Page 38 of Midnight Danger

Cassandra tucked her legs under her. “You shoot people, so you’re both bad guys.”

Jordan rolled his eyes. “You’re sleeping with him and having his baby. Now you’re labelling us as bad guys?”

“I didn’t say that I approved. There are a lot of bad guys, but I’ve decided that your group isn’t as bad as some of the others out there.”

There was no arguing with Cassandra when she was being this difficult.

I nudged Jordan to tell him to let it go or she’d tie him in knots all night.

She grinned as if she’d won. “What if this Michael knows you’re onto him and is trying to make you reveal information yourselves?”

I clinked my glass against Jordan’s. “She has a point. I’ll speak to Dad. He’s already distracted because Uncle Lucas arrives next week.”

“Is he bringing any of your cousins?” Jordan smirked.

“I think Lucrezia has insisted on coming. Should I mention it to Ash?”

Jordan chuckled. “Nah, some things are best left as a surprise.”

“What are you two up to?” Cassandra asked in suspicion, her female curiosity sparked.

“You’ll see next week. Ash and my cousin pretend to not notice each other when they actually have the hots for each other.”

Jordan laughed. “Your uncle will castrate him if he even looks at her.”

Cassandra’s brow furrowed in confusion at our reactions.

“Uncle Lucas doesn’t believe in sex before marriage. He expects anyone wanting to court his daughters to bring a dossier of their worth and a pledge of their intentions.” Her reaction made me join Jordan laughing.

“Why are they coming next week?” Cassandra was a curious little minx, always wanting to know what’s going on.

“He has business over here and I told him I finally took his advice and went and got the girl. He wants to meet you.” I winked at her.

She groaned and rested back on the sofa with her eyes closed. Every time I told her we’d need to tell Dad about us she went quiet. I was sure she’d find a lot to say when I told her she’d probably have to leave her job for security reasons.

“At least you found a way to shut her up,” Jordan remarked.

Cassandra’s eyes flashed open and she glared at him. “What does my friend see in you? You’re rude and arrogant, like to kill people, and are generally a bully and a pain in the ass.”

Jordan grinned, his teeth flashing. “I like her, she has spirit—unlike the mindless drones who try to catch our attention. Your fiancée’s quite the little firecracker.”

Cassandra flung him a one-fingered salute, which made his grin grow bigger.

“Deal with your dad and meet me at work tomorrow. I have information on the other matter we’re dealing with. I’ll text Ash when I get home, I want to try and keep him out of this Michael thing.”

Suddenly weary, I just nodded and trailed my fingers through my hair. “It better not interfere with next week,” I muttered.

He cocked an eyebrow at me. Both Jordan and Ash knew I’d arranged everything for next Friday. The only person who didn’t know was the woman sitting watching us. Uncle Lucas was coming over and I planned on telling Dad in the next day or so. With my name behind her, nobody on the Council would dare even look at her. The best way to protect Cassandra from the dangerous games that were unfolding was to tie her to me every way possible, and that included to my headboard.

***

Chapter Fourteen

Cassandra

My office felt small, the walls constricting around me. No matter how much I tried to concentrate on the words on the page in front of me, they refused to make sense. I’d had to take some time off after my abduction and pretend that I fell down the stairs when I was dizzy with the flu. It explained the physical bruises, and no one would ever see my psychological ones.

My engagement ring sat in my handbag, my finger naked without it residing there. It would be too much for me to explain so soon after the bruises and ribs.

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