Roll For Initiative

50. Cassie

W hen we first arrived at Blackmore Manor yesterday morning, it was pouring. I was tired and cold. Theo had my laptop and clothes in the guest bedroom beside his. He told me to unpack, shower, and relax for the day. I was still on edge; my gut feeling was that something was off, but I decided to shower. Well, my gut was right.

When I walked out of the en suite bathroom, I realized that someone had been in my room. My purse was gone, and so was my phone. Fucking Theo. I quickly threw on my robe and went to find him, but my door was locked. He locked me in like a fucking prisoner. I had banged on the door for what felt like hours—crying, screaming, begging him to let me out. He never even came to the door. I glanced at the clock next to the bed; I had already been there for 5 hours. I was hungry and thirsty. I yelled for Theo so much that my voice cracked.

I even tried to pick the lock on the door, but it seemed like there was a padlock on the outside because even when I could turn the handle, the door wouldn’t budge. I had tried the window, but this side of the house faced over the water. It was a straight drop of at least 40 feet. No, thank you.

I cried myself to sleep last night. I woke up about an hour ago, and the clock said it was about 5 am. Fuck, I barely slept. My stomach is actually hurting, and I am so hungry. I haven’t eaten since the morning of Saturday, and it is now Monday morning. The only water I have is from the sink. I want to go home. I look down at my hands. My nails are chipped from scratching at the door, my knuckles bruised, and some cracked with blood. That’s when I realized I didn’t have my best friend's bracelet. I’ve had it on for years, and now it is missing. Did it fall off at home? Oh, God, I hope so. I’m panicking as I pace the room. I can’t believe he is keeping me locked in here. When I get out of here, I swear I am going to kill him.

It’s just after 6:30 when I hear noises outside my door—a faint click noise, then a knock.

“Cassandra? Are you awake, little one?” Theo asks, not opening the door yet. I want to pretend I am still asleep, but my stomach growling is loud enough to wake the dead right now.

“Yes, Sir. Come in.”

He walks in, looking all cheery and sweet. He is carrying a tray with a dome lid covering a plate to keep it warm and what looks like coffee and orange juice. He sets it down on the table by the window and sits next to me on the bed.

“Good morning, little one. How did you sleep? I’m sorry I kept you locked in here all night. I had to handle some business, but now you have me all day. What would you like to do after breakfast? I made your favorite French toast and scrambled eggs with cheese. Well, Eleanor made them, but I let her know just how you like them.” He leans toward me and kisses me on the forehead. It takes every bit of sanity I have not to slap the mother fucker.

“Thank you, Sir. I’m starving.” As if on cue, my stomach lets out a horrendous noise.

“Well, come on over and eat.” He stands and walks toward the table. There are two chairs for us, and he takes the one closest to the door. Damnit, it’s like he knows I was going to run.

I stand and hesitantly walk toward him. He watches me suspiciously. I wonder if I could make it to the door and slam it shut fast enough. Could I make it through the Manor with no one else catching me? They must know I am being kept here against my will after all the noise I made yesterday.

Halfway between the bed and the table, I pause. I am looking at the distance to the door a bit too long. Theo can practically see into my mind and knows what I am thinking. He springs from the chair just as I turn to run. I scream as he grabs ahold of me. He grabs me by the nape of the neck and slams me face down on the bed. The wind knocking from my lungs as he kneels one knee on my back to hold me still.

* Tsk* *Tsk *

He tuts at me.

“Now, now, little one. Where do you think you would even go? I have at least a dozen staff members between here and the door. All have a taser on them, so I dare you. Try to fucking leave this room without me and see what happens. I know you are a masochist, but I highly doubt you would enjoy 50,000 volts to your back.” He laughs as he pins me harder to the bed. I am struggling to breathe.

“Sir... please.” I manage to gasp out. He lets up the pressure on my back just a bit so I can take a few deep breaths.

“Are you ready to stop lying to me?” He demands, flipping me over onto my back and pinning my wrists above my head.

“Theo, I don’t know what you are talking about.”

“LIAR!” Spittle flies from his mouth as he yells. “Really? You’re going to still fucking lie to my face, you little whore. I know you are fucking both of them. So don’t you dare look me in the eye and say, ‘We are just friends.’” He spits on my face. “Lying tramp.”

I am practically sobbing now. I’m terrified. No matter what I say, he won’t believe me. I don’t understand what has happened this last week for him to change so much suddenly. Is he that much of a psychopath that he could mask his true personality so easily?

“Theo, I swear. I’m not fucking either of them. I promise you.” I say between sobs. “Please, believe me. I wouldn’t. They are just friends.”

“So, friends pay $450,000 to win their friend for a whole night? Seems like something more to me.” He grips my chin firmly again, the bruises getting deeper by the second.

“What?” I can barely get the word out; it sounds more muffled because of how tight he is holding my jaw.

“Don’t act like you don’t know. Cut the act, Cassandra. I know you are fucking Lucian and Jayme. They made it very clear Saturday night. And Jayme Morelli? Damn it, are you fucking working for him. I should have fucking known.” He is straddling me, pressing his body against mine. He slightly releases my jaw so I can actually talk.

“I’m not working for anyone. What the fuck are you talking about. His name is Jayme West; I met him just last week. And what the fuck do you mean they made it clear...” It hits me; I thought it was just my mind playing tricks on me because of how hung up on Lucian I am.

I go through it over and over in my head. He didn’t sound like Lucian. He didn’t act like Lucian. But his hair, his scent, his fucking eyes. It can’t be, but it was. It was Lucian. And Jayme? Fuck. What in the fuck. How. Oh, God. I can’t breathe. Theo has moved up on me and is sitting on my stomach, barely allowing me to inhale. He said I would remember him. No, it can’t be. They would have said something. They wouldn’t have done... done what we did. Fuck!

“You’re lying!” I scream as I thrash beneath his hold.

“Oh, really? Fine, come see for yourself.” He gets off the bed and drags me with him. My ribs are sore from him sitting on them.

He pulls me down the hall by my wrist. His hold is firm and painful. It feels like the bone is about to pop. We finally get to his office, and he throws me inside, slamming the door behind us. I look around the room and can’t believe what I am looking at. Photos are lining a whiteboard and some of the wall—photos of me, Lucian, Jayme, and other people in my life.

“What is all this,” I demand. Unable to hide the tremor in my voice.

“This is you, Cassandra. I told you; it’s always been you. I knew from the moment you stepped into Vixens that you were mine. I craved you. I became obsessed. I had you followed, and when they didn’t get me enough info, I started following you myself. After we started things off and I put cameras in your apartment, I heard you talking about your precious Lucian.” My brain is on overdrive. Unable to process everything he is saying.

I glance around at everything. There are so many photos of Lucian and I from the last week. My eyes land on a stack of papers on his desk; the top photo is of 2 men. They are leaving a club, wearing a wolf and a lion mask. I pick up the stack and flip through the photos. The next few show them walking down the street, nothing crazy. Until they round the corner from Vixens, then they take off their masks. I feel like I am going to throw up. Lucian and Jayme are walking away from Vixens, and they just took off the masks from Saturday night: my mystery wolf and lion-masked men.

“You see, Cassandra, I needed to ensure your friend was safe. But then I did some digging and found some troubling news. Your precious Lucian is working for one of California's largest and most powerful families. His family happens to be my family's rivals. So tell me, is it a coincidence that you became friends with Jayme? He happens to show up the week Lucian comes back to town. I don’t fucking think so.”

I flip through another stack of photos that either he or his private investigator were able to capture. There is some from the bar on Lucian’s first night back. Fuck, there is one that looks like it is from a security camera, it shows Lucian on the couch and me hiding in the hall, touching myself. How the fuck did I not notice cameras in my own home.

“What do you mean families? Lucian works for a security company.” I look over at Theo, leaning against the desk with his arms crossed.

“You really don’t know, do you?” He is looking at me dumbstruck. “Poor na?ve woman. Your friend Jayme is part of the mafia in California, the Morellis. Lucian is their top security designer at their front company, West Enterprise. They run almost all of California. They are one of the biggest on that side of the country. But my family is one of the biggest in the entire country.”

“Your family?” I don’t know what to say. Lucian? Part of a crime family. Jayme? It makes no sense. He looks like the picture-perfect rich playboy type, not someone who rules in the underworld. This has got to be a joke.

“Yes, my family. The Blackmores have ruled the underworld of New York for almost 70 years. We have been at war with the Morelli’s just as long. My grandfather remains the leader, and my father is next in line. We are the true blood of my family. My Great-grandfather was the founder.”

“This can’t be real.” How the fuck did I end up in this shit. I was looking to spice up my sex life, not my actual life. Fuck!

“It is real, Cassandra. Another reason you aren’t leaving here. They know what you are to me and will use my love for you against me. Lucian may have been your friend growing up, but I can almost guarantee he was sent back to get close to you and get to me. The Morelli’s are all snakes.”

“You’re wrong. There’s no way he would do that.” I don’t believe him. He doesn’t know Lucian.

“Is he different now?” His question makes me pause. “More muscular, acting differently. Maybe seeming a bit more into you romantically than before?”

“Maybe he worked out a lot in California. And he cares for me like he always has. Nothing’s changed. You’re wrong about all of this.” I turn away to walk to the window. As much as I hate being locked away here, Blackmore Manor has always taken my breath away. The property stretches for miles and miles. For being so close to the city, you would think we were in the middle of nowhere.

“No, Cassandra. I’m not wrong, and you know it.” He comes up behind me and wraps his arms around me. Tucking his head into my neck.

“No!” I shove him away and try to leave, but he is there within a second.

He grabs me from behind by my hair, wrapping it around his fist. I cry out, but I know it is pointless. Everyone here works for him. They don’t give a shit about me. I kick and scream as he pulls me back to the desk, bending me over it.

“Please, no! Theo. Stop.” I scream as I hear his belt zip out of the belt loops. I stare at the photos strewn across the desk. There are so many from the last week; how did I not realize we were being followed? I try to disassociate as I hear his zipper, and his pants hit the floor. “Please don’t do this,” I beg. My tears soaking my face.

“What’s wrong, Cassandra? Am I not good enough now that you have had them?” He knocks my legs apart. I’m shaking as I try to wiggle out of his grasp. He has his hand gripping the nape of my neck, shoving me flat against the desk.

I’m barely able to touch the floor as he positions himself behind me. I can feel his cold fingers dragging up the side of my leg. He moves the robe away, exposing my lower body to him. The thong I am wearing is viciously ripped away. The straps cut into my skin as he pulls.

“Don’t do this! Please. Stop!” I scream, but he only laughs at my pleas.

“You’ve always wanted this, Cassandra. You have always been a needy slut for my cock.” With that sentence, he pushes inside me.

No lube, nothing, just pain. My body spasms from the intrusion. I open my mouth to scream, but nothing comes out. The desk is wet from my tears and spit. This has to be a nightmare; I need to wake up.

He brutally thrusts into me, over and over. My hips and thighs are bruising from the edge of the desk digging in. I can’t tell whether I am screaming or crying or that it is just the ringing in my ears. I go somewhere else, deep in my mind. I try to shut myself down. I can’t breathe, I can’t speak, I can hardly think right now. I just want this to end. My fingers are burning from pain as I claw at the desk, trying to get away from him, but he pins me down harder. Over and over and over again. My body is pressed too tight against the desk; I can’t get a full breath to try to calm myself. I’m panicking.

I see blood on the desk. Am I bleeding? I look at my hands, and one of my nails is pulled back from digging into the desk. It’s not a lot of blood, but it is enough to cause my panic to increase. I kick my legs as best as I can, trying to fight him off. He releases my neck, then grips me by the back of my head, pulling out some hair. He lifts my head slightly and then slams my face against the desk. I feel my lip bust open, tasting the copper running into my mouth. Fuck that hurt.

“Stop fighting me, baby.” I feel sick. “You’re.” Thrust. “Mine.” Thrust.

He grips my hip and neck tighter, pounding into me a few more times before finishing inside. I can feel him dripping down my leg as he pulls out. I’m going to be sick. I don’t have time to move before I throw up all over his desk, the photos, all his paperwork, ruined.

I lay there in the tears, spit, blood, and now vomit. I can’t move. It feels like I’ve been ripped apart. Theo removes my robe and scoops me up into his arms. I cry out, trying to push away from him. It’s useless, though. This man is built like a brick wall. I am so weak and powerless right now. I give up. I go limp in his arms, sobbing like the pathetic mess that I am. I’m so stupid. I should have ended shit with him at the first sign of abuse. Never. Never give them a second chance. That’s what my mother always said. Oh, if she could see me now.

He brings me into his bathroom and sets me on the counter. The countertop feels cold against my bare ass. Everything down there hurts. He grabs a washcloth, runs it under warm water, and cleans me off. He notices the blood leaking from the corner of my mouth, and he pulls my lip down to inspect it. He rolled his eyes as if I were the one who had caused the damage.

“Go get dressed. We will have breakfast in the dining room.” He pulls me off the counter and slaps my ass to go out the door.

“Yes, Sir,” I mumble as I walk away. I don’t want to incur any more of his wrath.

After cleaning myself up and trying to rid every trace of him from my body, I throw on some leggings and a hoodie he brought over from my apartment. I want to hide as much of myself as possible. I slowly go downstairs to the dining room to find Theo already at the table. He is sitting with my phone in his hand.

“Lucian is looking for you. The man is obsessed. There are like 30 text messages and at least 40 missed calls.” Hope. That’s what I can hold onto now to keep me going. He will find me. He will save me.

I cannot hide my excitement at this news, and Theo notices. He gets up and whips my phone across the room. It hits the wall and shatters, barely missing my head. I try to back away slowly; he terrifies me now. Everything he does and says puts me on high alert. He rushes me, grabbing me by the throat. He lifts me to where my toes are barely touching the ground.

“Why don’t you love me anymore, Cassandra? We used to be happy.”

“I never... loved... You!” I struggle to get each word out as he is crushing my throat. Why do I have to poke the beast? I could have just kept my mouth shut, but no. I am an idiot.

He grips my throat tighter and slams my back into the wall, my head colliding with the brick. The room is spinning, and I can see sparkles dotting my vision. Darkness is starting to creep into my vision now. He is completely denying my body of oxygen this time. I claw at his wrists to try to loosen his grip, but he hardly notices. This is it. This is how I am going to die. He is going to kill me. My body slumps against the wall; I don’t have the energy to fight. I close my eyes as darkness swirls behind my lids.

My body drops as he releases my throat. I fall to the floor, gasping for breath like a fish out of water. I cough and heave as my lungs try to function. I can see his shoes coming into focus in front of me. He is pacing back and forth. I lean my body against the wall for support, trying to focus on the room to keep myself from having a full-blown panic attack right now. My face is soaked again from crying. I don’t think I have ever cried this much in my life. My sobs come out with little gasps as I try to calm down.

He squats down to get at eye level with me. I am able to notice things I didn’t earlier, like the scent of whisky on his breath. His eyes look bloodshot, as if he didn’t sleep. Is he that paranoid about Jayme and Lucian? Jayme seemed harmless when we hung out, but I still can’t wrap my head around the fact that he is part of the mafia. That Theo is a crime lord. And that Lucian is working for Jayme’s family of criminals. My thoughts are spiraling as I feel Theo’s hand gently cup my chin.

“I’m sorry, little one. You just... you make me so furious. I don’t know what...” The doorbell rings, cutting him off.

Theo pulls out his phone to check the cameras.

“Fucking Hell!” He is pissed. “It appears your knights in shining armor have found you.”

“Lucian...” I gasp, my voice still not back to normal.

“Damnit!” He stands and goes walking over to the end table by the couch and pulls out a gun.

“NO! Please don’t. You said you wouldn’t hurt him.”

“I said I would stay far away from him. Not my fault that he shows up on my fucking doorstep.” He clicks the safety off and checks the magazine.

“Please, don’t. I’ll do anything. Please!”

“Anything?” He asks, lowering the gun.

“Yes. Anything. Just don’t hurt either of them.”

“Fine. I’ll make you a deal, Cassandra. I’ll let you go for now. I’ll give you three days. Find out as much information about the Morelli’s as you can, pack the rest of your shit, and say your goodbyes. After three days, I’ll come and get you. Then, you will be mine. Completely. No more fighting. No more talking about your past. Nothing. Just mine. You will love me and only me. And in return, I promise never to hurt Lucian. If Jayme gets caught in the crossfire, that is out of my control, but I will make sure everyone in my organization knows not to touch Lucian Ryder.”

Time stops. Can I really do that? Give up everything: my life, my friends, my future? Yes. There’s no other option. I love Lucian, and I can’t stand to watch him die because of me. If this is what it takes to save him, then so be it.

“Fine, deal.” I try to stand, but he backhands me hard, sending me into the wall again.

“Of course, you easily break when it comes to him. I don’t understand it. He doesn’t love you like I do. He can’t give you everything that I can give you. You don’t belong to him yet would do anything for him.”

My jaw feels like it was hit with a bat. I might not have to deal with this for long if he keeps this up. He will eventually kill me. I stand as tall as my busted and bruised body will let me.

“Do we have a deal, Sir?” I stretch out my hand to him.

“Deal. Now get the fuck out of here and tell no one about what is actually going on. For all they know, we had a wild weekend, and now you are going home. That’s the story you stick with. Understood.”

“Yes, Sir.” I turn to walk away, but he stops me. Tangling his hand in my hair again, pulling me flush against him.

“And don’t you dare try to run? I have people everywhere in this state; you won’t get 5 miles without me coming to get you.” He viciously warns.

I am only able to nod my head. He releases me, and I walk toward the front door. The banging and ringing are getting louder. My head is pounding, and my chest hurts. Everything hurts. I still can’t breathe correctly; my throat feels like it is still gripped. I feel warmth on the back of my head. I think it is bleeding again, but I won’t stop and check.

I finally reach the door; I don’t look behind me. I know he is there, watching, waiting to see what I will do. I breathe as deeply as my lungs will let me, exhaling as I open the door. Lucian and Jayme are there with their guns pointed at the door. They lower them as soon as they realize it is me. I try to stay strong, but I can’t. I break. I fall into Lucian, and thankfully, he catches me, dropping the gun to the ground. I start to lose consciousness, my body finally giving in now that it thinks I am safe. The last thing I hear is Lucian’s voice, shushing and trying to calm me.

“Shh, it is ok, Cass. I’m here. I got you. You’re safe.”

Safe... that’s something I will never know again. I traded my soul to the devil to save the only man I have ever loved. I just hope the devil keeps his promises.