Cassius threw it onto the desk with disgust.
Guilt swarmed around me as I realized why Dad had been so strict—because of this. He’d tried to protect us from this. These men. From Cassius, whoever he was. Waves of anguish crushed me. I had been so foolish, so spoiled, and so naïve.
Men moved about the room. Opening drawers. Removing frames off the walls. Exploring his desk drawers. Scattering papers. Throwing items here and there to get to what they were looking for.
Cassius pivoted to face me. “Where’s the main safe?”
“I don’t know.”
“It’s very obvious you want to die today.”
Raising my chin, I tried to sound convincing. “He never tells us anything.”
I flinched when he stomped his foot. Continuing to strike the carpet with his heel as he moved about the office, he tested the floor with his sole. A hollow thump sounded with another crash of his foot.
Cassius gave a knowing nod to his men.
They got to work, ripping up carpet at the edges and peeling it back. Far enough to reveal a wooden door set in the floor.
Cassius turned his focus to me. “Want to know what happens when you lie?”
Frantically, I shook my head. “I didn’t know about it.”
“You get one chance with me.” From his arrogant glare, I’d used up any further chances with him, too.
A sledgehammer was brought in. One of the men used it to pound the secret wooden door set in the flooring.
Remaining in the corner, with perspiration spotting my brow, I watched the strikes that splintered and spliced through hardwood. Then I counted the steps toward the door, considering making a run for it.
“Don’t even think about it,” snapped Cassius.
Any man that had to steal, clearly didn’t possess the brains to earn what was hidden in that hole. Yet, he came off educated, which clashed with the way he looked—menacing and rough and surprisingly sophisticated in a cold-blooded way.
“Any idea what’s in there?” he asked, though he kept his sights on the gaping floor.
“I don’t know.”
He tilted his head as though assessing if I was telling the truth. “I suppose we’ll know soon.”
The lid was wedged open with the sledgehammer. A glinting came from within the deep cavern. Rows of stacked gold bars. Why would Stephen have this? I didn’t know this man at all. The businessman who was my father. The man who’d left me vulnerable to these thugs. So many more secrets.
One of the men lifted out a gold bar. “Sir?”
“Someone had a contingency plan.” Cassius raised his glare to the one with the scarred face. “Bring it back with us.”
The scarred man asked, “What about her?”
Cassius didn’t look my way. “She’s mine.”
My back hit the wall as I tried to decipher what he meant.
His to kill.
Or to keep.
Anya
Violently, they dragged me toward the front door like a rag doll. It felt like I was being swept along by an invisible undertow. With each inch they pulled me, I fought against the impossible strength of these men as their grips burrowed into my flesh.
Cassius followed as though merely going for an evening stroll. But I knew, knew he was taking me with him.
How many times had I wanted to get out of the Garden District? Escape this house. Leave behind this life. Find my way to someplace I belonged.
I’d stayed for Archie’s sake, and now I was leaving without him.
I hoped they hadn’t found him. If anyone hurt my brother, they’d have to contend with me. I was done playing nice. Being good never got me anywhere.
His men were brash enough to use the front door. Even with the long driveway, they could be seen by staff or even a gardener. Or maybe a crowd on a walking tour who’d stumbled upon this crime. I was shoved into the back of an SUV before I had time to call out for help.
I was angry with myself for wanting more. Wanting something else. I’d never even considered things could get worse.
This was a fucking nightmare.
The one they’d called Cassius tugged on his sleeves to neaten them. The way he wielded power over the men proved he was the one to watch out for. From the back seat, I watched him heading my way. He glanced back, sweeping his gaze across the windows.
Then he climbed in beside me.
He filled the space in the passenger seat with his threatening presence, sending an invisible wave that hit me like the shock of an electric eel. His charismatic power carried on his filthy glare, reaching my soul and shattering my sense of self. Because I was nothing to him. What I wanted or needed didn’t count.
Looking past him, I stared up at the windows for any sign of my family, praying my father would burst out of the door wielding his gun and come save me.
“I’m not going with you,” I chided.
Cassius raised his hand to quieten me as though annoyed to be this close.
I kicked him. “Are you listening?”
It happened quickly, him asking for rope from one of his men who sat in the front seat. Cassius snatched it from him. With his strong hands on my shoulders, he moved me, so my back was turned to him. Using the rope to bind my hands behind me, he tugged on the knot to send jarring discomfort into my wrists.
“You misunderstand, Anya. You no longer have a say in what happens to you.” His stare burned into me like a fire. Combustible and barely contained.
Struggling was useless. He was too strong. Overpowering. That show of aggression, a glimpse of what he was capable of. My wrists burned like fire from the rope. I slumped back into the seat, defeated.
“Drive,” he ordered.
The car navigated down the driveway and pulled out onto the road, picking up speed as we approached the end of Prytania Street.
My heart was thudding so hard I feared I’d pass out. Struggling with these binds, I was sure if I kept wriggling my wrists, I’d get free.
Cassius focused on his phone. His expression was calm. What kind of a man wasn’t fazed by kidnapping a girl?
A ruthless one.
One I needed to fear.
What had gone wrong with my father and him that would lead to him taking me?
A business dealing, maybe?
It didn’t matter. The only thing that mattered was my father failed to protect me from this monster.
The worst part was he would probably blame me.
The SUV picked up speed, and we weaved around other cars to make it out of the city. Familiar homes and stores and buildings flew by. How far were we going?
I inhaled sharply. “Who are you?”
He didn’t look up from his phone.
This man was abhorrent. Didn’t even try to make this easier. Didn’t try to reassure me. Which could only mean one thing. . .
He’s going to kill me.
“They’ll come for me,” I said.
“I hope they do.”
“You disgust me.”
“Divider up.” Cassius gestured for it to be done.
The glass glided upward and sealed us in the back.
He turned to face me, his voice formidable. “My men don’t like to hear others disrespecting me.” He shrugged. “They can be trigger happy.”
“Maybe it’s you they hate,” I said bitterly.
He looked right through me. He went to say something but changed his mind and leaned back to watch the world fly by.