My Stepfather's Darkest Secret

A case of Cassie

Laura’s pov

“Birthday gift??”

The room spun around me. I stumbled backwards from the crashing wave of reality check. Cassie instinctively stepped forward in my direction, while Isabella held onto her. Creating a domino effect.

“Easy.” Isabella steadied Cassie on her feet, at the same time sizing me up with her eyes in disapproval.

I needed to get myself together. Focusing on Dante straightened my back. He watched us vehemently, reminding me once again that this man was in no way dumb.

His face contorted into displease. “You don't like it?”

A frown knitted my eyebrows into a thick rigid line.

Did he just refer to my best friend as ‘it’?!

Isabella butted in before I could react further. “Mr. Dante. The girls are in shock. Please, give them some time to catch up. There is still quite some minutes left to kill before the dinner begins and our divine guest arrives."

Divine guests?

They held each other's eyes. It was brief and intense. I was sure there was a conversation going on right under our nose. They both relaxed after some seconds of holding each other's eyes.

Dante sighed, a warm steam of resignation in his breath eased the wall of tension between them.

“I will be in my study. Tardiness will not be tolerated.” His smoky voice sizzled through the room.

Before he exited finally, he ordered Isabella to get Cassie into a more presentable dress. The need to have her in something presentable made me wonder who the hell these ‘divine guests’ were.

“You have a lot of explaining to do!” Isabella snapped at me with a stern expression. My heart dropped to the bottom of my nauseous belly. Where do I even begin?

“The two of you. Follow me.” Isabella ordered.

Cassie and I strolled anxiously behind Isabella as she led the way to the infirmary. We exited through the back door, walking close to the stone walled mansion. It was attached to the west wing, a corner stone extension of the stone walls.

It was however, empty, as most of the workers responsible for keeping the estate running barely used the Healthcare Dante provided. I never cared to find out the reason why until this very moment.

The halls were dull, with gray ceiling that screamed depression. We were surrounded by off white gloomy walls. The beds were thin and empty without sheets, just a plastic covering.

“Take a seat.” Isabella said to Cassie.

“And before I get back, you both better get your story straight.” She raked her fingers in our faces before strutting away.

The moment she was out of ear shot, Cassie’s eyes widened with fear and panic. “Your stepfather is crazy!” She exclaimed while managing to keep her voice at whisper level.

“You think I don't know?” I shot back, trying my hardest not to pull at the roots of my hair out of frustration.

“How the hell did he find you?” It occurred to me to ask. She fidgeted with her fingernails, something she did when she was ridden by nerves.

“After our call. Derrick got me tied to a chair. He was convinced I was going to sneak back into the club and shake ass for more money…” Her voice shook as her eyes evidently relived the horror.

“God. He called me so many horrible names. Punched me several times when I refused to accept his accusations, and at some point…I just went numb…” She shrugged, staring blankly in the distance.

“I accepted he was going to do whatever he wanted to me until I gave up or he gave up…” She looked up at me, her bottom lip trembled ever so slightly.

“Then he walked in. Your step-dad.” Cassie shook her head as if she couldn't believe her own memory.

“He walked in like he f*****g owned the place. Through the damn front doors. He kicked it down with a single Kick. Derrick didn't see it coming. He did pull a gun on your step-dad but I swear have never seen someone overpower someone with a gun so easily. He was fast, breaking Derrick's wrists like they were frail twigs branches. Some masked men appeared from our backdoor, untied me and took me to a car, then disappeared.”

I couldn't believe the words that left her mouth. Yet, here I was, glued to her every word. Her story didn't still answer how he found her.

“What in the James Bond 007 is going on??” I exclaimed.

That made Cassie chuckle.

“He questioned me. He wanted to know what I did at the club. Eventually, I found out the reason he came to find me was because he thought I was the dancer he was with last night." She raised her eyes to meet mine.

"I mean, I'm the dancer from last night technically. The club must have tipped him off about where I stayed because he found my tag.” Cassie touched the bottom of her eyes, flinching, withdrawing her finger away, painfully hissing.

"How are your eyes?”

“Hurts like a b***h. I'll tell you.” She shut her eyes, sighing. I allowed the seconds to sit between us in silence.

“My stepfather cannot know I was the one he slept with.” I whispered to Cassie. My voice trembled.

"I already told him I was the dancer from the previous night. He's not going to find out—”

“He's not going to find out what?!” Isabella’s voice resonated from the far end of the hall. She approached us with a white box with a red cross painted on its side.

How the hell did she hear us all the way from down the hall?!

I waited until she was close before I replied.

“That I was at the club too.” I blurted out.

Isabella stopped by the bed Cassie sat on. Staring between the both of us. “So when you drove out, you were going to the club?”

“Yes…”

Isabella rolled her eyes. “I don't know how he found out but you should have been smarter. You are lucky he found her in time.” She mentioned, nudging in Cassie's direction.

"You guys should never go back there. It is dangerous."

She proceeded to clean Cassie’s wounds with so much expertise, Cassie barely flinched from the pain. I watched them in silence. A part of me didn't trust that all of this could easily fly under the radar. Was it possible he really believed Cassie was the dancer from last night?

“Alright. I need the both of you to head to her room, get dressed. Use make up to cover the rest of the black circle. And for the love of God, when it is time for dinner, be present. He is already in a bad mood.” Isabella advised us.

“So we should walk on eggshells because he can't mind his business?” I couldn't hold back anymore.

Isabella looked in Cassie’s direction before bringing her attention back to me. "Listen to me. He is not one to be crossed. Even I, wouldn't be able to save you from his wrath if you go against him.”

She rushed us out of the infirmary and into the main building again through the backdoor, just like we had left initially. Just before we got past the stairs, Corey showed up in a distinct three piece suit. He stared down at the both of us, a glint of mockery flashed in his eyes.

“Well well…if it is not the birthday girl and her promiscuous bestie.” He grinned sadistically.

“If it is not the man who can keep his d**k tucked away for two whole seconds.” I shot back at him, dragging Cassie by the hand, shoving his shoulder out of my way.

“I promise, this is the last time.” He yelled after me.

I shut my mind to him, knowing very well he was trying to get a reaction out of me. I decided focus on the more pressing issue at hand.

Not being late to my own birthday dinner and getting my Stepfather's wrath first hand.

Cassie and I got dressed as fast as we could.

I wore the silver dress Isabella had given me earlier while Cassie wore a black dress from my closet. Together, hand in hand, we descended the stairs into the dining room to meet a fully set table with ten chairs attached to the table.

“I thought there were just four of us.” Cassie muttered to me.

“The other six chairs belongs to the divine guests—”

The creepy doorbell resonated through the house, cutting me off.

“That must be them.”