He shrugged, smile firmly in place. “Maybe I like attention.”
“It’s not your color.”
“Your tongue said otherwise a few minutes ago.” He stared me down like he wanted more action then switched gears. “So? Do you want to play a game?”
I backed away and reached for my bag then calmly tugged it onto my arm. I could feel the weight of my knife against my thigh but he’d see me if I tried to pull it out. “I play a mean game of pinochle.”
"I had you for more of a Monopoly kind of girl. I imagine you set up your damn little houses everywhere collecting rent like a tyrant.”
I smirked. “It’s the mafia background, but alas I don’t want to buy hotels and have you pay me to land on them, kind of a boring life don’t you think?”
"Extremely.” He sat across from me on the desk; his long legs didn’t even dangle. He pulled off his glasses and set them carefully next to him. “If you can find out my secrets I’ll give you this.” He held the recording device in the air. “And I’ll be kind enough to put your precious little family in the ‘do not attack’ column. You know how bloodthirsty mine can be.”
“All new animals are — bloodthirsty that is, at least once they find their legs and then boom, we just cut them right off. Explainour game then, I’m waiting.” I couldn’t tell if he was sighing out of boredom or entertainment. He smirked, slow and calculated. “You get me three answers, and I’ll return the recording device you so clumsily allowed to fall into my hands. I’ll also make sure your family is protected from the fallout of your… indiscretions.”
Interesting. Honestly, my family would be disappointed I was sleeping with the enemy and accidentally let a few secrets slip, but I was more intrigued by his desperation. “And if I lose?”
“Then I use what you gave me how ever I please. And your family gets buried beneath it.”
My fingers curled against the bookshelf behind me. “What are the three questions?”
He pushed off the desk and walked toward me with measured steps. “Simple. One, who are my parents? Two, where was I born? And three, why did the Vescovi family adopt me, mind you I use that term very loosely?”
I frowned. “You don’t even know the answers to those.”
“Exactly.” He tilted his head, eyes gleaming. “That’s what makes it fun. Clearly they don’t want me to know and the only way to find out would be having someone else do the dirty work.”
“And why me?”
“You’re the only one arrogant enough to try. And you already gave me the name of someone reckless enough to bleed for answers.” There was a catch. There is always a catch with men like Cassian. Nothing was face value and if you thought that then you may as well ask where to stand while they pointed the trigger or knife in your direction.
“Louis.” I uttered his name like a curse. The guy had been through hell and back, and what? Now that he was my bodyguard and he lost my sister to Ace he was just existing.
Cassian, his stated name, nodded once. “He’s your Trojan horse. Your martyr. Your monster. Use him wisely to infiltrate, the family always tests new blood and if they can get someone toplay both sides they’ll tell him more than me.” He took two steps toward me and flicked my chin up with his fingers. “It will be fun, you’ll see.”
"What if he doesn’t say yes?”
Cassian eyed me up and down. “I highly doubt anyone as depressed as Louis would have the soul to say no, especially to the sister of the girl he really wanted but never got, don’t you think?”
“Cruel,” I snapped. “Even for you.”
To both of us. To me and Louis. It was a reminder. I wasn’t the girl you married was I? I was the girl you had fun with.
My sister was the one you fought for.
I was the one you forgot until it was too late.
It’s why I’d always tried to be the best, there would be no white horse, no savior, nobody. I had two hands and I’d learned how to use them—what’s more important, I had a body and it was just as dangerous as anyone’s gun.
I eyed Cassias hand. “It’s not like the secrets I shared would get me killed.”
He smiled down at me. “Oh sweetheart, you’re not worried about bloodshed, you’re worried about freedom. Besides, we both know you’re just as bored as I am even if you’re too afraid to admit it. We both win, and we have a little fun while we’re at it.” He held out his hand. “Deal?”
I stared at his hand then back at him. With a grin of my own, I grabbed him by the back of the neck and pulled him in for a searing kiss then whispered, “Deal.”
“God, I wish I was into commitment, you’d be one to bring me to my knees.” He pressed a hand on my shoulder, shoving me to the ground. “Then again, I’ve always been more of a fan of seeing you on yours.”
"Careful.” I snapped my teeth. “I bite small things.”