By admin Hubby 2
I met Cassian Blackwell when I was just a college student teaching dance classes on the side.
That night, he got cornered in some back alley by a rival crew–twenty guys against one. Anyone else would’ve run or ended up dead.
But Cassian wasn’t anyone else. There’s a reason they called him New York’s Angel of Death.
He took down every single one of those guys. When he walked out of that alley, he was bleeding from multiple wounds.
But he just leaned against a streetlight and lit up a cigarette like nothing happened.
When he looked up, warm light was spilling from a window across the street. A girl was dancing up there, graceful and ethereal.
Cassian always said that’s when I got under his skin–became his obsession.
He used to tell me I looked like something that didn’t belong in his world.
When he first started pursuing me, I was terrified. I threw every excuse at him I could think of.
I only date gentlemen. You’re way too rough.”
o he hired etiquette coaches.
I hate violence. I want a normal, peaceful life.”
o he shut down his entire operation, went legitimate, started throwing money at charities.
veryone in the city knew he’d lost his mind over me. Anyone who looked at me wrong would see just how dangerous he really was.
nd now this same man had destroyed my father, was making me grovel to some dead rapist…
he car pulled up to the funeral home. His men dragged me out and shoved me inside.
he Hartwicks swarmed me immediately, ready to tear me apart.
assian barely raised an eyebrow. Selene caught his expression and smiled sweetly.
Her father killed my brother. My family’s got every right to be angry, don’t we? You’re not gonna object, are you, baby?”
le said nothing. Didn’t move a muscle.
o they went at me–slapping, kicking, tearing at my clothes, pulling my hair. Some of them let their hands wander places that made my skin crawl.
Finally, I couldn’t take it anymore.
Cassian! For Christ’s sake, I’m still your wife!”
He frowned, but before he could speak, Selene jumped in.
“Alright, that’s enough! Cassian brought her here to make amends for my brother. Let’s show some respect.”
They backed off, leaving me in tatters.
Selene looked down at me with pure disdain, pointing at the casket.
“Nerina Caldwell, I want you to tell my brother that you’re a killer’s daughter. And I want a real apology.”
I clutched my torn clothes together, voice ice cold.
“Go to hell. I’ll never say my dad’s a murderer.”
But the second those words left my mouth, Cassian was standing over me.
“You’ll do what she wants, or I’ll bring your mother here instead.”
My nails dug into my palms as I stared up at him.
‘Cassian, you really gonna destroy everything?”
He looked down at me with cold calculation.
It’s just words, Nerina. She wants to hear it, so fucking say it.”
Keep being stubborn, and I’ll get creative about making you cooperate. You know I’ve got a thousand ways to make your life hell.”
tight. How could I forget? He was the king of this city.
ven if I refused, he had a thousand ways to break me. A thousand ways to hurt my parents.
couldn’t risk it.
closed my eyes, completely defeated. When I opened them, my hands were shaking.
Fine. I’ll say it.”
crawled over to that bastard’s casket on my hands and knees.
‘m… I’m a murderer’s daughter. I apologize to Elias Hartwick. I’m sorry.”
ut Selene wasn’t satisfied.
verina, honey, when you apologize properly, you bow. And speak up–we can barely hear you.”
umiliation burned through me. I lifted my head and slammed it down hard against the floor.
‘M A MURDERER’S DAUGHTER! I APOLOGIZE TO ELIAS HARTWICK! I’M SORRY!”
lood immediately started streaming down my face.
assian’s jaw tightened, almost imperceptibly.
looked up at Selene through the blood.
Happy now?”
ven the Hartwicks looked unsettled by my desperation. They tugged nervously at Selene’s sleeves.
he lifted her chin arrogantly.
I suppose that’ll do.”
struggled to my feet, swaying. Cassian reached out to steady me, but I jerked away from his touch.
‘Don’t touch me. You make me sick.”
His eyes went black with rage. He grabbed my wrist hard enough to bruise.
“What did you just say? Say it again.”
I stared right back at him, not backing down.
“I said you make me sick, Cassian Blackwell.”
For just a second, he looked almost stricken. His grip went slack.
This time, I didn’t look back. I walked out of that place and kept walking.