DANTE
I watched as a myriad of emotions clouded her face. Her eyes widened, pupils dilating just enough that I could see a brief glint of shock in them.
Then, her eyes lit up in flames.
"In hours?" She glared. "That's not going to happen. You don't just get to spring that up on me, and expect me to dance to your every bidding like some fucking puppet."
My eyes flickered to the staff, their heads bent, eyes not daring to meet mine. I had a reputation to maintain, one that wouldn't be spoiled by her insolence.
Without thinking, I leaned even closer, glaring hard enough to send the message clean and clear.
"You do not talk to me that way, Amara. I've been far too lenient with you."
Her glare didn't waver. "I am not ready for some fancy party to sell this just yet. Give me…two days."
I didn't respond immediately.
She let out a small breath. "Two days, and I'll ready myself into the perfect little fiancé you want."
My eyes lingered on her for a moment. The only time my fingers ever twitched were moments where I was trying as hard as I could to subdue my rage.
Moments such as this.
My eyes remained on her for a moment more, before I eventually tore my gaze away. "Two days. I'll tie you and drag you to the center stage if I fucking have to."
She simply nodded, eyes locked on mine for a moment. I turned to Cassian who'd been quietly watching our exchange. His eyes held different unsaid words, but otherwise, his lips remained sealed.
I made a mental note to find out what that was about.
"As said before," I continued. "The maids will show you to your room, and explain what your daily responsibilities are."
Something compelled me to lean forward once more. Maybe it was simply the sheer need to make my stand clear.
Or a show of dominance.
"Know your place, Amara." I held her piercing gaze. "I don't want us to have any problems."
She bit her lips, probably also biting back a lot of colorful words she'd much rather throw at my face. I didn't care for it. Neither did I wait for her in anticipation.
"Cassian."
The second nodded in understanding. Without so much as a glance her way, I moved into the house, Cassian following steadily and quietly.
As soon as we reached the confines of my office, he finally broke. "Really?"
I settled into my own seat before finally fixing him a long look. "What?"
"This whole…arrangement you've gotten yourself into," He put a hand on his head, an exasperated expression suddenly on his face. "Is this really the route you're going to go with it?"
My gaze wandered to the stack of files settled neatly on the table. I could understand where he was coming from. In my head, I'd come up with various contingencies but now, things were moving faster than I'd initially anticipated.
I pressed a finger on the mahogany desk. "Vitale isn't just going to sit with his hands crossed over the other. He knows I have his daughter, and mafioso's don't play with their daughters."
"So, you do know what you've gotten yourself into."
Cassian slid into the chair, that frustrated glint still nestled in the far corners of his eye. I could understand his worry for me. He'd been like that for the longest time. It didn't matter if we were just ten, pouring over schedules and templates instead of arguing about who had the better video game collections. Or, if we'd been barely twenty, cleaning up our own injuries after a particularly nasty face off with a rival mafia family.
He'd come through for me each and every time, with the sort of dedication that I wasn't sure I'd be able to find just anywhere. Now however, I knew that trying to convince him would more or less be quite the challenge.
"At least try to see where I'm coming from here." He tried again.
"I do," I cut in, reaching for one of the files at the far end of the table.
The minutes of last week's meeting with the Police Chief. With any luck, our shipment coming by the end of the week wouldn't face any problems at port. But I still needed to put some things in place, just to be on the safe side.
"I get where your worry is coming from. I'm very much ready for Vitale's retaliation. I've put every single contingency into consideration, and I also plan to act accordingly," I leaned back, finally facing him.
"And as for my sister—"
"She's not going to like this." Cassian fixed me with a hard look.
I shrugged. "I don't care for that."
His eyes narrowed into slits, and I waited for what would be another rebuttal of my recent line of actions. Seconds later, his shoulders sagged, and he leaned back into his seat.
"Fine then. It's not like I have a choice anyway."
The corner of my lips tug into a small smirk. "Good to know you're finally accepting your own incompetence in certain things."
"Fuck you." He growled, before pouting his lips in a sulk.
With remarkable and baffling speed, he'd gone back to being serious again. I let out a sigh, my jaw already clenched from irritation.
"Anything else, Cassian?"
He seemed to debate on whether or not to talk. I humored him for a few more seconds before reaching for a pen.
"Wait, wait." He held out his hands. "Your new…fiancé. Is it okay if I show her around?"
One of my brows went up. "I don't see why that should be your responsibility or problem."
"You are right," he reasoned. "But she has no knowledge of this place. And I doubt the maids are going to do a good job at this."
When I didn't budge, he let out a sigh. "Come on, man. I know you've got this super evil masterplan on wringing out all the information from her. But just think about this. I could also get close to her, and start buttering her up for you. Get some things out of her too."
My stare was blank and flat enough to make him cringe. "You really think the Vitale princess is that weak to just let you use her?"
"Not when you put it like that," he sighed again, "But just let me try first. There's no harm in wanting to be close to her."
He leaned forward, eyes glinting with eagerness as he waited for a reply. I held his gaze for a few more seconds before letting out a groan.
"Fine," I drop my gaze to the minute before me. "But tread carefully. And be sure to know your boundaries with my fiancé."
"Possessive already."
It took quite a bit of restraint not to snap the pen in half. Cassian let out another giggle that was no doubt intended to infuriate me even more.
"You've got it, boss!" He gave a mock salute, before shooting out of his seat. "I'm going to freshen up. That whole trip had me beat."
I let out what must have been a grunt, already deep in the documents I was going through. Even when the door slammed shut, I barely so much as glanced that way.
Cassian getting close to Amara wasn't a bad idea. It didn't particularly affect what I already had in mind either. One way or the other, I'd get what I wanted. And Celeste…I'd handle her when the time eventually came.
.
.
.
Getting lost in my work was something that always happened far more than I was willing to let on. In a way, I enjoyed it. Letting my mind pour away into whatever it is I had my hands on. It was great. It was calming. For a moment, I could forget about every other thing that boggled my mind.
Preferably Amara.
"Speaking of which…" I muttered, stretching a little before pushing the documents aside.
The darkness outside was a telltale sign of just how much hours I'd burned in the office. One glance at my watch was enough to make me wince.
Past midnight.
Letting out a breath, I left the office and began making my way up the stairs. Amara's room was a little down the hallway. I'd ordered the maids to get it ready, along with every other thing she'd need to be comfortable.
Would it be to her liking? I didn't know. That didn't matter to me either. This was all part of our arrangement either.
It was only right that she be comfortable.
And yet, my legs moved faster than I could think, leading me to her door. A small breath left me and I was already reaching out for the door handle.
But then it froze mid-rise.
"What am I doing?"
What did I actually plan on doing? See her for what reason? I pushed down the wave of uncertainty that was clawing its way up her throat.
I'd address her tomorrow morning.
When my mind was sharper, and a myriad of something I couldn't quite put a finger on wasn't trying to consume my thoughts. Now, I'd leave her to her own devices. The maids could very easily update me on her situation.
Tomorrow, I'd begin my goal of tearing her mind apart.