Beauty and the Don

Orders

CASSIAN

I was going to kill someone.

The only question was who.

"Explain to me," I said, voice dangerously quiet, "how Vincenzo's crew found out about her."

Nic stood across from me in the safe house. We'd been here three hours. Three hours since I'd dragged myself out of that hospital bed, reopened half my stitches, and nearly bled out again in the back of Nic's car.

Worth it.

Because I was alive. And more importantly, I could handle this personally.

"We had eyes on her," Nic said. His jaw was tight. He knew I was barely holding it together. "But someone tipped them off."

"Who?"

"We're working on it."

I took a step forward. Pain lanced through my abdomen. I ignored it.

"That's not an answer."

"Cassian—"

"Someone in my organization sold me out." Each word was carved from ice. "Someone looked at that girl and decided she was leverage. And you're telling me you don't know who?"

"We'll find them."

"You'd better." I moved to the window. Looked out at the city. Gray sky. Gray buildings. Gray souls. "Because when I do, I'm going to make sure everyone remembers what happens to traitors."

Silence.

Then Nic spoke. Carefully. "What do you want us to do with her?"

Her.

The nurse.

Mara. I'd gotten her name from the hospital records. Mara Lin. Twenty-six. Born in this city. Raised by her grandmother. No family. Few friends. Worked doubles at County General to pay off student loans.

She was nobody.

She should've meant nothing.

"Bring her here," I said.

"Here?" Nic's voice rose. "Cass, this is a safe house. We can't—"

"I said bring her here."

"What are you going to do with her?"

I turned to face him. "Keep her alive."

"She's a witness."

"She's under my protection."

Nic stared at me like I'd lost my mind.

Maybe I had.

"Do you hear yourself?" he said. "You're talking about protecting a civilian. A witness. Someone who can put you away for the rest of your life."

"She won't."

"How do you know?"

Because when I'd looked into her eyes, I hadn't seen fear. I'd seen something else. Something that made my chest tighten and my hands shake and my carefully constructed world tilt off its axis.

But I couldn't say that out loud.

"Because," I said instead, "she didn't run. She stayed. She saved me. And that means something."

"It means she's naive."

"It means she's mine."

The words came out before I could stop them.

Nic's eyes widened. "Yours?"

I didn't answer.

"Cassian. Listen to yourself. You're talking about a girl you met for five minutes while you were bleeding out."

"Doesn't matter."

"It does matter. You can't just—"

"I can." I moved closer to him. Close enough that he had to look up to meet my eyes. "I can do whatever I want. And what I want is her here. Safe. Alive. Understand?"

Nic held my gaze for a long moment.

Then he nodded.

"I'll have Marc bring her in."

"Tell him to be gentle."

"Gentle?"

"Did I stutter?"

Nic pulled out his phone. Made the call. I listened as he relayed my orders.

Gentle. Don't scare her. And absolutely do not hurt her.

When he hung up, he looked at me.

"You're making a mistake," he said quietly.

"Probably."

"She's going to be a problem."

"She already is."

"Then why—"

"Because I owe her." The words felt foreign on my tongue. I didn't owe anyone anything. I took. I didn't give. That was how I'd survived this long.

But she'd touched me in the snow with hands that were too warm and eyes that were too kind, and I'd felt something I hadn't felt in years.

Human.

And now I couldn't let her go.

"Get the west bedroom ready," I said. "She'll need clothes. Food. Whatever she needs."

"You're keeping her here?"

"Where else would she go? Her apartment's compromised. Vincenzo's crew knows where she lives. Works. If she walks out that door, she's dead."

"And if she stays?"

"Then she's mine."

There it was again. That word. Mine.

I didn't know what it meant yet. Didn't know what I planned to do with her.

All I knew was that the thought of anyone else touching her made violence rise in my throat like bile.

My phone buzzed.

Unknown number.

I answered.

"Rourke." A voice I recognized. Lorenzo Gatti. One of Vincenzo's lieutenants. "We need to talk."

"About?"

"The girl."

My blood went cold. "What about her?"

"We know you have her. And we want her."

"She's not for sale."

"Everything's for sale, Rourke. Name your price."

"No."

Silence on the other end.

Then Lorenzo laughed. It was an ugly sound.

"You're protecting her," he said. "The Devil's got a conscience. How sweet."

"If you touch her—"

"You'll what? Kill me? You're in no condition to kill anyone." His voice turned sharp. "You're weak, Rourke. And weakness gets you dead."

"Try me."

"Oh, I will. But first, I'm going to find that pretty little nurse of yours. And I'm going to show her exactly what happens to people who help you."

The line went dead.

Rage exploded through me. White-hot. Blinding.

I threw the phone. It shattered against the wall.

"Cass—" Nic started.

"Find him." My voice was barely human. "Find Lorenzo Gatti and bring him to me. Alive."

"That'll start a war."

"Good."

"Cassian—"

"Do it."

Nic's jaw tightened. But he nodded.

I moved to the desk. Pulled out a clean phone. Dialed.

Marc answered on the first ring. "Boss?"

"Where are you?"

"Five minutes out. We have the girl."

"Is she hurt?"

"No. Shaken up, but—"

"Good. Keep it that way."

I ended the call. Sank into the chair. Every muscle in my body screamed.

I should've been in a hospital bed. Should've been recovering. Not planning a war over a woman I barely knew.

But it was too late for should-haves.

She'd saved me.

And now I was going to destroy her life to keep her alive.

Nic appeared in the doorway. "Marc's here."

I stood. Ignored the way my vision swam.

"Bring her in."

* * *

I heard her before I saw her.

A voice. Sharp. Angry. Scared but trying not to show it.

"Let go of me. I said let go!"

The door opened.

Marc came in first. Then two of his men.

Then her.

Mara.

She looked smaller than I remembered. Fragile. Dark hair falling around her face. Dark eyes wide and furious. She wore scrubs still stained with my blood.

Our eyes met.

She froze.

I saw the moment recognition hit. Her face went pale. Lips parted.

"You," she whispered.

"Me."

She looked around. At the safe house. At Nic. At Marc and his men.

"What is this?" Her voice shook. "Why did you bring me here?"

"To keep you alive," I said.

"By k********g me?"

"By protecting you."

She laughed. It was a broken sound. "Protecting me? You're the reason I need protection!"

Fair point.

"Vincenzo's crew wants you dead," I said. "Because you helped me. The only way to keep you safe is to keep you here."

"No." She shook her head. "No. This is insane. I'm calling the police."

"Go ahead." I gestured to the phone on the desk. "Call them. Tell them everything. And when they ask why you're in danger, tell them you saved the life of the most wanted man in the city."

Her hand wavered.

"That's what I thought." I leaned against the desk. Every movement hurt. "You have two choices. Stay here, under my protection. Or walk out that door and take your chances with the people who want you dead."

"You mean the people you sicced on me?"

"I didn't—" I stopped. Drew in a breath. "I told my men to leave you alone. But someone in my organization betrayed me. And now you're caught in the middle."

"So this is all because of you."

"Yes."

At least I could give her honesty.

She stared at me. I saw the wheels turning behind her eyes. Calculating. Deciding.

"If I stay," she said slowly, "what happens to me?"

"You stay alive."

"And if I don't?"

I met her gaze. Held it.

"Then I'll be attending your funeral."

She flinched.

Good. She should be scared. Fear kept you alive in this world.

"I want to go home," she said quietly.

"You can't."

"I want—"

"I don't care what you want." The words came out harsher than I intended. "You're staying here. End of discussion."

Her jaw clenched. "You can't just—"

"I can. And I am."

She took a step toward me. Marc moved to intercept. I waved him off.

"You're a monster," she said.

"I know."

"I saved your life."

"I know."

"And this is how you repay me?"

I looked at her. Really looked at her. Saw the fear beneath the anger. The exhaustion. The way her hands trembled even as she stood her ground.

She was terrified.

And it was my fault.

"Yes," I said softly. "This is how I repay you. By keeping you alive. Even if you hate me for it."

Something flickered in her eyes.

Then my phone buzzed.

I glanced at the screen. Location ping.

From her ID badge.

How the hell—?

I looked up. Met Nic's eyes. He nodded.

"Marc," I said. "Take her to the west bedroom. Make sure she has everything she needs."

"You can't just lock me up!" Mara shouted.

"Watch me."

Marc moved forward. She tried to fight. It was pointless.

"This isn't over," she said as they dragged her toward the hallway.

"It hasn't even started."

The door closed behind her.

I stood there in the silence.

Nic approached. "That went well."

"Shut up."

"What are you going to do with her?"

I stared at the door. At the place where she'd been standing.

"I don't know," I admitted. "But I'm keeping her. No matter what it takes."