Page 47 of Cruel Deception
The warmth of seeing him was gone. Replaced by dread.
This wasn’t the brother I knew.
I stepped back into the penthouse, the warmth drained from my body. I couldn’t shake the bitterness clawing up my throat.
Vincent’s face lingered in my thoughts—hard, unreadable. And that blade. His twisted version of love.
I barely made it three steps before I heard the door shut behind someone.
“You should let me know before bringing visitors to my home,” came Cassian’s voice, deep and composed.
I turned. He was standing there, removing his gloves slowly like he hadn’t just returned to a storm.
“He’s my brother.”
“I don’t care who he is,” he said coolly, stepping forward.
“He’s the only family I’ve got left.”
“And I still. Don’t. Care,” he snapped, enunciating every syllable. “You think this is a hotel? If you force me to lay down stricter rules, I promise you’ll start to hate your own existence.”
I dropped my gaze, swallowing my defiance. “Fine.”
He exhaled like he hadn’t just threatened me. “The two cars in the garage are yours to use. Just don’t touch Sophia.”
“Sophia?” I echoed.
“My bike.”
I nodded. “I know how much it means to you. I won’t touch it.”
He studied me for a second. “I’ll be out tonight. Underground race. I won’t be available.”
“You weren’t available last night either.” My words came out sharper than intended. “You don’t have to tell me where you’re going, Cassian. After all, I barely know you.”
He didn’t flinch. “I was by your side until a few minutes after you woke,” he said simply, then turned to go. “See you tomorrow.”
“No—wait,” I blurted, standing. “I want to come with you.”
“It’s not for your kind,” he said without turning back.
I refused to be dismissed like a shadow. I chased after him, catching him just outside as he approached his motorbike.
“I don’t want to stay here alone,” I said, breathless.
He paused, turning his helmeted head toward me. “Go back inside.”
I clenched my fists. “Luca said he’d come for me in two weeks if I don’t divorce you. He said you wouldn’t be able to stop him.”
Cassian turned, his voice low, lethal. “Only death can take you from me. And I decide when that is.
He mounted Sophia and started the ignition, but I wasn’t done.
I stepped in front of the bike.
“You’ll have to run me over,” I said, my voice trembling.
His hand froze on the throttle. “Move.”
