Worth Any Price (Novella)

PROLOGUE

CASSIAN

I SURVEYED the town and wondered if my mom really came from this place. It is in East Texas and the camper where she used to live is nearby a diner, which probably explains why she worked in that f****d-up place and didn't go anywhere until she met my dad.

I burned the diner down to ash as soon as my mom told me the story of how the owner always harassed her verbally and sexually. The old fucker would touch her legs and give her tips like she was a f*****g w***e. My mom, being the gentle soul that she is, just prayed to God that the owner would eventually stop his perverted acts.

My mom was threatened to be fired if she talked about what was happening in the diner, so she shut her mouth up. But when things went too far and the motherfucker started forcing himself on her, my dad was luckily lost and was finding directions that fateful day and just basically barged into the diner for help. He then saw what was happening and practically beat the owner to bits just to peel him away from my distraught mom.

My parents met that night and I'm glad they did because the fruit of that love is me. My mom only shared that she met Dad at the diner but she left the attempted rape out of the store. She never let her past taint me in any way until I read her diary by accident.

She didn't know I had read it and I wasn't going to tell her that I did. I wouldn't even tell her that I had her previous employer tortured and killed before dumping his body in his RV. It wouldn't have been a necessary step but I discovered that he was taking nude pictures of a kid with severe autism that is living in the tiny village not far away from the diner.

That was the last straw. It only fueled my urge to kill him.

I should've done it a long time ago. If only I knew this side of my mother's past, I could've prevented it from happening.

But it's not too late, though. I saved that kid before the perverted asshole tried to force himself on her. I think this is some kind of sickness in his mind; he would tease himself by touching his victims' legs just to stimulate his need, then go for the kill when his urges are at their peak. It is only an observation, though. His pattern is too obvious to miss.

The kid, Leah, smiled at me from the doorstep as she carried her bag. She calls me brother and I promised her I will take her to my mother. My mom will be very happy to have a distraction because having a busy husband and son can be quite lonely. I contacted CPS and I have connections. It only took a week to transfer the custody of the child to my mother. From this day onwards, this kid will be known as Leanne Markov.

A warmth spread throughout my chest. It may be a small step but I'll make sure to support anyone who's suffering the same. I sold my art collection to donate it to my company's charity which helps men and women escape any kind of abuse. We provide shelter for them, safety, and a new beginning. I think what my mom went through only paved the way for me to find these souls. Being among the top five billionaires in the world, I think it is my calling to use my influence for the people in need.

I smiled when I realized that I finally found my destiny... that I finally found what was missing. I always knew that my soul is searching for something. A purpose, maybe? But I found it. I think I did.

But I was wrong.

The door nearby Leah's old apartment opened and it revealed a woman wearing a white nightdress. Her wavy, chestnut hair bounces up and down as she walked down the stairs to put the trash in the bin outside of her home.

Her eyes landed on me as soon as she dumped the trash bag in the bin and my heart stopped beating.

Her green eyes shone under the warm sunlight. Her hair shone like a halo around her head. The woman smiled at me, then at Leah.

I tried to blink but I can't even do that. I'm completely petrified just at the sight of her.

"Where are you going, Lee?" She went towards Leah and surveyed the bag that my little sister is carrying.

"You're leaving? You didn't even tell me?" There's sadness in this angel's eyes, and I have the urge to kneel in front of her and tell her I'm sorry for taking away Leah from her.

I realized that I have been holding my breath so I inhaled sharply, my eyes relentlessly taking in everything about this woman— her alabaster skin, the finely dusting of freckles across her cheeks. I can tell that she's a little self-conscious just by knowing that I'm staring at her like a man depraved of water his whole life.

She's mine. My mind whispered that phrase over and over again.

Suddenly, I felt complete. I felt satiated. The weary feeling inside me that I didn't know existed finally disappeared.

"What's your name?" I managed to ask without stuttering, my face still evident of shock.

"Anri. I'm Lee's friend." She offered her hand for a friendly handshake with a timid smile on her face.

I heard my sharp intake of breath just by the simple gesture.

No, I couldn't shake her hand. I will die if I do so. The attraction I feel towards her is so intense that my body is still in shock as my mind scattered to search for a response to her mere presence.

My eyes landed on her rounded breast. My jaw clenched so hard when I noticed her pert n*****s poke through the thin fabric. It is so thin that I can almost see the pinkness of her breast.

Why does she go outside of her house looking like that? What if someone sees her?

I cursed under my breath. Is she married? Suddenly, I can feel a rush of jealousy in my system. She's mine. She doesn't belong to any man.

She reluctantly pulled her hand away when I don't do anything to shake it. It feels as if my mind is flooded with so many questions about her that it started to malfunction and not do basic tasks anymore, like shaking someone's hand.

I faced dangerous people in this lifetime who wanted my money and influence. I met countless politicians that are well-known to intimidate any human being in their vicinity. I never had this reaction to them.

Then, it clicked. My mind started working as soon as a certain thought popped into my mind. I thought I heard firecrackers in my head because of the sudden realization. It's not literally explosions that I'm hearing; I think they are thoughts and questions about Anri that I'm completely ignoring because I'm overwhelmed.

She's that missing piece. She's the one you've been waiting for.

Whenever my mind multitasks, I can hear ideas, thoughts, and questions pop into my mind. If I'm bombarded with a hundred questions and thoughts all at once, I hear firecrackers. I associated the sounds I hear in my mind with the annoying ones that the firecrackers make.

She caused those firecrackers.

Usually, I hate it when that happens but it's different this time. I feel like I deserved this suffering because she's worthy of it.

I turned my back and walked to my car with Leah in tow before I freak Anri out by standing like a statue in front of her. My sweet sister didn't even question how weird I acted. I just helped Leah in the car and took one last look at Anri before going inside the vehicle.

I will have you, Anri. I swear I will.

I pulled my phone out of my pocket and contacted my security team.

"I need information about Leah's neighbor, Anri. Place twenty-four-seven security on her and gather every information you can, even the irrelevant ones. Make sure that no man will enter her home except for her family, got that?" I grind my teeth into powder. "And if she has a husband, report it ASAP." If I have a competition, I will need to know everything about him. Maybe, I can bribe him to divorce her. But who in their right mind would divorce an angel like Anri?

My hand gripped my phone as if it can control my anxiety. I soon realized that I hate being away from her, and that I hate not knowing what she's doing right now or her daily routine. It feels like hell. I hated that we had to part so soon before I could even touch her face, but I'll make sure that today will be the last day that she'll ever be away from my sight.

"I'll have you, my sweet firecracker. Soon."