He roared with laughter. “Oh yes, I would have definitely wanted to keep you, Tempest.”
"Jokes on you, I’m impossible to keep.”
"Poor Louis indeed,” Cassian said before walking off and giving me his back. “Two months, Tempest, I’ll give you two months before the game ends and we decide if you’re family ships you away or if you’re actually useful—not on your knees.”
“I’ll set my alarm,” I snapped.
"Do that,” he called. “I’ll be watching, oh and there will be a package delivered, be sure to use every last drop of it on your husband otherwise I fear he won’t make it past the door of our compound. He needs to build up a tolerance to every poison they give him. He’ll need to experience them so he knows how to fight them once given and knows what to do and how to react.”
“Done.”
“Good. A week or two should be enough time for him to prepare. Once I know the date and time for the meeting, I’ll let you know, I’m putting my neck out there in saying I have a new recruit for them, I hope you understand, once you say yes there is no out. They’ll of course have the final say, but I’ve never suggested a member before and they’ll be absolutely delighted that someone tied to your family wants in. He’ll have to follow the instructions accordingly. I can only plan ahead for what they typically do when inviting new members to the meeting and he doesn’t want to leave in a body bag. Right? Done?” He held out his hand.
“Done.” I whispered without thinking completely and utterly desperate to make it all go away.
The wedding was fast.
The memory of that night jolted me over and over again as I said my vows and tried to look happy.
The serum in my hand didn’t help a freaking thing.
And knowing Louis was on the other side of that glass door staring out at the sky, standing on that balcony, possibly thinking about my sister made me irrationally jealous.
I looked like her.
I wasn’t her.
I would never in a million years be her.
Maybe that’s what he wanted, though.
Maybe I should pretend for him, selfishly for me, so he could at least once imagine what it would be like before it all went to hell, because who knew what the Vescovi family would do to him if they found out he was going to double cross them?
Well, I knew. Death.
Wow, and I thought Cassian was sick and twisted.
Something was seriously wrong with me.
I had no plans for the rest of the night other than attempting some ground rules—I just hoped he played games well.
Then again, roughing him up sounded just as fun as giving him praise.
He had no clue the fresh hell I was capable of.
Let the games begin, I guess.
4
LOUIS
In the beginning, is my end. — T.S. Eliot
Hours later, I stood on the balcony of her house—our house now, apparently—looking out over the lights like they meant something. Cold air bit at my skin, but I didn’t move. I just stared, like the skyline could offer an answer I hadn’t already buried.
Behind me, the air shifted. Footsteps padded silently across the floor.
I didn’t have to turn around. I knew it was her.