Not This Time, Don Cassian

The moment I came back to life, my adoptive brother Cassian had me pinned to the sofa in the study. He was ripping my shirt open.

His hot lips moved past my collarbone, stopping at the valley of my breasts.

My body trembled. It was instinct.

This man was a drug. Even reborn, my body remembered his touch.

But just as his hand reached for the clasp of my bra, the memory hit me. The dagger in my heart. His curse: If you hadn't insisted on marrying me.

"No!"

I shoved him off, hard. I scrambled out of the study and locked the door from the outside.

Leaning against the wood, I dialed Camilla’s number.

"Cassian's in the study. The Ortegas spiked his drink tonight. Get over here now."

"What? Aurora, what are you talking about—"

"Ten minutes. You're the one he needs."

I hung up. I heard a vase shatter inside the room.

I went to the bathroom and splashed cold water on my face, on my neck, washing away the last of the heat.

Last time, I didn't say no.

That was the beginning of the end for me.

Ten minutes later, Camilla rushed in.

She was wearing a silk slip dress. A dress for seduction, not a rescue.

She saw me standing outside the study, my clothes a wreck but my body untouched. Relief washed over her face.

"Aurora, are you okay?" she asked, grabbing my hand.

"He's drugged. Go on in. Take care of him." I pulled my hand away. My voice was ice.

The worry in her eyes was replaced by a flicker of triumph.

"Thank you, Aurora. I'll take it from here."

I nodded and walked away, toward the east wing.

I had to force myself not to look back, to ignore the victory in her voice.

But then the sounds started. They slithered into my ears like snakes.

I closed my eyes, but I couldn't stop the images. The same sounds from my past life.

A thud. A moan.

"Cassian... gentle... you're hurting me..."

"Too hard... slow down..."

"No... don't... it's too deep..."

I made it to my room and sat at my desk until the sun came up.

At five in the morning, I looked toward the main house.

Camilla was on the second-floor terrace, wearing Cassian's white shirt. Barefoot. Smoking a cigarette.

She looked in my direction and gave me a slow smile.

No guilt in that smile. Just "I won."

All those years I loved him, I had never truly seen my best friend for what she was.

The next day at noon, Marco, the family butler, came to get me for lunch.

When I walked into the dining room, Camilla was draped across Cassian's lap.

She jumped up when she saw me and gave me a huge hug.

"Aurora! None of this would have happened if you hadn't sent me to Cassian last night!"

She pulled back and deliberately rested her left hand on my shoulder. A diamond ring flashed in my eyes.

I stared at the ring. A sharp pain shot through my chest.

The memory of our wedding hit me. Cassian, putting the ring on my finger.

But that was never going to happen now.

"Cassian proposed last night!" Camilla whispered. "I feel like I'm dreaming..."

"Congratulations," I heard myself say. My voice was dry. "It's beautiful."

"You know, Cassian said you're the perfect sister, so understanding..." she said, stroking the diamond. "I'm so lucky to have a friend like you, someone willing to step aside for us."

My nails dug into my palms.

The old me would have lost it. I would have screamed at him, what the hell is this?

But after the marriage he ended with a knife, all I felt was a deep, chilling cold.

I looked up and met Cassian's eyes.

He was watching me.

His left hand was rubbing his wine glass. A nervous habit.

He wasn't looking at the ring on Camilla's hand.

I put on my perfect, professional mask.

"I'm happy for you, Boss. Now, the Sinaloa shipment. The payment needs clearing. I have to get back to work."

The second I turned, I practically ran.

I could feel his eyes on my back, following me until the heavy door shut between us.

Half an hour later, footsteps stopped outside my study.

No knock.

Cassian pushed the door open. Those gray eyes I used to be obsessed with were now just looking at me with suspicion and confusion.