Chapter 42
Cassian
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Shock flashes in Reyna’s eyes at the warning growl in my words, and she takes a step back. But not before I see the emotion that follows that surprise: annoyance.
Annoyance? Reyna has never been annoyed at me. She’s always been my number one supporter, from the time we were teenagers navigating the politics of the underworld together.
Now, though, I wonder. Is there something beneath that?
Has Reyna stayed close to me all these years because she wants something from me?
She looks over her shoulder to where Gemma just disappeared through the swinging kitchen doors and shakes her head.
“I can’t believe she’d come onto you in public like that. She’s obviously trying to get you caught so you have to reveal the marriage. If people caught you like I just did, there will be gossip.”
She takes a breath and says, “If other underworld families find out you’ve been secretly married this whole time, they’re going think they can’t trust you.”
7/6
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I consider her words. There’s some truth to them. The fact that I’m single has been convenient in several negotiations where a parent thought that they could wrangle me into marriage with a daughter.
That was never really on the table, but it didn’t hurt at the time to
let them think it was.
Reyna has a point, but not one I can think about right now. Ninety percent of my brain is back five minutes ago with Gemma, reliving every gasp, every sensation of her silken skin and her damp heat.
I straighten my clothes, even though they were already straight, and change the subject. “Come on. We’re needed downstairs.”
James comes in at that moment with the rest of the kitchen staff. I point at the shepherd’s pies he pulled out of the oven right before all this happened.
“Have those delivered downstairs in ten minutes.” My stomach growls at the thought of them.
The chef nods and says, “Of course, Alpha. If you see Gemma again, let her know they’re a favorite here.”
I frown as I’m walking toward the secret door that leads to the underground casino.
“Gemma?” I ask, “Why?”
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James gives me a look like I’m crazy. “Because she’s the consultant who insisted we put them on the menu, Alpha. In fact,
all your favorites on the menu were her suggestion.”
James gets to work commanding his minions to sanitize the kitchen and leaves me standing there, totally stunned.
How much has my wife done for me over the last three years that I haven’t even noticed?
Inside my head, Zephyr is smug.
*****
Gemma
I rush into The Pub’s public bathroom and groan at the state my hair and clothes are in. My appearance practically screams, “I’ve been ravished!”
Except I wasn’t ravished, and now I have to walk around for the rest of the day horny and totally unsatisfied.
Damn you, Cassian Blackwell!
I leave The Pub without anything else happening–thank the Goddess–and return to Zina’s apartment.
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She’s sitting in her spot when I walk in, tapping away at her computer. She’s back from her thing, too.
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When I walk in, she takes one look at me and raises her eyebrows.
“Whoa. What happened to you? I thought you were going to the meeting with Alpha Giancarlo!”
I groan. “I did, and the meeting went fine. This happened after. I thought I straightened up well enough in the bathroom. You can tell?”
Zina’s tone gentles. “I can tell because I’m your best friend. And since I’m your best friend, you’d better tell me who you climbed like a tree this morning. Not Giancarlo?”
“Our client? No! At least give me credit for being a professional.” I sink down onto the couch and put my face in my hands. “It was Cassian.”
“Oh. My. Goddess. You idiot!” Zina chucks a pillow at me and it ́ bounces off my bowed head. “No, no, no! How the hell are you going to keep your head clear enough to get through this year if you two start screwing?!”
“I don’t know!” I throw the pillow back at her, but she catches it. I stand and start to pace. The apartment feels too small. My whole
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body feels too tight.
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I turn to Zina. “We need to put the house I bought in your name, like we talked about. That way Cassian can’t get it if he goes after everything I have in the divorce.”
Zina blinks. “Random change of subject, but okay.”
“It’s not random. Clearly, I have no willpower when it comes to
him,” I say.
“That’s true,” Zina replies. “So yeah, I will. And once the divorce is final, I’ll transfer it back to you.”
“Thanks,” I say.
I still feel restless. Zina can clearly tell, because she stands from her chair and stretches. “Okay, friend. I’m going to get you out of here. You obviously need to take your mind off this.”
“Where are we going?” I ask, but I already have my purse in my hand. Anywhere is better than being cooped up in this small
space.
Zina grins. “Where else? Shopping!”
We hit our favorite outdoor mall, and I’m already feeling all the tension leave my body as we shop racks of clothes and shoes.
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There’s nothing like a little retail therapy.
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But just as we’re moving from one store to another, Zina grabs my
arm.
“Gemma!” she whispers, “Isn’t that Cassian’s psychotic cousin?! Didn’t you tell me the other night that she slapped you at a party once?!”
