“Leo didn’t count on Salvatore’s son, Vincenzo, being so powerful in the mafia world. So, he gave me fifty million to cover his ass and signed a new deal which said that Salvatore loaned me the money in exchange for your hand in marriage to Vincenzo. Hence your marriage.” Then he turned away. “What do you think, Vincenzo, enjoying the story, so far?”
And only then did I notice the other chair and like me, the person had a bag over their head which Cassius whipped off.
“Vincenzo?” I gasped.
He took a moment to focus before his angry gaze met mine. “So, father and daughter collaboration, how fucking nice,” he snarled.
“Wait,” I shouted. “You don’t think I had anything to do with this, do you?”
“Why not? You did come to me used, didn’t you? Gave what was mine to another man,” he scoffed.
His words hit me like a steam train gone rogue and I struggled to breathe. Every inch of me screamed for him to believe me but the disgusted look on his face gutted me.
“So, now let’s move on to part two, shall we?” Cassius smirked and I had the sudden urge to jump up and head butt him in the balls. “I approached Vincenzo and ask that we terminate the contract. I even offered to pay him back the fifty million with interest. He refused.”
My head snapped up and anger ignited in my belly, stemming more from him not believing I didn’t work with Cassius. “I supposed because you enjoyed humiliating me, didn’t you?” I spat out then glared at Cassius. “And I suppose you thought you could use me again if Vincenzo said yes, didn’t you?”
His chuckle grated on my nerves. “Yes, I planned to sign a new contract with my new partner. We would use your services together and hence a fifty-fifty partnership. But Vincenzo refused to give you up and so that deal fell through. But then my new partner set an ambush for you when you went shopping and of course, your hero Vincenzo saved you.” Cassius scoffed.
Salvatore still refused to meet my gaze and I clenched my teeth, willing him to see the truth. He refused. Maybe because he believed I loved Zayne.
“Then of course he spirited you away but that didn’t go according to plan did it, Vincenzo? Does she know?”
“Know what?” I was quick to ask but Vincenzo merely clenched his jaw and I wasn’t sure whether it was still because he was angry with me or with Cassius for whatever he was about to tell me.
“I guess he didn’t then.” Cassius grinned. “You see, Gianna because you weren’t a virgin I suppose, your wonderful husband sent you to a terrible prison. And you know what they do to the gray tunic girls there don’t you.” I narrowed my eyes at him wondering how he knew. “Well, your husband could’ve paid to have you taken out of there, you know bribe the captain.” Cassius paused. “Oh, wait, he did bribe the captain but that was to keep you there untouched. So, you wore gray, but no man could touch you because of close to a hundred thousand a month, right Vincenzo?”
“What?” If there was ever anything that could’ve shocked me, I think would’ve been it. Pain swiped a deep cut through my heart, ripping down to my core.
Salvatore looked at me now and as usual, his expression remained a blank slate but something in his eyes changed, a glint I didn’t understand. “How could you?” I asked. He remained quiet. I looked at Cassius. “So, what do you what from me now?” I hissed, blood simmering in my veins, my wrists straining against the binds.
“Well, sweetheart, I need the location of Gabriel, please.”
I frowned. “I haven’t seen him in the last five years. And what does Gabriel have to do with all of this shit? He didn’t even know who I was when we met and you refused for me to contact him,” I grunted.
Cassius barked out a laugh. “But you did meet him after you married Vincenzo, you know as in after you came back from prison and Vincenzo was nice enough to allow you to shoot him,” he said, his tone one of boredom before he looked at Salvatore. “Did she tell you she fucked Gabriel, Vincenzo, in your home while you were pretending to be dead, giving her space?”
Salvatore glared at me, anger etching deep lines into his brow, a muscle spasmed in his hardened jaw. But he said nothing.
“What do you want with Gabriel, Cassius?” I asked, trying to avoid Salvatore’s eyes.
Cassius looked at me and shrugged. “He owes me a son.”
“What?” I asked, confused.
“You see, Gianna, here’s part three of the story. Gabriel killed my son.”
“When?” This was beginning to sound unbelievable.
“You met my son, Gianna. His name was Nathaniel Prescott aka Jake Steiner.” Cassius’ words ripped the rug right out from under me and I fell hard. “You see Gianna, I’m better known as the Boogeyman that little girls fear.”
Gobsmacked, my jaw dropped, and my stomach flipped until I had to swallow to maintain my upright position. Hadn’t Nathaniel mentioned the Boogeyman would come for me? I just wrote it off as him wanting to scare me.
Cassius let out a narcissistic laugh. “Nathaniel trafficked woman for me. He was going to bring you to me. But I didn’t know you were my daughter at the time. Until I saw your photo with Gabriel at your home when I came to fetch you. I was aware Gabriel killed my son, but I didn’t know why at the time. Because he saved you.”
“Oh, my fucking God,” I uttered an incredulous laugh. “So you set Gabriel up. He didn’t kill Ishara, Bhavna, and Harsh.” He nodded. “You sick bastard,” I growled. All this time I hated Gabriel thinking he was a killer. “You wanted revenge against me and Gabriel.”
“No.” Cassius shook his head. “I want a son. I want Gabriel’s son.” He glanced at Vincenzo. “Did Gianna tell you she has a son with Gabriel?”
