"Why would he put her in the auction if he is so possessive of her? It makes no sense." I have an idea, though.
"He kept saying he was going to punish her for cheating on him when he assumed she was with me. I think he put her in the auction to scare her, but it backfired. I think he was always planning on bidding on her from the start, but he didn’t know we would be there, too."
"Wait, how do you know he was going to punish her?"
Oops.
"Um, well, I've been keeping tabs on her phone. Any time she walks away from it, I check to see what he texted her."
"SO YOU KNEW SHE WAS INTO THIS LIFESTYLE!!?!?" He shouts.
"I mean sort of." I then continue to tell him about the bar, her getting wasted, taking care of her, snooping through the phone, blocking Alec, the KNKI app, and finding out about her Dom.
"Dude, such an invasion of privacy." He chuckles. "How did it take you till last night to realize you were in love with her?"
"I... I don’t know, man. I just thought I was being like a protective older brother or something. But these last few days have changed everything. Especially that night. Now, if you'll excuse me, I have doors to bust open." I wink.
"Oh no, not without me fucker. If you are going there, you need backup. He most likely has armed guards." Jayme says. Throwing his coat over his shoulder.
"What the hell are we going to do up against armed guards," I ask.
"Not we, me. I was going to wait till we were back in California, and I knew you were all in before letting you in on this, but now I guess it’s on a need-to-know basis, and you need to know. So, West Enterprise is a front for the real business that my family conducts."
I scoff
"What, are you guys into some shady shit? Dealing with the Cartel or something?"
"Pshh, No. My father helps run one of the largest Italian American mafia families in California, the Morelli’s are our cousins. They run L.A. We run Santa Monica. My father used my mother’s maiden name to start the business. No one would want a security company ran by the Morellis. So we became the West's. It's such a boring name. Any who, I’m next in line after my cousin Charlie to run L.A., but I am taking over Santa Monica when Pops retires."
I’m shocked. It makes sense now, tho, his knowledge of guns, his fighting reflexes, the money, and his connections to everything.
"Oh, and one part of my family owns FoxDen, and another runs Vixens. Mr. Snider is married to Lilly Morelli, my 2nd cousin. See, that’s why we can get in with the friends and family discount."
I’m pretty sure I’ve just been sitting here with my mouth open because my throat is insanely dry. I still can’t believe this.
"Oh also, Blackmore. Also mobster. And he is of the worst kind because he is so cocky he flaunts his name. I’m surprised you didn’t recognize it."
"Sorry, I don’t subscribe to mobster monthly." I roll my eyes. "So let me get this straight. You are part of the Italian mafia, your dad helps run it, you are 2nd in line to take over, the company is a front company, and you were going to wait till I was fully your number 2 to fucking tell me? What if I got shot at before then?"
Jayme is literally hunched over laughing now.
"Lucian, I expected a man like you, from New York of all places, would be able to handle a little violence. Not once have I ever put your life in danger, if that’s what you are wondering. Again, I’m not like Blackmore. I don’t flaunt my name. I prefer tostay under the radar. And yes, I wanted to know you were 100% in it for the company and not for money or status like the rest of the fuckers. I needed someone who had my back like a brother." He pinches the bridge of his nose. "Listen, I’m sorry I didn’t tell you sooner. But you gotta understand, I had to also be sure you didn’t have ties back home to any rivals."
"Oh. Well, that makes sense. Ughhh, ok fine. You still aren’t off the hook. I want to know more about all of it. Especially if I’m going to be your right-hand man, I need to train and learn how to shoot?"
"No time like the present." He tosses me over a gun. The most interaction I have had with a gun is in video games, fake cosplay ones, and one horrible hunting trip my uncle took me on when I was 12. Well, here goes nothing.
50. Cassie
When we first arrived at Blackmore Manor yesterday morning, it was pouring. I was tired and cold. Theo had my laptop and clothes in the guest bedroom beside his. He told me to unpack, shower, and relax for the day. I was still on edge; my gut feeling was that something was off, but I decided to shower. Well, my gut was right.
When I walked out of the en suite bathroom, I realized that someone had been in my room. My purse was gone, and so was my phone. Fucking Theo. I quickly threw on my robe and went to find him, but my door was locked. He locked me in like a fucking prisoner. I had banged on the door for what felt like hours—crying, screaming, begging him to let me out. He never even came to the door. I glanced at the clock next to the bed; I had already been there for 5 hours. I was hungry and thirsty. I yelled for Theo so much that my voice cracked.
I even tried to pick the lock on the door, but it seemed like there was a padlock on the outside because even when I could turn the handle, the door wouldn’t budge. I had tried the window, but this side of the house faced over the water. It was a straight drop of at least 40 feet. No, thank you.
I cried myself to sleep last night. I woke up about an hour ago, and the clock said it was about 5 am. Fuck, I barely slept. My stomach is actually hurting, and I am so hungry. I haven’t eaten since the morning of Saturday, and it is now Monday morning. The only water I have is from the sink. I want to go home. I look down at my hands. My nails are chipped from scratching at thedoor, my knuckles bruised, and some cracked with blood. That’s when I realized I didn’t have my best friend's bracelet. I’ve had it on for years, and now it is missing. Did it fall off at home? Oh, God, I hope so. I’m panicking as I pace the room. I can’t believe he is keeping me locked in here. When I get out of here, I swear I am going to kill him.
It’s just after 6:30 when I hear noises outside my door—a faint click noise, then a knock.
