Chapter 3 – The Knife Between Us
1296 Words
"You think I didn't know?"
Ethan’s voice cut through the room sharp and cold like it could freeze the air. It felt like glass breaking against her skin
Cassandra stopped in the doorway as one of her hands held on to her clutch like it was the only thing keeping her standing.
her heart was hitting so hard it hurt.
Ethan stood by the big window as the city lights cast shadows on his face while his jacket was on the chair, his sleeves were rolled up and the veins in his arms stood out like he had been waiting for this moment.
His eyes… God, his eyes were darker than she had ever seen. They looked like they could slice through bone.
"Know what?" Her voice shook even though she tried to keep it calm but her throat felt tight like the words were broken glass.
"Who are you?" His words hit harder than she expected. "You think I let you in by accident?” His voice dropped lower and rougher. “Cassandra I knew you before you ever came to my penthouse that night."
Her heartbeat was so loud in her ears that it blocked out everything else. He knew? He had known from the start?
Her fingers shook against the leather of her clutch. "What… What exactly are you saying, Ethan?".
He started walking toward her, Slowly and deliberate Like a predator who knew the prey wasn’t going anywhere. Every step made the air feel tighter in the room.
His cold eyes stayed on hers not blinking nor soft. "I’m saying you were bait." His voice was soft and almost tender but it dripped venom. "And I took it."
"Bait for what?" Her voice cracked and it was so weak, she barely knew it was hers.
"For this." He got to her in two steps and held her chin making her look at him. His grip wasn’t hard, but it made her feel trapped. "You wanted revenge? Fine," he said with his voice low and cutting. "I wanted to see just how far you’re willing to burn."
Her mouth opened, but nothing came out "You knew who I was"
"Cassandra Raines, Daughter of a man who’s serving time because he thought he could outsmart Governor Hinnberg." His thumb moved over her jaw, not gentle or soft but like he owned her. "You thought I wouldn’t recognize those eyes? You were wrong."
Her chest tightened until it hurt as she stepped back, tearing away from his touch. "So what then, Ethan? You slept with me just to prove a point?"
"I slept with you because I wanted to," he said, his voice flat and hard to read. "But don't act like you didn't want it too."
Her mouth opened to speak but her phone buzzed in her clutch so she grabbed it quickly, glad to have something to hold on to.
Damian: “Damian meet me at 6pm at Pine . Now.”
Her stomach tightened, It was Damian.
"I…I have to go," she whispered as voice shook as she stepped back, clutching the phone like a lifeline.
"We are not done," Ethan said with his eyes narrowing.
She stopped at the door with her heart racing so fast like it hurt. "We never are," she said in a low voice and walked out before he could stop her.
The Intersection at Pine
Cassandra stood on the curb and held her coat tight like it was the only thing keeping her together. The air was cold and it stung her nose but the real cold was inside her as the street was busy with cars rushing and people walking by not looking at her, not just caring, they were just moving like she was invisible.
Damian leaned on a black car wearing a leather jacket with a cigarette between his fingers. "You look tense, Cass," he said, flicking the cigarette to the ground.
"You said it was urgent." she said hugging her arms around herself to stop the shaking.
"It is." His voice dropped low. "Ethan is not who you think he is.”
She let out a bitter laugh that sounded more like it hurt. "Yeah… I am just starting to get that.”
"No, I mean it," Damian said as he stepped closer to her. "He’s tied deeper into Hinnberg’s network than anyone realizes. Your father was just one casualty in a long list and now you’re sleeping with him? Do you even know what side you are on?"
Her jaw tightened as she glared at him "You don’t know what you’re talking about."
"Don’t I?" His voice went soft, almost kind. "You’re angry, Cass. You want to believe he cares about you, but he is just using you the same way he uses everyone and you think that kiss last night meant anything? He’s a Hale. They don’t love, they own."
Her stomach twisted. Why does it sound true? Why does it feel true?
Before she could answer a black SUV rushed down the street. She did not see it at first because she was caught in Damian's eyes until the loud engine made her look up.
It was too fast and too close.
"Cassandra!" Damian shouted, but he didn’t move toward her.
The SUV turned sharp and the tires screamed. A hand grabbed her arm and pulled her hard against a warm body as the car rushed past them missing by inches.
She stumbled, her heart beating fast and looked up.
Ethan.
He was breathing hard with his jaw tight and his hands still on her shoulders. "Are you out of your mind?" he said.
"I…." She began to speak up but he stopped her and pulled her away from the street.
"Who told you to come here?" he asked with his eyes looking at her face like he could see every lie she ever told.
She opened her mouth again but Damian cut her off “Relax Ethan it was just an accident”
"Shut up, Damian," Ethan said sharply but his voice was loud enough to make people look. "You think I don’t see what you are doing?"
Damian gave a small smirk. "Funny, I thought you liked her because she’s trouble, Guess I was wrong."
Ethan moved forward with his fists tight but Cassandra held his arm. "Stop!"
Damian’s smirk grew bigger. "Careful, cousin. Your anger’s showing."
"Get lost," Ethan growled.
"Gladly," Damian said and gave Cassandra one last dark satisfied look before getting in his car and driving away.
Cassandra pulled away from Ethan’s grip. "You can’t just"
"Who sent you?" His voice cut through hers, sharp as glass. "Tell me right now, Cassandra. Who put you in my bed?"
Her breath stopped as her throat felt tight.
"You are crazy," she whispered.
"Am I?" He moved closer and pushed her against the brick wall. His hands held her face and his eyes looked like fire. "You show up with secrets written all over you, and I’m just supposed to believe you’re some lonely girl who wanted me? No. Someone sent you. Who was it?"
Her lips trembled, her chest rising too fast, but before she could speak.
Ethan kissed her.
It wasn’t soft, It wasn't patient but It was raw, deep with anger like he wanted to pull the truth right out of her.
She pushed at his chest but her hands slid up his shirt instead. Her body gave in and leaned into him even though her mind was screaming stop
When he pulled back with his breath brushed her lips, harsh and uneven. "You are lying to me, Cassandra," he w
hispered, voice low and dangerous. "And I’m going to find out why."
Her heart felt wild and broken and she couldn’t move
- Writer
