Eighty Nine

Cassandra swallowed hard, her body tensing as Antonio’s fingers still held her chin, forcing her to look at him. His sharp gaze stripped her bare, as if reading every secret she was trying to hide.

"What are you hiding, Cass?" Antonio repeated, his voice calm, but beneath it lay a real and undeniable threat.

Cassandra tried to steady her erratic heartbeat. She could lie. She could say it was just an ordinary message, something unimportant. But Antonio wasn’t a fool—he could see through lies as easily as breathing.

“I…” Cassandra averted her gaze, inhaling slowly to keep her voice from shaking.

“It was just a message from someone… someone who reminded me of my past.” Antonio raised an eyebrow, his expression still unreadable.

“From who?” Cassandra bit her lip, desperately searching for a lie that sounded believable.

“An old friend… someone who warned me to be careful.”

“An old friend?” Antonio narrowed his eyes.

“Or someone you were planning to report me to?” Her heart dropped.

Slowly, Antonio released her chin, but the tension between them didn’t ease. Instead, he took her phone from her grasp, his fingers brushing against hers for a fleeting moment before his eyes locked onto the screen—still locked.

“Who is it, Cassandra?” His voice was so soft, almost gentle. But she knew better. The softer Antonio spoke, the greater the danger lurking beneath his words.

“I don’t know,” she lied, forcing herself to take a steady breath.

“They contacted me without warning.” Antonio held her gaze for a few moments before letting out a quiet sigh.

“Alright.” He handed the phone back to her, but Cassandra knew—this wasn’t over.

“Tomorrow, we’re going to the beach house,” Antonio said suddenly.

“I want us to spend some time together.” Cassandra blinked in surprise. A beach house? In the middle of all this? She nodded slowly, though her mind was still clouded with unease.

“I want you closer to me, Cass,” Antonio whispered as he leaned in, pressing a soft kiss to her temple.

“Don’t ever make me doubt you.” Cassandra swallowed again, forcing herself to stay composed as Antonio finally walked away, leaving her alone.

The next morning, warm sunlight slipped through the gaps in Cassandra’s bedroom curtains. Her eyes were still heavy with sleep, but the sound of the door opening jolted her awake. Antonio stood at the doorway, his expression calm, hands casually tucked into his pockets.

“Get up and get ready,” he said, his tone neutral yet undeniable.

“We’re leaving for the villa today.” Cassandra blinked, still trying to process his words.

“The villa?” Antonio nodded.

“I want us to spend some time together. Away from the noise of the city.” His gaze lingered on her.

“You need fresh air.” Cassandra struggled to mask her surprise.

A villa by the beach? Why now? Was this Antonio’s way of easing her nerves, or was there something else—something bigger—he was planning? Either way, she had no choice but to comply.

A few hours later,

they arrived at Antonio’s private villa—a luxurious estate with a classic design, overlooking the vast, open sea. White sand stretched endlessly along the shore, and the rhythmic crash of the waves carried an oddly soothing calmness.

As she stepped out of the car, Cassandra took a deep breath, trying to savor the crisp, salty air. It felt like a dream—like they were just an ordinary couple on a romantic getaway. But she knew better. Around the villa, several men in black stood at strategic points.

They weren’t just regular security—they were Antonio’s men, stationed to ensure that no one could get in or out without permission. Cassandra rubbed her cold palms together.

So, this wasn’t just a vacation…

this was a prison. Antonio took her hand, guiding her inside. The villa’s interior was warm and elegant, with stone walls and polished wooden floors. A massive window framed a breathtaking view of the ocean.

“Do you like it?” Antonio asked, his dark eyes unreadable.

Cassandra gave a small smile. “It’s beautiful.” But deep down, a question gnawed at her:

Why am I really here, Antonio? He led her to the balcony, where a table had already been set with a lavish breakfast. He pulled out a chair for her before sitting across from her. For a while, they ate in silence, until Cassandra finally spoke.

“Do you come here often?” she asked carefully. Antonio leaned back in his chair, taking a slow sip of his coffee before answering.

“I used to. But now, I spend most of my time in the city.” He watched her closely, as if trying to read her mind.

“Is there something you want to know?” Cassandra swallowed. This was her chance. But before she could answer, a small explosion sounded from outside the villa. Cassandra froze. So did Antonio. Within seconds, the guards sprang into action. Marcus rushed in, his expression tense.

“Boss, we’ve got an incident on the west side of the villa.” Antonio stood.

“Who?”

“We’re not sure yet. But someone’s trying to break in.” Cassandra’s pulse pounded in her ears.

Was it Viktor?

Or someone from Antonio’s own circle betraying him? Antonio’s eyes darkened.

“Stay with Cassandra. I’ll handle this myself.” Cassandra remained stiff on the balcony, watching as Antonio disappeared into the group of guards. Her mind raced. If this was really Viktor, things were about to get even more dangerous.

But what if it wasn’t? What if someone inside Antonio’s own ranks had turned against him? Marcus stayed close, his sharp gaze never leaving her.

“Don’t even think about going anywhere, Miss Cassandra,” he said firmly. Cassandra turned to him, her expression calm despite her hammering heart.

“I’m not going anywhere, Marcus.” But in her mind, she was already planning her next move.

The moment Marcus turned to speak to one of the guards, Cassandra seized the opportunity. With quiet steps, she slipped back inside the villa, making her way down a long hallway she had never explored before.

At the end of the corridor, a large wooden door caught her attention. It was slightly ajar, almost as if it was inviting her in. She hesitated for a moment, then carefully pushed it open. The room was filled with towering wooden shelves, the scent of old paper thick in the air.

A private library? Or maybe… something more.

Her eyes landed on a large desk in the center of the room, where several documents were scattered. Her heart pounded as she spotted an envelope with a name she knew all too well: Cale Callaghan.

Cassandra’s hands trembled as she picked up the file and flipped it open. Inside were reports listing names—names she recognized from an old police investigation. Antonio’s name was on that list. Her eyes darted over the pages, and the more she read, the colder her blood ran. There were records of illegal transactions, witness eliminations, and the most shocking of all—an execution order, signed with the initials A.F. Antonio Franches.

Cassandra clapped a hand over her mouth, trying to steady her breathing. This wasn’t just suspicion anymore. This was proof. Antonio had been directly involved in Cale Callaghan’s murder.

She took a step back, trying to process it all. Have I been sleeping with a killer?

A sudden notification buzzed from her phone, making her jump. Quickly, she pulled it from her pocket. A message from Alexander.

“I don’t know how you feel about him, Cassandra, but I hope you understand who you’re dealing with. I just got additional evidence from a surviving witness. Antonio wasn’t just behind Cale’s murder—he’s involved in something much bigger than we thought. If you still have a conscience, you need to get out of there.” Cassandra felt her body go weak.

If this was true, then Antonio wasn’t just dangerous—he was a monster who had deceived everyone, including her.

But… was it really true?

Antonio had always protected her. He had never hesitated to kill for her. But was that love… or just his way of maintaining control? The door suddenly creaked open. Cassandra froze. Antonio stood at the doorway, his eyes darkening the moment he saw her holding the document.

“You’re not supposed to be here, Cass.” His voice was low, almost a whisper, but laced with undeniable danger.

Cassandra met his gaze, a mix of fear and anger swirling inside her.

“What is this, Antonio?” Her hands trembled as she lifted the document.

“Did you really kill Cale Callaghan?” Antonio remained silent. His usually playful eyes were now cold and unreadable.

“You wouldn’t understand,” he finally said. Cassandra let out a short, humorless laugh.

“Try me.” Silence.

Then, a smirk tugged at the corner of Antonio’s lips. He stepped inside, calmly shutting the door behind him.

“Alright, Cass,” he murmured, his voice softer now, but carrying a quiet threat.

“You want the truth? I’ll tell you. But after that… you won’t be able to leave.” Cassandra swallowed hard.

She had found the truth. She watched him warily, her curiosity battling with the fear curling in her chest. The air in the room had shifted—colder, heavier. Antonio moved toward the desk, gently taking the document from her hands and placing it back on the table. His fingers traced over the papers slowly, as if lost in thought.

“You want to know about Cale Callaghan?” His voice was deep and smooth, yet there was something sharp hidden beneath it. Cassandra said nothing, but her eyes demanded answers. Antonio exhaled and finally looked at her.

“Yes, I was involved in his case. But not in the way you think.” Cassandra clenched her fists.

“Then how?” Antonio leaned against the desk, crossing his arms.

“Cale wasn’t a victim. He was part of a cartel that broke their agreement with me. He sold information to the police and others, trying to take down my organization from the inside. I couldn’t let that happen.” Cassandra’s eyes bore into him.

“So you killed him.” Antonio held back a small smile.

“I made sure he couldn’t betray anyone again.” Her heart pounded. He wasn’t denying it.

He was just wrapping the truth in softer words—justifying every crime he committed under the excuse of ‘betrayal.’

“Then why does every piece of evidence say he was a witness trying to expose your crimes?” Antonio gave a knowing smirk.

“Because history is written by the winners, Cass. You should know that by now.” Cassandra had no response.

Maybe he had twisted the truth, maybe he hadn’t—but there was something in the way he spoke that made her question everything she thought she knew. Before she could press further, the sound of Antonio’s phone vibrating in his pocket made them both pause. He pulled it out, reading the message, and then a slow smirk formed on his lips.

“He’s surfaced,” he muttered under his breath.

Cassandra frowned.

“Who?

” Antonio slipped the phone back into his pocket and met her eyes.

“Viktor.”

Her heart nearly stopped.

“What do you mean?” she asked, her voice barely steady.

Antonio took a step closer, tilting her chin up with his fingers, forcing her to look at him.

“I knew Viktor would come after me. And I knew he wouldn’t be stupid enough to do it alone.” Her eyes widened.

“What did you do?” Antonio’s smirk deepened, satisfaction gleaming in his gaze.

“I gave him a reason to crawl out of hiding.” Cassandra swallowed hard.

“Who did you use as bait?” Antonio shrugged, as if it didn’t matter.

“Someone close to him.” A shiver ran down her spine.

“You set him up.”

“It’s not a trap, Cass.”

Antonio corrected her with that soft, suffocating tone.

“It’s strategy.” Cassandra’s mind raced.

If Antonio was right, then Viktor was walking straight into his own death. She grabbed Antonio’s arm. “Stop this. You don’t have to kill him.”

Antonio merely watched her for a moment before chuckling softly.

“Cass, I don’t let my enemies live.” He pulled out his phone, pressed a number, and brought it to his ear.

“Proceed.” That was all he said before hanging up. No hesitation.

Cassandra held her breath. A few seconds passed in silence before his phone buzzed again. This time, his expression was even more satisfied as he read the message.

“It’s done,” he said casually, slipping his phone back into his pocket.

Cassandra knew what had just happened. Viktor had walked into Antonio’s trap. She wanted to scream, to say something, but her voice failed her.

Antonio wasn’t just another mafia boss—he was an executioner with no mercy. She stood frozen in the middle of the room, her breaths coming in shallow gasps. Her gaze locked onto Antonio as he tucked his phone away, his expression calm, almost pleased.

“It’s done,” he repeated, as if he had just wrapped up a simple business deal.

Cassandra wanted to fight back, to yell that this was wrong, but her brain felt numb. How could she stay here, knowing what he truly was? She had to leave. Now. Taking a deep breath, Cassandra lowered her head, letting her long hair shield her anxious expression.

“I… just need some fresh air,” she murmured. Antonio studied her for a moment, then gave a small nod.

“Go ahead. But don’t go too far.” That was the opening she needed.

Without hesitation, she turned and walked out of the room. Her heart pounded, but she kept her pace steady, making sure not to draw suspicion. The moment she reached the villa’s main hallway, she quickened her steps.

The guards were still in position, but they paid little attention to her. To them, she was just ‘the boss’s wife’—someone who wouldn’t dare try to escape. They were wrong. Cassandra slipped toward the other side of the villa, heading for a back door that led into the small forest near the beach.

She grabbed the doorknob and slowly pushed it open— But before she could step outside, a firm hand suddenly wrapped around her wrist. Cassandra gasped and turned sharply. Marcus. His expression was unreadable, but his voice carried a warning.

“Miss Cassandra, you shouldn’t be here.” She swallowed hard, her mind racing.

“I just wanted to take a walk.” Marcus didn’t waver.

“I’m sorry, but I can’t allow that.” Shit. Before she could say another word, a deeper, far more dangerous voice cut through the tension.

“Marcus.” Antonio’s voice was lower than usual, carrying a quiet authority that sent a chill down her spine. Marcus immediately let go of her wrist and stepped back.

“Understood, boss.” Cassandra froze as Antonio approached.

His gaze was sharp, calculating—but there was something else in his eyes. Not anger. Interest. He stopped mere inches from her, reaching out to tilt her chin up, forcing her to meet his gaze.

“You were trying to run from me, Cass?” His voice was soft—too soft—but there was an unmistakable threat beneath it. Cassandra swallowed.

“I just needed some time alone.” Antonio traced his thumb over her lips, his touch light but electrifying. Instinctively, she bit her lower lip, and his eyes darkened at the sight.

“You can’t run from me,” he whispered, leaning in just slightly, just enough for his heat to wrap around her. Cassandra stiffened.

“I don’t belong to you, Antonio.” A slow smirk curved his lips.

“Not mine?” His fingers trailed to the back of her neck, then down her spine, pulling her closer.

“Then why is your heart racing like this?” he murmured against her ear.

She held her breath, her body betraying her even as her mind screamed for her to push him away. Antonio saw it all.

“You can lie to yourself, Cass,” he said, his voice lower now, dripping with quiet seduction.

“But you can’t lie to me.” And before she could respond, his lips were on hers.

The kiss wasn’t rough. It wasn’t desperate. It was a claim. Cassandra tried to resist. She really did. But the moment Antonio tightened his grip on her waist, pulling her flush against him, her defenses crumbled. Her hands moved on their own, sliding up his neck, pulling him deeper into the kiss. Antonio let out a quiet groan as she finally gave in.

“See?” he murmured against her lips, his breath hot and ragged.

“You’re mine, Cass. You just needed a little reminder.”

Cassandra gasped as his lips trailed down to her neck, leaving a burning path on her skin.

“Antonio…”

Her voice trembled—half protest, half surrender. Antonio lifted his head, his gaze locking onto hers.

“No matter how far you try to run, I will always pull you back.” And deep down, Cassandra knew—she had already fallen too deep. There was no way out.