His Darkest Obsession; Our Dirty Little Secret

His Distraction

HIM

Cassian stood in his study with his hands tucked into his pockets, sleeves rolled to his forearms, staring out through the tall window as if the darkness outside could answer him. It was a little past one in the morning, and the house had fallen into that suffocating silence that made every thought louder, sharper, and harder to ignore. The room was dimly lit, the low amber glow stretching across dark wood and leather, deepening the already oppressive, masculine atmosphere. It suited him. It always had.

He was trying to piece things together, but the fragments refused to settle. Nothing about today had been clean, and nothing about her had been simple.

“I know you definitely have a plan.” Darius’ voice cut through the quiet as he leaned back, sipping the vodka in his hand like they were discussing something trivial.

Cassian turned slowly, his gaze settling on his right-hand man. “Hmm. You think so?”

Darius smirked, far too confident for his current position. “I know.” He gestured lazily with his glass. “You always have a plan for everything. You’re always thinking.”

Cassian gave a slight nod, but the shift in him was immediate. The air in the room tightened, coiling with something darker. “And do you know what I’m thinking about right now?”

Darius swallowed, the smirk slipping as he straightened in his seat. “I messed up. Big time. I swear it won’t happen again.”

Cassian held his gaze, his jaw tightening, a warning sitting heavy in his silence before he spoke. “It should not. Ever.”

Their relationship had always been clearly defined, strict and professional when it needed to be, but there were moments like this, late and quiet, where it blurred into something looser. Something built on years that went too far back to count. Cassian had known Darius since they were boys. It felt like a lifetime. He trusted him more than anyone else, which was exactly why mistakes from him were intolerable. Darius was efficient, ruthless when required, a man who got things done, and Cassian respected that more than he respected most things.

“I had no idea you were going to find her yourself. That should have never happened,” Darius said, his expression tightening with something close to unease.

Cassian moved, sitting on the edge of his desk as he picked up his glass and drained the rest of the vodka in one go. “I was done with your incompetence. And I needed it handled.”

Darius nodded slowly, then a smirk crept back onto his lips. “She’s bold.”

Cassian didn’t respond immediately. His gaze drifted to the far end of the room, unfocused, but his mind was anything but. Bold was an understatement. She was reckless, irritating, and dangerous in ways she probably didn’t intend to be.

“I heard what she pulled a few hours ago,” Darius continued. “She tried to escape. Really?”

Cassian’s fingers tapped once against the desk, controlled, deliberate. “If you’ve gotten all the information, why are you still asking questions?”

“It’s unbelievable,” Darius muttered, shaking his head. “That girl has more fire than anyone I’ve seen.” He took another sip. “And a death wish.”

A muscle ticked in Cassian’s jaw. He hoped that wish would be granted soon. She was foolish. Careless. And she pushed his patience in ways no one had in a long time.

“And you brought her into the mansion?” Darius asked, curiosity threading through his tone. “Why?”

Cassian turned his head slowly, raising a brow. “When did I start giving you reasons for the things I do?”

Darius smirked again, and this time Cassian felt the immediate urge to wipe it off his face with his fist.

“I’m just surprised,” Darius said lightly. “And you instructed all the guards that her room was off-limits. Interesting.”

“Nothing will be interesting when I punch that smirk off your face,” Cassian replied coldly. “Don’t be stupid.”

Darius straightened, the amusement fading just enough. “I forgot to get back to you about the Carabinieri. I spoke to him.”

Cassian let out a quiet scoff. “Ah, that foolish lad. Did he give you a speech about justice?”

Darius chuckled. “He folded like a piece of s**t. He just wanted attention.”

“I knew it.” Cassian’s lips curled slightly. “All bark and no bite. So he’s in?”

Darius nodded. “In. I briefed him on our rules and made it clear any slip-up would get him killed.”

“Good.” Cassian leaned back slightly, his fingers brushing his chin in thought. “Keep your eyes on him. I don’t trust him.” His gaze darkened. “And that sheriff… something’s off. The last time we spoke, I could sense it.”

“He’s always been slimy,” Darius replied. “You want eyes on him too?”

“Immediately. Blow his brains out the moment he does anything stupid. I don’t want liabilities.”

“You got it, boss. He won’t get the chance.” Darius paused briefly. “And the elders… Leonid briefed me on what happened this morning.”

Cassian’s jaw tightened as he pushed off the desk and sank into his chair. “Calling it a scene is an understatement. It was a f*****g circus.”

Darius shook his head. “They never learn. What’s with getting a girl to confess like that?”

“A pathetic display of stupidity,” Cassian said flatly. “Something is off. That Leona girl is a pawn, and it’s obvious.”

Darius nodded, but his curiosity remained. “Which is why I’m surprised you’re keeping her here too. Or even considering an investigation.”

Cassian leaned back, his gaze sharpening. “Not everything is black and white, Darius. Whatever this is, there’s more to it, and I’m going to find out.” His voice dropped, edged with something lethal. “And when I do, they’re all going to die. I’ve finally found a loophole to get rid of the syndicate elders.”

Darius frowned slightly. “How? The system is rotten. Even if they die, their children take over.”

Cassian’s expression didn’t change. “You’ll understand in time. For now, I want information on those two girls. Everything. I want to know it all.”

Darius stood. “You think there’s more to the story?”

Cassian’s lips curved faintly. “I know there is. The girls… They're sisters.”

Darius froze, genuine shock flashing across his face. “What are the chances?”

“You tell me.”

“Do you think they’re working with the elders?” Darius asked, thinking aloud. “That this is all part of a plan?”

Cassian tapped the desk once, slow and measured. “I considered it, but ruled it out because it didn’t make sense. I don’t work on assumptions. I work with proof.” He leaned back further, twirling a pen between his fingers. “Get it done. And check the footage from when they were locked up.”

“On it, boss.” Darius turned to leave, but Cassian’s voice stopped him.

“And the girl I caught… she had an accomplice. I want to know who it is.” There was something darker in his tone now, something that sat just beneath control.

Darius stilled. “You think it’s one of us?”

“It has to be,” Cassian said. “Watch her. See if anyone tries to reach out. That’s part of why she’s in the house.”

“And the other part?” Darius asked, curiosity pushing too far.

Cassian gave him a flat look. “None of your business. Get out.”

Darius shrugged, unfazed. “The girls… I’m surprised they’re sisters, but not shocked. They’re different, but both attractive.”

Cassian’s brows lifted slightly, irritation flickering.

“But the one you caught?” Darius continued, pushing his luck. “I’ve never seen anyone more striking than–”

“Get the f**k out of my office before I put a bullet through your head,” Cassian snapped.

Darius left, barely hiding the amusement on his face. Cassian watched the door close, his irritation settling deeper, and heavier. Darius had done that on purpose. He always did when he wanted a reaction.

And it worked.

What is it with them? The thought came sharp. His guards looked at her like they had never seen a woman before. It irritated him more than it should have. They despised her, yes, but he hadn’t missed the way their eyes lingered, the hunger behind it. Especially in that tight crop top she’d been wearing like she didn’t understand where she was. Like she didn’t understand him.

Cassian opened his drawer, pulling out a stack of files, forcing his attention onto something tangible. Something that made sense. But it didn’t last up to an hour.

She was still there. In his head. Unwanted, and persistent.

He had ignored her after the warehouse, only dealing with her when necessary, but seeing her again, unconscious, and up close… it had done something. Irritated him in a way he couldn’t shake. She was striking, even covered in dirt, even after what looked like a day without a proper shower. And her attitude matched it. Fierce. Defiant and Impossible to ignore.

And her body… His grip on the file tightened.

He shut that thought down immediately.

Then there was the hickey. Cassian’s jaw clenched at the memory. He had nearly killed Felix again when he saw it. He had checked the CCTV footage from the left wing later, but the i***t had turned off the lights. That alone had been enough to irritate him. A man stupid enough to be outplayed by an unarmed woman didn’t deserve to breathe.

There was no room for weakness. No room for men who thought with their d***s.

He had made an example of Felix. He always did.

But when he saw that mark on her neck, dark against her skin, something had snapped in a way he didn’t understand. He should have made Felix suffer longer. A quick death had been too merciful. And that irritated him most of all. Why did it bother him? He didn’t have an answer. That alone was unacceptable.

Sera… Her name settled in his mind now, clear and deliberate. She was locked up twelve rooms away.

She thought she could test him. No one tested him and stayed sane after they left. In fact, they rarely left at all. His phone rang, slicing through his thoughts. He picked it up immediately. “Speak.”

“Boss, you said the girls were sisters?” Darius’ voice came through.

Cassian leaned back slightly, his fingers brushing his chin again. “Yes. Why?”

“It’s strange,” Darius said. “I just watched the footage from this afternoon. The other girl didn’t enter the room until almost five hours later. I think the elders are definitely planning something.”

Cassian’s eyes narrowed slightly. “I figured as much. But I instructed Leonid to lock them both up. Why wasn’t the other girl taken at the same time?”

“I’ll find out, boss.”

“As soon as possible. What else?”

“They didn’t speak to each other. Not once. And the other girl tampered with the food.”

Cassian tapped the desk once. “Darius.”

“Yes, boss.”

“There’s a lot of shady business going on.” His voice hardened, cold and absolute. “And I want to get to the root of it. Now.”