Chapter Six

Cassandra’s POV

I clamped a hand over my mouth, desperate to smother the sound of my sobs as his voice dripped through the phone like poison.

I should’ve known. Of course he had something up his sleeve. He always did. With David Jenkins, there was no hope.

“What do you say?” he asked, and I could hear the smirk stretching across his smug face.

I swallowed hard. My throat burned. “Okay,” I whispered, the word ripping its way out of me like broken glass. I couldn’t believe I was agreeing to this. To be a goddamn baby factory. Just another pawn in his twisted legacy.

I had sworn that I’d never bring a child into this nightmare. Not when I still had scars from crawling through it myself.

“It’s not like you have a choice,” he said, his voice curling into a dark chuckle that made my blood run cold.

If I could reach through the phone and strangle him, I would’ve done it gladly with a smile on my face.

“And also, a car will pick you up shortly to take you to meet your husband. I don’t need the tabloids feasting on your mess again. Do you know how much it cost me to silence them the last time? You’ll pay me back, of course. Nothing’s ever free, sweetheart.”

I clenched my fist. “You said you didn’t care what he was doing,” I reminded him, my voice brittle.

“I changed my mind,” he snapped. “Now get dressed. I won’t have you turning me into a joke tomorrow.”

“Yes, sir,” I muttered, dead inside.

“I love when you’re obedient,” he purred. “Makes me feel generous. Maybe I’ll reward you one day. But for now, remember, Emily’s life depends on you.” And then, click. Just like that, he was gone.

My stomach twisted violently.

I barely made it to the bathroom before I collapsed to my knees and threw up. Over and over, until my ribs ached and my throat felt shredded. I hadn’t eaten all day, but it didn’t matter. I vomited until there was nothing left but bile and breath and pain. I genuinely thought the next thing to come out might be my insides.

When I finally stopped, I just sat there. Cold tiles. Shaking hands. Hot tears.

I had promised myself he wouldn’t get to me anymore.

But here I was…wrecked.

I dragged myself to my feet and stared at my reflection. Pale. Empty. Eyes rimmed red. A girl who looked nothing like the woman I swore I’d become.

I washed my face like it would fix anything.

Then I opened my bag, grabbed the first dress I saw, and forced it over my trembling frame. My stomach still hurt and i wanted to do nothing more than sleep through the pain but sleep wasn’t an option. Not when David Jenkins had made a promise. And he always kept his threats. I knew that more than anybody.

Emily’s life is riding on this. I can’t fuck this up.

I slowly put on the dress and didn’t bother to check myself in the mirror before walking out of the house in the company of my phone. Emily could call any moment from now. I should always keep it with me.

Like he said, there was already a car waiting for me. I got into the car and the driver took off.

The car came to a stop in front of the famous strippers club. I took in a deep breath as I stepped out of the car.

The air was chilly and I instantly regretted my choice of clothes. I rubbed my arms to keep them warm.

I stared at the bouncers and my phone. I took in another deep breath and decided to call him.

“They won’t let me in.”

“You haven’t tried to.” I turned around but I couldn't see anyone. The car I came in was long gone.

Did he hire a professional stalker?

I walked towards the bouncers hoping that they would turn me away but they didn’t.

“Please, follow me ma’am.” one of them said to me. 

I reached for the pocket knife I had sneaked into my bag earlier and nodded. 

I tried my best not to react as we walked past women of different ages, sizes and shapes dressed in either little or no clothing at all. I focused on memorizing the several turns we were taking instead.

He finally stopped in front of a room and nodded at me before leaving me alone.

I shifted the red curtain aside and there was my husband, shirtless sitting on a couch with a filled wine glass in his hands as he watched two girls perform. They began to get a little handsy and he didn’t stop them.

I wasn’t shocked at the view. To be honest, I expected him to do more when I heard the place he was in. 

There were four other guys in the room and they were very busy. One of them met my eyes as he grunted his release. I closed the curtain in a hurry and ran away.

At least, he was getting it somewhere else which meant that he wouldn’t bother me for the time being.

I contemplated leaving the club but David’s spy might be just outside waiting for me to do so in order to report to his psychotic boss.

Instead, I strolled down to the bar. 

The bartender stood behind the bar like it was his stage. His hip cocked, one eyebrow halfway to heaven. His shirt was half-unbuttoned, chest smooth and glinting under the low lights, like he didn’t believe in modesty and didn’t need to. 

Platinum-blond curls framed his face in that perfectly careless way that only someone who definitely spent twenty minutes styling it could pull off. A subtle wing of eyeliner hugged his lashes, sharp enough to cut through bullshit, and his nails were painted matte black. His make-up game was hundred percent better than mine.

How can one be both pretty and handsome?

“What can I get you, milady?” His voice had that honey-slick sass, thick with innuendo.

“A glass of mello yello please.” I ordered. 

“I take it that this is your first time here.” he placed both hands on the bar counter.

“How did you know?” I asked him, blinking , to hide my embarrassment.

He chuckled. “Girl, no one orders a soft drink in a gentlemen club.”

“Oh.” I glanced through the bottles of unfamiliar drinks wondering what to order.

“Give her a shot of tequila and get me my usual.” A deep voice said behind me, startling me.

I turned and almost choked on my saliva as my eyes met the guy that my eyes met with earlier.

“Easy there, chocolate.” he chuckled and placed a hand on my back to hold me. 

A spark of electricity flew from his hand into my body, making my insides tingle.

I swallowed.

He took out a card from his breast pocket. “I’m Dorian Cavanaugh.”

“Cassandra…”

“Cassandra Blackwood.” he finished for me and smiled at me when my eyes flew wide open.

“I was at your wedding today.” he explained and I nodded. Just then, the bartender brought our drinks.

“Then, you must know that I am married to your friend.”

He smiled. “There’s no harm in drinking with a married woman or is there?” 

I shook my head and returned the smile.

Deep down, I knew that we were going to do so much more than drinking together and with that smirk on his face, he knew it too.