Chapter 4

Right then, Valerie rushed in, pushing past the guards.

Ignoring me entirely, she banged on the bathroom door.

"Cassius, you promised me three things. One of them was to travel the world with me on a cruise! I compromised. I said going to the island was enough. You can't break your promise!"

Her voice caught on a sob.

"Exactly a year ago today, you promised me. Just indulge me one last time."

A year ago today, I was hospitalized after being kidnapped by a rival cartel.

Cassius claimed he was out hunting the rat in our family and couldn't be there for me. In reality, he was at the movies with Valerie.

The bathroom door clicked open. Cassius walked out.

Seeing the tears in Valerie's eyes, he looked heartbroken and pulled her into his arms.

Valerie leaned against his chest, her shoulders trembling.

"I knew you couldn't just leave me."

"Don't cry. I'll go with you."

Saul shot them a cold look and walked over to me.

"Caitlin."

Cassius finally noticed I was sitting on the couch, quietly watching them.

Conflict flashed in his eyes before he spoke.

"Since we're all here, why don't the four of us go on a trip together?"

"'Cassius', she's your assistant, right? You shouldn't mind."

He gave Saul a threatening look.

Saul ignored him completely and looked down at me.

"What do you think, sweetheart?"

I stood up, linked my arm through Saul's, and shook my head.

"No thanks. We're going to City Hall to sign the marriage papers this afternoon."

In my past life, Cassius made every excuse to delay signing the papers.

But Saul was different. He practically begged me to lock it down on paper.

Cassius's eyes blew wide open.

"You're going to get the marriage license?!"

His face turned ugly, but he masked it a second later, forcing a smirk.

"Well, if you have to go, we won't hold you up."

Before he left, he shoved his personal signet stamp into Saul's pocket.

Making sure I couldn't hear, he whispered to Saul, "I know you're just putting on a show to piss me off."

"I swear I haven't betrayed Caitlin. I just have to give Valerie what I promised her."

"I promise you, tomorrow we switch back. I will make it up to Caitlin."

"Sign the papers for me, and I'll forget all your little stunts."

Once they were gone.

Saul pulled Cassius's signet stamp out of his pocket and tossed it straight into the roaring fireplace.

Watching the flames eat it, I knew exactly what was happening.

Cassius thought Saul was just playing a role.

So smart, yet so stupid.

He had no idea that his ex-fiancée and his entire mafia empire were no longer his.

At the registry, Saul and I moved fast.

Signed the papers, pressed our fingerprints.

The clerk handed us two gold-embossed booklets. The names printed inside were Caitlin and Saul.

Right on cue, a text from Cassius popped up on Saul's phone.

"Saul, did you finish the paperwork for me and Caitlin?"

"Send me a picture right now."

"Since you helped me out, once I take over as Don, I'll give you half the East River docks."

Holding his very real marriage license, Saul looked incredibly relaxed and smug. He snapped two photos of the certificate and hit send.

He raised an eyebrow at me. "I wonder what face Cassius will make when he sees this."

"Too late for regrets now. You're mine."

I didn't know whether to laugh or shake my head. It was the first time I'd seen Saul act so childish.

A second later, Cassius called.