Chapter 5 - Betrothed Agreement
1417 Words
Cassius
He was still blindfolded, but he didn’t need to see to feel the tension in the room spike. And he didn’t need to see to know it was Nikita that created that spike. He twisted his head trying to place where everyone was. Nikita was to his right, a man gasping in what sounded like pain in the ground, and his father had spoken to him diagonally in front.
“Orsino! So help me if you're teasing me, you’ll look like a raccoon by the end of the night.”
Cassius knew she wasn’t lying. His own swollen face testified to that. But he was too confused to even feel the same level of anger Nikita was exhibiting.
“Can someone please take this blasted blindfold off of me!”
The room quieted.
Orsino said, “Take it off and uncuff him.”
They did. He had to blink several times as he was exposed to a brightly lit basement room with no windows. No way for anyone to escape.
He looked at his father, whose serious face and sad eyes told him everything he needed to know. Orsino wasn’t joking. His father had asked him to trust him. Was this what he was talking about?
He looked at Orsino, who looked at him with a hard expression as if he didn’t like this deal either and, more so, seemed to blame him for it.
Then he looked at Nikita, taking his time. She wore blue pajama pants that hugged the curve of her hips and thighs. She wore a white shirt with a large hawk mascot on the front with Scelus State University. Her dark brown hair was curled and her face was smooth with a darker tint as if she spent her days in the sun. His eyes caught onto her full lips, high cheekbones, and up to her bright green eyes.
Angry green eyes. Her eyes narrowed at him as if sizing him up. He straightened, trying to act unaffected and unintimidated.
He looked back at his father, preferring not to be killed in the next five minutes by Nikita or her brother.
“Are you going to explain?”
His father looked around the group nervously. “We made a bargain. We get protection, they get money, and you both will be… the collateral, our security on this deal.”
“Bargain?” He didn’t like the thought that marrying him off to a psycho, granted a gorgeous psycho, was seen as a bargain, a sale done cheaply.
Nikita started going towards his father with fire in her eyes. She had nearly made it if it wasn’t for Orisino, who quickly grabbed her. She yelled in frustration.
Cassius looked at his father. He could see that there was no choice. He had been kidn*pped, bullet holes adorned their building from another rival family, and his father had come in at the mercy of The Crimson Spider. This was the best case scenario.
“No other way?”
His father shook his head, defeated. He could see the pain this was causing his dad.
He glanced at Nikita, still being restrained in Orsino’s arms. She looked at him, promising him pain if he agreed. Her lips were pulled tight and her eyes darkened in hatred.
Cassius felt stuck. This arrangement would ensure that Tov Tech would work with the Crimson Spider instead of fearing them. His family, the business, and their employees wouldn’t have to fear the mafia because this deal ensured it was a business partnership and collaboration. This deal could save lives.
All of a sudden, this felt bigger than him. The question was, what he was willing to sacrifice to protect the legacy his grandfather had built and the thousands of employees who worked for them. If they disagreed, their company would become targets until they did agree. What would he give to save all of that? Anything.
“Okay.”
Nikita threw back her head, causing Orsino’s head to rock back. He let go of her. She stood in front of him.
“How could you agree? I will never marry you. Never. Refuse.”
Cassius had made up his mind. He knew the consequences, knew he was signing his life away to become a player of the mafia family, but that would be his sacrifice to protect everything.
“You would think a girl would be more excited about her engagement,” he said dryly.
She lunged at him, but Orisno held her back. “You can’t do this to me!” She yelled.
Orsino pinned her into the corner.
Cassius had to strain to hear what was being said. “Sorella, this is Padre’s wish, you know what he will do to you if you refuse. I barely got you out last time. You know you can’t run from this. This is what he wants, and he only sees your oath. You’ll do anything for the family.”
Under Orsino’s arms, she could see her lips pulled tight, but he also caught the smallest movement of her body trembling. On instinct, it wasn’t from anger, but fear.
“You don’t have a choice and he’ll make sure of it.”
"Mom wouldn't have allowed this."
Orsino's voice lowered in irritation. "She's gone. She left long ago. You have to protect yourself, so you have to do this."
Orsino stepped to the side and she looked up. She walked forward and stood in front of him. He realized he was barely taller than her by a few inches.
Sarcastically he said, “How about a celebration dinner tomorrow night at The Lantern, 8:30?”
In one fluid motion, she raised her left fist and punched him across the jaw. He fell hard against the table and to the ground. He put his hand to his jaw, feeling it throbbing and feeling like his entire bottom jaw had been re-arranged. Nikita turned and walked out of the room. With the help of his father and the table, he stood up.
Orsino looked on the verge of laughter. His eyes danced in merit at the whole situation.
Orsino said, “She accepts.”
Was that her acceptance? Is that what he had to look forward to? She agrees to their wedding colors. Bam she decks him. She agrees with their first pet. Bam she decks him. She agrees to their first house. Bam she decks him.
“Is that what that was?”
Orsino grinned and chuckled. “Brother, if she didn’t accept, she would have killed you.”
He reeled back. Their first argument, bam he’s dead. RIP Cassius. The man who couldn’t even make it to his wedding day.
Orsino shrugged. “Forget about it.” The man walked towards him. “But if you ever lay a hand on her, cheat on her, or treat her badly. You will die in the worst way I can imagine.” He patted his arm. “Let's not test my imagination. Huh brother?”
“No, let’s not. I’ll take care of her.”
He nodded. “Good man. I’ll bring over the contract tomorrow morning, eleven.”
Orsino nodded at his father.
His father nodded back, dropping his shoulders in relief.
Then Orsino Gallacini turned and walked out of the room laughing.
“This oughta be interesting.”
Once the door shut, Cassius fell back into his chair, breathing deeply. His jaw felt swollen and he wasn’t so sure all his teeth were accounted for. But he made it through. She was wicked strong, one who knew how to handle herself, but also one he wasn’t so sure he trusted. She was beautiful, gorgeous. But looks don’t often reflect the inside.
He looked up at his father. “Well there you go, my fiancé and brother-in-law. What do you think Christmas will look like?”
His father breathed out and patted his shoulder.
“I am proud of you, son.”
Cassius leaned forward in his chair.
His father spoke, “Remember Cassius, make this work. No going back now.”
Cassius nodded.
“Dad, better call Killian. I think we are going to need some extra help.”
“I’ll get him.”
Cassius leaned back, covering his face with his hands and flinched when his hand hit the now sore spot. With a grim thought, he realized this was not going to be easy and if he couldn’t make this work, he was as good as dead.
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