The Blood Heiress

Airport Transfers and Filthy Claws

Cassian

The traffic at the airport at 2 am was still ungodly. Who had business at an airport at 2 am? Besides myself, of couse. I turned up the radio and waited for a spot along the arrival curb to open up. The pressure to park turned up when I saw her black hair exiting the terminal her baggage in tow. I got in line behind an almost finished family and smiled at the kids who turned to nosily assess the intruder.

Val caught sight of my car and started heading towards me. It was good to see her back in town and safe. I had missed her as much as a brother can miss a bossy older sister with a knack for being right. Her sacrifice of staying behind had earned me some very important extra time with a certain gal. The family put in the last kid and pulled out of their spot I was instantly parked where they had been lest any of the circling vultures saw an opportunity. Once parked, I got out and took the bags from her after a quick hug.

"Cassian, brother. Thank you so much for picking me up. I just don't trust cabs this late at night." Val looked at my car with barely disguised disgust. She turned to me a half smile plastered on her face. I laughed to myself as I walked around to the trunk. Drama Queen.

"Don't mention it Val, it is the least I could do after you let me come home early." One suitcase down, one to go. She never could travel light. I think I packed a duffle and came back with half of it still clean.

"And how did that go?" She looked at me expectantly, her grin has morphed into something real now. I ducked my head and pushed the remaining suitcase in the trunk. My own face wore a happy grin as I sat behind the wheel. With a laugh she got in the passenger side. "That poorly?"

I shrugged as I turned on the signal. A sedan paused giving us an opening which I took. The sedan swooped into our newly vacant spot by the curb. Perfect give and take. Val's foot began to tap, her impaitience with the lack of details.

I smirked. "Actually, it went pretty well."

"Did it now. How well? Is our sweet Adella still willing to see you?" Val sat back in her seat and scrutinized me without reservation.

"I am not one to kiss and tell sis but I took her on a..." A sudden bout of nervousness reared its ugly head. I pushed it down and feigned my normal confidence. "Date"

Her squeal rang in my ears. "NO, you did not Cassian."

"Jeezus Val. It isn't like I can't get a girl." Always my biggest critic.

"Oh I am well aware you can 'get a girl'. That is what worried me. You seem to have trouble keeping the girl. Dating is huge!" She relaxed into her seat at last. She smiled out the window, pleased with what her sacrifice had brought about. I rolled my eyes at the back of her head.

"It is going pretty well."

"No need to convince me dear brother. But since you seem to be willing to try how was the date?" She laughed her breathy laugh and studied my face.

"She liked the date." A sudden bout of nervousness reared its ugly head. I pushed it down and feigned my normal confidence. She had liked it I hadn't imagined it. She...we had even kissed. That kiss had then, surprisingly, turned into a makeout session under the lamplight. A long, sweet exploration. The memory played out in my mind and the longer I let it run the harder it became to control my arousal. Val interrupted by clearing her throat rather loudly.

"So, where did you take her?" Her brow was arched and a smirk turned up on side of her mouth.

"Occidental Park." I put all my focus on the road ahead dispelling my pent up feelings by counting the freeway lights zooming by.

"Cassian, you didn't! I know she is young but she isn't that young!" Her voice went up an octave and she slapped my arm.

"For your information I love Occidental Park and I am certainly not young. Just so ya know, she was pretty excited to be there. She even rode the Blast From the Past three times with me and didn't vomit once." Come on Val, give me some credit.

"That old rickety thing? She rode it willingly?" Her disbelief in the evidence I presented her left me frowning out the windshield. She always had to turn it into some sort of argument.

"Just because it isn't your idea of fun doesn't mean other people don't enjoy it." She didn't know everything just cause she was the oldest.

"Regardless I am happy for you." She waved off my prickliness and waded up her coat to use as a pillow against her window.

"How are the folks? I mean if you got in to see them after all that."

"I did second to last day. Same old same old. But worth it to see them light up a bit. Mom has gotten worse which has pushed Dad further into his depression." She closed her eyes and leaned on her makeshift pillow. "They asked for you."

"Yeah? What did you tell them?" I shouldn't have had to ask her. She shouldn't have had to cover for me. I needed to visit them. Not now though. When the timing was right. When I had something to show.

"The truth. You had to go back to woo a lady." Her eyes opened a mischevious gleam in them, her lips pulled up to one side and she poked my arm.

"You did not!" I laughed. Of course she did.

"I did so and they were happy for you." She closed her eyes the smile still on her face. "We all have been worried about you."

"Did they ask about him?" I brushed off her every present concern and went another direction.

"No, no they didn't though I think it is too much to hope that they have forgotten entirely. No matter how bad they get they always seem to remember" Her smile drooped into a slight frown and her eyebrows drew together. I focused back on the road.

"Yeah" There wasn't much else to say. They probably would never forget. Well maybe mom, eventually. But not Dad. And certainly not me.

The rest of the ride home I sang along to the radio while Val tried to catch some very interrupted sleep against the window. I dropped her off at her studio and helped her get her things in.

"You are welcome to crash here. I have a sleeper."

"Nah, thanks" I took a quick look around the her work space, my eyes instinctively seeking out the photo to see if it was still there. It was. It always f*****g is. My mood soured instantly taking in his smug face next to my sister's happy one. Taken right before the sucker punch he dealt us. Why she never burned it or at the very least, put it away blew my mind. And now Dells was in his orbit and I felt powerless to protect her. History seemed to have knack for repeating itself.

In a just world that guy would be a beggar and we would be ruling the roost. The only solace we had was that his partners in crime had been taken out. Good riddance. The world was a much better place without those bottom dwelling Russos.

There had always been rumors. Whispers that an heir had survived. That's how they explained the businesses in their former empire that held onto the name. But no one had surfaced last year. Alot of people lost alot of money. Idiots. Betting on the boogeyman.

Val came back out dressed in her pajamas and robe, green swamp thing face mask on. I let out a mock scream and threw up my hands to defend myself against the swamp monster Val.

"I thought I heard you out here still. What has your panties in a bunch?" She eyed me testily.

I gestured over at the offending photo. "Why haven't you gotten rid of that yet Val?"

I watched her fall in on herself. I then kicked myself mentally for bringing it up. I knew better. I shouldn't have. She took a deep breath and straightened.

"It is my reminder. Never trust a snake." She reached out for a hug which I gave her, a little longer than usual.

"Glad you made it back okay. Get some sleep." I pulled back and let out a long yawn. The long hours at the bar and then picking her up catching up with me.

"You too. Good night. Lock up on your way out." She waved me off and turned to go back to her bedroom.

I returned to my car and drove in silence all the way across town to my apartment. My resolve to keep Adella from the same fate we had suffered solidified as I changed for bed. I wouldn't let some rich asshole mess with her life just because he could.

I woke up ten hours later, ready to get a plan together. But as I sat with coffee in hand I realized that I didn't really have anything. It had been a rough couple of days since our date. I knew she was excited about the job offer and I hadn't wanted to rain on her parade or anything. So I had kept my concerns to myself. Let her live her Cinderella moment. We had tried to keep the momentum going via texting and calls. Not either of our preferred methods, but I was willing to keep up my end to give her time to sort out her Ben situation. Definitely wouldn't be a good forever solution. I needed her lips on mine again soon.

Finishing my coffee, I pulled out my phone and saw that I had a few waiting for me from this morning. A smile stole across my face as I read through them. She was every bit a pure soul. I couldn't believe my luck in getting her attention. As I responded, deep down I hoped that I was good enough to keep it.

---

The Marksman was having a moment tonight. Music was thumping away, every seat at the bar was full and the customers kept coming. I scarcely felt the hours that had passed since opening. The customers would come in. Sloane or I would knock them down. Charming the socks off of them. I knew I needed to take a break. Sloane had already had a few but I refused. I was used to it. I gave in seven hours in and got a short one in around midnight and just when I got to the bar and began filling an order my whole body began to buzz. I tried to ignore it, I was just tired. The door had just opened to what was most assuredly more customers who would want drinks. I didn't bother to look up I needed to get caught up before I could add another. But I just couldn't shake this strange electric feeling. Then her delicate floral fragrance hit me. My heart did a somersalt and I put down the order and steadied my self. My breath caught when I finally looked up.

There she was bathed in the neon lighting in all her fancy formal getup glory. The silk black dress, updo and sparkling accesories broadcast to everyone in the bar that this was not her first stop tonight. That she had had bigger things to deal with first. My eyes were drawn to the way her chosen attire enhanced her understated beauty and put it on full display. Briefly, a vision flashed before me eyes. She was wearinf my necklace, the one I had waiting for her upstairs. It's ruby red pendant hanging like a beacon between her two breasts. It would let everyone know she was mine.

Mine. Where had that come from? That was jumping the gun a bit. We had only had one date. I wasn't even sure when the next one was going into happen. But damn she looked so fine, it smacked me upside the head.

Jealousy's filthy claws chose then to latch onto me. She had looked like that on Santos's arm. I wrung out the towel between my hands. I needed to cool down but I also needed her next to me now, needed to know that she wasn't his.

I tried to talk the claws out of me and focused on finishing the list of drinks in front of me. Even if she had looked like that, spent the night with those elitist assholes, she only worked for him. She wasn't anything important to anyone there. Adella was just his employee nothing more. Someone trying to make her way. Just like the rest of us. The filthy claws loosed up slightly.

While I worked on figuring my s**t out, she made her way to the booth she favored and I made sure to send her a Sprite. In the midst of my self talk and damned insecurities, I had missed the the way her shoulders hunched and her weary face. It wasn't until an hour had passed between her arrival and my first break that I really got a good look at her.

Meeting her at the booth she looked up at me with so much relief. I felt soothed to just be near her, even more so to sit together with our bodies touching. Confidant Sloane wouldn't mind, I sat with her. But not after she surprised me with a passionate kiss. I had greeted with her a chaste one, despite how my body screamed to take her in my arms and whisk her upstairs post haste. Unprepared for her response, I froze momentarily and then returned every bit she gave to me. It had been firey, passionate, a happy revelation. Cut short by spectators and their cat calls but not cheapened in the least by it.

When I finally sat next to her she laid her head and my shoulder and I reveled in her nearness. There was alot I wanted to say, but she was here for a reason and as much as my body wanted it, it wasn't for that reason. She still needed to warm up to spilling the details though. I could sense her reluctance but still wasn't prepared for when she told me she needed an actual drink or the way that hit me in the gut. But I put in the order anyway and pushed my misgivings down. I needed to get this jealousy business under control

"Tonight was that rough, huh?" The darkest part of myself was secretly rejoicing that she hadn't had her socks knocked off. When she didn't respond I began to grow antsy. So, I opened my big mouth in what I meant as a tease but the truth in it stung a bit. "Not gonna lie Dells, I am a little hurt. You won't take a drink whenever I offer but you will take the same drink from someone else. That is against the bartender's code."

"Sorry Cass. I didn't even know I wanted a drink until after you sat down. I didn't want to ask you to get up again. You trust Sloane don't you?" Her eyes dulled a little and the seed frustration with my own lack of control over these unwelcome feelings grew.

"Yes, just surprised that you do." I looked to the bar. Her voice drew my attention back.

"Next time you can make me whatever you want." Her soft lips curved up in an inviting smile that didn't quite meet her pleading eyes.

Stop it Cassian! This beef I had with Santos needed to be put aside. For her sake. She didn't deserve it. I pressed an apologetic kiss to her forehead and relaxed a little. "I will hold you to it. How about you tell me one thing to start. Did you enjoy any of your evening?"

"Yes, it started out alright. That is until I found out that I was going to be riding in his sports car to the event. Evander is really hard to get along with though. He is just hard to read and very irritating. Like he gets off on pushing buttons." Adella's shoulders tensed as she spoke and I felt for her. Did I ever know all about how irritating he could be.

"Sounds like him." I rested my chin in her hair, enjoying her scent as it surrounded me. The drinks came then. I hadn't been certain I should actually order what she had requested but in the end gave it to her. My drink was merely a duplicate. Had to keep tabs on Sloane's version to make sure I knew what she liked best. "You going to drink it or just make eyes at it." I chuckled at the way she just watched the drinks' crimson swirls.

"Everyone was drinking these tonight. I was surprised to see them there. I thought this was something only you made." Sweet, but misguided.

I shrugged it off "It is my own spin on a timeless beverage." She accepted my answer without further questions. I was relieved it had been so simple. With great interest I watched her face register the taste. She looked so satisfied. Without permission, ol green eyes came clawing back.

"I am pretty sure you didn't make that face when you tasted it the first time." Too late to take it back I tried to neutrilize my expression, hopefully it would play off as a joke. Get ahold of yourself.

"How do you know what face I made?" Her curious gaze wandered all over my face. Her tone was playful.

"I have been known to be sneaky, and I couldn't take me eyes off of you." I leaned into it, happy to have some part of our night together feel as easy as it usually was between us.

"Well, to be fair I didn't know how to feel when I first tasted it." An enchanting shade of red dusted her cheeks. But I couldn't stop myself from ruining it.

"Or you perfectly knew what to think...and you didn't like it" I turned from her then and starred straight ahead, warring with myself.

"Cass, it was my first ever drink and you made it. Don't forget." Her tender kiss on my cheek brought me back.

"I'm sorry Dells. Ignore me. It really doesn't matter. I am happy you can enjoy your drink now. I know it didn't go so well the first time. I don't know why I am acting like a such an idiot." Maybe this is why I always opted for the one and done encounters. I just wasn't cut to be boyfriend material. I was defective.

"Seems to be a theme tonight." I almost missed her off hand remark. It got my attention. Get your head in the game Moretti. This was about her and her night. And us. Not me and my past with good old tightass.

"Ouch, Dells say what you really think next time." I attacked her side with my fingers until she started laughing and swatted me away. That was better. This felt more like us.

"Behaving like an idiot." She made sure to emphasize 'Behaving'. I considered myself lucky to get off so easily. I really was an i***t if I couldn't figure out how to treat her the way she deserved. I marveled in the way that her touch always sent little sparks dancing through me. "And it does not hold even a small candle next to what I have seen tonight."

No surprises that there were more idiots among that group of boneheads. I went over the possible scenarios for what could have happened tonight to get this kind of a response from her. I am sure whatever it was wouldn't be all that surprising given the cast of characters. I rested my elbow on the table and put my head in my hand. Taking in her shaken appearance again, a small tinge of guilt pinched at my heart. Maybe I should have warned her what she was about to walk into. I hadn't wanted to color her unformed opinion. No, it was better this way, she should find out on her own. Form her own ideas about what she had just stepped into.

"Yeah?" I prodded her gently after a time, hoping to draw her back out of the shell she had retreated into.