream. Yes, I am not ready to face the world after what happened last night. The door bell rings and I groan.
“Pizza for miss Bristol-Romano.” I sigh and grab the remote from under the blanket, and pause the show as I shuffle to the door. I know I look like death warmed up. But I don’t care. I open the door and take the box and bag and thank him as I close the door and lock it again.
Moving back to the sofa and the safety of my blanket. I open the pizza box and smile at the cheesy goodness. I un-pause my show and eat my pizza. Yes, I’m a pig and I don’t give a fuck. Hell, I’m out of fucks to give at this point.
The door bell rings again, and I ignore it. When the front door opens and I side eye who it is that has entered my pity party, uninvited I must say.
“Well, you look beautiful.” I turn my head and glare at him.
“Thanks.” I turn my head back to the TV as he sighs and walks closer to the sofa and sits down, reaching for the snacks and I grab the bag of food and open it and take out my fries and start to eat them. Yes, I could put those competitive eaters to shame with the amount I can eat.
“Bloody hell, Cass, you eat anymore and you will slip into a food coma and die.” He says, chuckling, but I just keep eating.
“Doesn’t sound so bad. At least I will die, full, content and with a grin on my face.” I say with a shrug before taking another five and stuff them into my open mouth, and he chuckles as he reaches for my fries.
“Hey, get your own.” I snap as I slap his hand away.
“Ok, Joey, calm down. Cass, look, this is not healthy.” I turn to face him and he looks at me.
“Tell me hulk. Why are you here?” I ask him, and he smiles sadly at me. Oh, great, he knows what happened. Of course he does. The chances are every fucker in the world knows what I did last night.
“You need a friend, Cass. I know I don’t look like it, but I am. I’m your friend. So if you want to talk, I’ll listen. If not, then that’s fine. We can sit here and watch this shit and eat even more shit. How does that sound?” he says and I sigh as I bite the inside of my cheek and turn to face the screen again, wiping the stray tear away. We settle in to comfortable silence.
A few hours in and we are arguing about what to watch next. Hell hulk has even removed his suit jacket, tie, and shoes. He is cool to be around, even if he is a grump, but he is my protector, so he is forgiven.
“Thank you Tony. I thought I needed to be on my own, but you proved me wrong. You’re an alright guy.” I say as I bump his shoulder with mine.
“Just alright? Well, I’m offended. I’m so much cooler than Andros.” He says and I chuckle.
“Keep telling yourself that, snowflake. I’m not ready to talk about what happened. I don’t think I ever will. Last night, I lost it and I snapped. It scared me. I didn’t know what I was doing. I could have really hurt her.” I say as I choke and my voice cracks.
“Hey Cass, look at me. No one blames you for what happened. To be honest, everyone is happy you put that entitled little bitch in her place. You have nothing to worry about. She said what she said, and you defended yourself.” I run a hand through my hair as he pulls me to his side, and I let him. I feel comfortable with Tony.
He hugs me, and we just sit like that watching TV.
“Matteo wants you to go to his house tomorrow. He is having a family get together for all the people in the community and their families. We do it every so often. He also understands if you don’t want to go. It would be good for you to meet other people, Cass. I will be there and so will Lola and Andros. You need to break out of this shell. So will you come?” he says to me and I sit up and look at him. Can I do that? Can I show my face after everything I did last night?
“I will think about it.” I say, and he winks at me with a smile on his face.
“Well, that’s better than a flat out no. It starts at one in the afternoon. There is no pressure.” He says and we sit back in silence, watching TV until I begin to fall asleep when I realise something.
“Oh my god, Tony. You have just smiled!” I say as I laugh, and he narrows his eyes at me.
“Shut up. I do smile, you know. It’s rare, but it does happen. Now shush, we are getting to a good part.” He says, and I chuckle as I snuggle back into his side.
I wake up on the sofa, and the house is quiet. Tony has no doubt gone home. Andros, I think, is still out. I’m fine with it. I stretch and move to sit up. Hearing a crunch, I look at what I was lying on. Great. A burst packet of Cheetos. I reach up and dust the crumbs from the side of my face and pull a couple from my hair.
Ok, that is disgusting. I stand up and begin the cleanup of the living room. Once all the empty packets and bottles are in the bin. I grab the vacuum cleaner and get to work to clean the living room and kitchen. After an hour or so, the living room was back to what it was and so was the kitchen.
I open the back patio doors to let in some fresh air and make a coffee. I grab my phone and turn it on to be inundated with messages and missed calls from Andros, Lola, tony and a number I don’t recognise. I ignore them as I rest my head against the cold marble countertop as the front door opens and in walks Andros.
“So you’re alive then?” I turn my face and give him the finger, and he chuckles as I sit up and finish my coffee.
“It would appear so. Why are you home?” I ask, and he moves closer to me and kisses me, but then makes a face of disgust.
“When did you last shower?” he asks, and I sniff myself through the hoodie top. Wow! If I was still hungover, I would gag and no doubt throw up. The smell of stale alcohol, sweat and grease is enough to knock me out! Vile!
“Erm, Friday.” I say with a wince, and he shakes his head.
“Today is Sunday, you dirty bitch. Get your ass upstairs in that shower and be ready in half an hour, Cass. No argument.” I groan and bang my head against the countertop and he chuckles as he scoops me up and I shriek as I wrap my arms around his neck.
“Andros, put me down, you big buffoon.” I say as he takes the stairs to my room and dumps me on the bed and I bounce as he turns and walks into my bathroom and turns the shower on.
“Move your ass. Half an hour Cassandria. Or I will throw your stinking ass in the pool.” He says, and I glare at him. He leaves the room, closing the door behind him. Fine, fine. I need a shower anyway.
I strip out of the hoodie and sweats and dump them in the laundry hamper before stepping into the shower and I scream.
“ANDROS, ANYONE TELL YOU, YOU ARE A GRADE A ASSHOLE!” I shout as I adjust to the temperature. Fucker trying to kill me with ice cold water. I quickly wash, shave my legs, and shampoo the Cheetos out of my hair. Once I’m done, I wrap a pale grey, fluffy towel around my body and one wrapped around my wet hair. I brush my teeth and enter my bedroom to see a white sundress on the bed.
He knocks on my door, and I move towards it and open it.
“Wear a bikini as well. It’s a pool party.” He says and I slam the door in his face as he laughs as he walks away. Twat waffle.
I move back and grab a bikini and throw it on. Throwing the sundress on over it. I put my hair up into a messy bun and grab my wedge sandals as I walk out of the room feeling human again and make my way downstairs.
Ok I can do this. It’s just a family event. I can sit next to Lola and sunbathe. No big deal, you’ve got this, Cass.
Andros is leaning by the front door in his shorts and t-shirt with his sunglasses on his head. I walk past him and open the door. I step out and the sun blinds me. I turn around to grab my sunglasses, but he already has them in his hand.
“Come on.” I take them and put them on and follow him down the path as we walk towards his SUV. I climb in and he drives us to Matteo’s house.
We pull up to a gate and wait for it to open. I watch as we drive up the long driveway, trees, and lots of greenery line the driveway and there is a fountain in the middle. My eyes widen and my jaw hangs open. Ok, I take it back. It is not a house. It’s a damn mansion.
Andros parks the SUV by the front door. I open the door and step down.
“You ready, little one?” he takes my hand in his as I look up and back at my brother and nod my head. Here goes.
Cassandria POV.Looking up at this huge mansion, I nod in appreciation. It is gorgeous. Modern and sleek. Floor to ceiling windows complete with privacy glass. The walls are white, the front door is a double door in black. The three steps leading up to the front doors are made of white quartz. I look up and there is an enormous window just above the front door.There are up-lights against the walls. It looks cold, masculine, clearly a bachelor pad. Andros opens the door and ushers me inside.I step inside and just wow. The interior is clean and shiny. The marble floors shine and the walls are white, with modern artwork hanging from them. The entry way has two stairs cases that join to a platform at the top complete with glass panelling. I feel sorry for whoever has to keep them clean.There is a lounge area with black area rugs and a huge open fireplace. Definitely a bachelor pad. It lacks warmth, and that lived in feeling. I follow Andros under the arch of the stairs and into a cater
Matteo POV.Shit! Why did I have to say that? She bolts away and I shout after her, but she won’t stop. She is running on pure adrenaline. Andros looks up, hearing me shout after her. He runs after her like I do. My security team is closing in on her.“DON’T FUCKING TOUCH HER!” I scream, and they back off as she screams and falls to the ground. She is fighting invisible forces and I know who it is. That cunt of an ex-husband of hers. Curtis motherfucking Black.“NOOOOOOO, CURTIS, STOP, PLEASE. I’LL BE GOOD, PLEASSSSEEE!” she thrashes her eyes are open but vacant. Her mouth opens in a silent scream and her eyes go wide. Her body tenses as she rolls onto her back, kicking and screaming to get away.My heart shatters. Why did I have to open my fucking mouth? I run to her and grab her up. Her fist connects with my face and I see stars. Fuck! Andros grabs her face in his hands and calls to her. For a moment, she stops and her eyes clear as she looks at her brother.Then it happens again. I
Cassandria POV.Waking, I feel groggy, my head feels heavy and my mouth is dry. I look up at the ceiling and around the room. This is not my room? Where the hell am I and what happened? I sit up and see a bottle of water next to me. I reach for it and take a long drink. The cool water is soothing in my dry mouth and throat.I remove the white blanket from my legs and swing my legs over the side of the bed, holding my head as it pounds. Closing my eyes to stop the pain. I stand and wobble slightly before sitting back down.I need to remember what happened. I remember going to Matteo’s home for a family day. Then it is hazy, blank. Nothing. Did I drink too much? Was it a dream? The door to the room opens and Andros walks in with Lola, Matteo, and a woman who looks like a doctor. Oh, this is bad.“Cass.” Andros runs towards me and pulls me into a hug. He is squishing me, but I hug him back.“What happened? Where am I?” I ask, but it sounds like I’m underwater.“Lay back down. We had to s
THIS CHAPTER CONTAINS TRIGGER WARNINGS, SO PLEASE IF YOU DON’T WANT TO READ WHAT CASSANDRIA WENT THROUGH, FEEL FREE TO SKIP. READ AT YOUR DISCRETION!Cassandria POV.After I have used the bathroom and spent some time staring at my reflection, I’m ready. Well, I’m as ready as I ever will be, but I know once this is out in the open, I can focus on getting better, stronger and being who I was meant to be.A knock makes me break the stare off with my reflection.“Cass, is everything ok in there?” Lola’s voice comes through the door. I sigh and nod my head once at my reflection. I turn and walk to the door. I unlock and open it.“Everyone is downstairs in Matteo’s office.” I bite my bottom lip and look down. No, Cass, no more looking down, head up, chest out and walk.“What about the guests?” I ask, and she tilts her head to the side.“Oh sweetie, they left like yesterday.” My eyes widen, yesterday. So I was out the whole day? No wonder I felt like shit when I woke up. She takes my hand in
Matteo POV.Hearing what my tesoro endured was brutal. Reading it was different from hearing from it. She detached herself when she was speaking, like she was a robot, going through the motions. But the fire in her eyes was a dead giveaway. The room is dead silent. No one speaking, just processing what we all just heard.“I want that fucker found, I want him dead and all of the men and women who touched her.” Andros is the first to speak through gritted teeth, his knuckles white as he tries to control his urge to fly to New York and torture the prick.“We are leaving Curtis Black for last, but trust me. I have a plan for him. The rest have been taken care of. I want to know who was at these sex parties regardless of if they participated or not. They are all guilty by association.” I say to him, and it does nothing to quell his rage.“What about this man, Nikolai? What about him? Cass said he didn’t touch her, that he tried to help her. Who is he?” Tony says and I sigh, knowing exactly
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