Chap 5

Zara's POV

Running. I just felt myself running. No, I was running. But to where? I don't know! The sight I had just seen made me lose my senses. I had seen Cassius write a bold 'M' on an innocent man's head. The bastard had done it without a hint of remorse, then he had shot him right in the forehead. Devil.

When I had fled the club, I didn't go back home and had just stood at a corner outside the club. Cassius emerged moments later, cool and collected, entering his car and driving off as if nothing had happened. I quickly hailed a taxi and followed him, my heart racing. He stopped at a warehouse—was that where he killed people? Innocent people? Bastard. Did he derive joy from taking lives? It felt like a game to him. I, on the other hand, only killed bad people out of necessity, and I hated every moment of it.

After what felt like hours, I found a perfect spot to peep. I crouched low and watched as Cassius bent over a tied-up man. Another body lay lifeless on the floor. I had heard a gunshot ring out, and my stomach churned. Probably Cassius had killed the man then. Cassius pressed a blazing iron into the tied guy’s forehead. I covered my mouth, trying to stifle a scream. Bastard.

I kept running as if my life depended on it. I felt like a hunted animal, aware that if Cassius discovered I was a spy and entered his life because i wanted to kill him, he would mark my pretty forehead just like that poor man. No doubt, he would kill me without hesitation. I had to keep moving. I had to survive.

Finally, I regained my fucking senses and decided to head to Xander's house. It was the only safe place I could think of. I couldn't go home—what if Cassius had done a background check? He would find my address and come for me. No, I couldn’t let that happen. Xander, here I come.

****

“So, you mean you ran away?” Xander asked.

“Did you not hear what I said? Do you want your little daughter to get killed like that man?” I snapped, frustration bubbling over. How could he not see the gravity of the situation? How could he not see what I'm seeing?

“But that’s if you get caught, kid. You’re still safe; just have to be careful,” he replied, his tone steady.

“But… he seems dangerous. What if I get caught without being able to do anything?” I countered, my anxiety rising.

“That’s why you have to be careful. You know your way around this type of mission. It’s not your first…”

“It is my first Mafia mission, Xan,” I yelled, my voice rising.

“Then quit the mission,” he said curtly. “But you’re still stuck with me—stuck with unending missions then.”

Dammit. I didn’t know what to do anymore. This mission was dangerous, but I was Zara. I could handle it if he didn’t find out who I really was. Why had I lost my mind? What the hell had I expected from a Mafia if not killing? But I hadn’t anticipated the torture part. No, i know he marked them, but i never knew that was the pain they felt each time. The screams of that man echoed in my mind, and I shuddered.

“You can sleep in your former room. Good night,” Xander said, standing up.

“Xan… I’m sorry,” I said, and he turned to look at me. “I’ll go back.”

He sat back down beside me. “You don’t have to go back, kid. It’s dangerous, I understand your fear.”

“No, Xan. I’ll be fine. You trained me well. I just lost my mind for a few minutes,” I reassured him.

“Are you sure?” he asked, worry etched on his face. I nodded. “Let me drop you off then.”

I couldn’t say anything but just nodded. I wasn't supposed to be this weak. I was the same person who killed over five people already. I wasn't a saint, but...

We walked to his car, and he ignited the engine, and we drove back to the monster's house.

“Stop, stop the car!” I yelled, my heart racing as Xander slammed on the brakes.

“What’s wrong?” he asked, alarm in his eyes. I pointed forward to Cassius's car, but it was too late—Cassius had already seen us. Dammit. He was walking toward us with that predatory grace.

“Leave immediately after I get down,” I instructed.

“Take this; you might need it,” Xander said, handing me a flash drive. I quickly tucked it into my back pocket and got out of the car, walking toward Cassius and side-bowing rudely. Dammit. He looked gorgeous with the street lights kissing his face, his green eyes sparkling, his features sharp and alluring. How I wished he were just a normal man, someone I could fall for. But this was the damn monster—the killer of innocents. And I wasn’t even sure if those two men were the only ones he had killed today.

“Where are you coming from?” he asked, his gaze piercing into me.

“I went to…”

“You’re coming from that oldie’s house, right? You’re too young to be dating someone who’s old enough to be your father,” he remarked, a smirk playing on his lips.

“He’s not an oldie. He’s just 42 years old,” I shot back, trying to sound dismissive.

“Whatever. Why didn’t you tell me you were going out? I thought you said you were feeling sleepy… Wait…” He scanned me from head to toe. “Did you attend a club? Did your oldie boyfriend take you to a club?”

Fuck me. I had forgotten I was still wearing the clothes i had worn to the club. Thankfully, I had left my facecap on Xander’s cushion and didn't remember to pick it up.

“Never mind. It can’t be you,” he said, turning to walk inside. I let out a sigh of relief. I looked around, his bodyguards weren’t complete, some are missing, which meant they were either cleaning up his mess or creating another one.

“I'm suddenly famished; come and make me something light,” he called out, glancing back at me.

“Okay…wait.” The realization of his words hit me as I walked toward him. “This night?”

“Are you questioning me? This was why I suggested you move into my house—because I can decide to eat anytime,” he said, pressing the elevator button. I stood there, frozen, as he entered. “Are you not gonna enter?” he demanded, and I hurried inside.

The elevator beeped as we ascended. The bastard. How could he think of food after killing two innocent people? The thought of him sitting down to a meal while others would never eat again made my blood boil. I felt like pinning him against the wall and stabbing him right there, but I knew that would be playing with fire. Just a turn of his hand, and I would be a corpse, too.

We stepped out of the elevator and headed to his room. I went straight to the kitchen as he moved upstairs. Should I poison his food right now? I could just kill him, but Xander wouldn’t allow that, and the first person to be suspected would be me—his cook.

I placed his food on the dining table and then ventured into the sitting room. He was engrossed in his laptop, probably sifting through documents that could be vital to me. I touched my back pocket—the flash drive was still there. Perfect. I just needed a way to access his laptop.

“Why are you just standing there? Are you done?” Cassius's voice broke through, causing me to almost jump.

“Erm… no, I mean yes,” I stammered, my heart racing.

“Just get me a juice first. I’ll be right there.” His gaze returned to the screen.

I hurried into the kitchen, grabbed a five-alive juice and a glass cup, and arranged everything on a tray and returned to the sitting room. Then, an idea crept into my mind. I carefully placed the tray on the table and poured the juice into the glass until it was half-full. Then, I raised it up to him.

He reached for it, but I let go, spilling the drink all over him. “Sorry! I’m so sorry!” I exclaimed.

He shot me a death glare. “You did that intentionally, didn’t you?”

“No, I didn’t, I promise! It slipped off my hand. I’m really sorry,” I said, putting on my most genuine apologetic expression.

He stood up, dropped his laptop on the table, and stormed upstairs. Awesome, Zara. Really, really awesome.

Once he was gone, I pulled out the flash drive, connected it to his system, and sat on the sofa. I rummaged through the files on his laptop, but nothing caught my attention. Just as I was about to give up, I noticed a file titled ‘M’. This was it. I wanted to open it and see what secrets it held, but time was running out. I quickly began the process of copying the file. Wait...What the hell? Why was this file taking so long? It was agonizing. I glanced up the staircase—Cassius still wasn’t in sight.

Be fucking fast, you idiot. Finally, the progress bar hit 90%, then 95, 96, 97, 98...

“What the hell are you doing?”