Chapter 5: I Am Your Master  

That smile, those silver eyes devoid of any emotion. It was identical to earlier when he took a man’s life without so much as blinking. His eyes roamed over my face, trailing down my body until they stopped at my hands.  

With a sideways smile, he pulled out a blood-stained knife. I jumped back, trying to pull away from him, but Cassian was faster and grabbed my wrists with force.  

“If you don’t want to lose a finger, you’d better stay still.” He brought the blade to the zip tie binding me and cut it. I felt the blood rushing back into my fingers and rubbed my sore wrists.  

He raised the knife again, turning the blade in front of my face as he looked into my eyes. They were empty, dark abysses that seemed to pull me into them. The cold blade touched my face, sliding down my cheek. I swallowed hard and then held my breath.  

I felt my heart pounding hard in my chest, fear, and anguish growing as the knife slipped toward my neck. Those gray eyes didn’t stray from mine, as if he were waiting for a specific reaction from me.  

“Please…” a low voice sounded from the dark corner of the room, drawing my attention to it. Cassian sighed, seeming irritated.  

“I told you to stay silent,” he said, standing up and walking toward the shadows.  

It didn’t take long for a strange sound to fill the room. A hoarse, gurgling noise, as if a throat were being crushed by invisible water. A desperate “glub-glub,” interrupted by choked coughs and agonized gasps that barely managed to draw air. It was the sound of someone struggling against the weight of an internal ocean, each gurgle laden with panic, like bubbles bursting on the surface of a dark lake.  

Silence…  

My heart beat even faster. I was afraid to move, to breathe. Cassian returned, and I couldn’t hold back the scream of horror that erupted inside me. His arms dripped with thick red liquid, his shirt clinging to his body as each step left a perfect imprint of his shoe sole in vivid red on the floor.  

The man who had brought me to that room stepped forward, bringing a towel and a clean shirt. The coldness with which they handled that horrific scene was terrifying.  

“I’m surprised a little blood bothers you so much, little squirrel. How do you plan to be a nurse like this?”  

“How do you know…” My voice was trembling and low.  

Cassian laughed as he wiped his body with the towel. “When you buy something, you should do thorough research.” He handed the knife to the man and looked around. “Bring a chair. My guest can’t stay sitting on the floor all night.”  

Something was dragged, creating a shrill sound. The chair that was brought didn’t match the place at all. Its upholstery was pure white, with delicate details of small embroidered flowers in a pearly thread.  

That small piece of furniture stood out against the dark floor, walls in deep burgundy tones, and dark furniture. Cassian sat in his dark leather chair, already wearing a clean dark shirt, rolling up the sleeves to his elbows.  

His presence was overwhelming. That man exuded power, confidence, and fear—a dangerous and volatile mix. I sat in front of him, my hands clenched on my knees, trying to control the tremors in my body.  

“Now we can have a proper conversation,” he said, the smile always on his lips. Calmly, Cassian raised a hand to his chin, rubbing his beard as if deep in thought, while my mind raced with hundreds of thoughts and questions.  

The silence dragged on, and I didn’t dare look away from Cassian, afraid I might suffer the same fate as the mysterious person still in the dark corner of that place.  

“There’s no need to be so cautious,” Cassian broke the silence. “As I said, you’re my guest, Lilian Reed.”  

“I’m not your guest,” I said, feeling a pang of anger as I relived that horrible night. But I had to be rational and weigh my options.  

Cassian was the Boss, the leader of the mafia in that territory. Above all, he was a man who would never accept a loss, and I had to use that to my advantage somehow.  

“I believe you’ve been deceived, sir.”  

“I don’t think so,” he replied without hesitation. I swallowed hard, trying to think of any argument that might work in my favor.  

“I have nothing, sir. My father was a simple salesman; he left us nothing but that modest house. Your men can confirm this.” I glanced around, seeking confirmation from the man, but he remained silent. My heart beat faster and faster. “I’m just a waitress at this club and a student; I have nothing to offer.”  

“You underestimate yourself too much, little squirrel.” Cassian stood up, walking toward me.  

Sitting in that chair, I felt even smaller under Cassian’s shadow. He must have been around 6’3”, his body covered in solid muscles, and his gray eyes were cold and cruel while he maintained a smile that should have been gentle and warm.  

I shrank in the chair.  

A cold sweat ran down my spine, my throat tightened as my heart hammered against my chest. His hand gripped my chin with force.  

“You have more to offer me than you realize.” I pulled my face away, and he let go.  

Cassian seemed to be enjoying it all, while I just wanted to get out of that room alive.  

“I’ll pay,” he raised an eyebrow, looking confused by my words. I swallowed hard before continuing, gathering all the courage I had within me. “I’ll pay the amount you paid to Diane and Liam.”  

Cassian’s laughter caught me completely off guard. He genuinely seemed to be enjoying the situation. The powerful raven returned to his chair, crossing his legs and adopting a completely relaxed posture.  

“I don’t think you understand your situation,” he said, catching his breath. “I paid a high price for you, little one; I don’t think you can cover that amount.”  

“I have some savings; I can gather the rest if needed.”  

Cassian interlaced his fingers, tilting his head to the side with his empty smile as his eyes seemed to see into my soul. I tried to appear strong and firm in my decision and my proposal.  

“I don’t think you have half a million euros to pay me, little squirrel.”  

Upon hearing that absurd amount, I felt all my strength drain from me. That sum was outrageous for anyone. My vision darkened, and my mind went completely blank.  

His presence enveloped me, his perfume seeming to numb my senses. He placed his hands on the backrest of my chair, his body looming over me.  

“Understand once and for all, Lilian Reed. You belong to me now. You will work for me and answer only to my orders.”  

It couldn’t be.  

I didn’t want to believe that my entire life had ended this way.  

I raised my eyes, noticing Cassian’s closeness for the first time. His handsome face bore small marks and scars. A sideways smile appeared on his lips, his gray eyes taking on a look that mixed amusement and curiosity.  

“It seems we’re going to get along, little squirrel.”