Chapter -1

Cassandra cringed at the eyes of the people staring at her while she walked out of the office to the training field. Some of the eyes were pitiful, while some were cruel and judging. 

"She had it coming." She heard one of the girls whisper among her friends. Resisting the urge to wipe off the girl's smile, she walked straight to the metal door of the changing room.

She sat on a wooden bench and sulked, putting her head down. Breathing heavily she banged her head to the wall in front of her. "Ughh!" She punched the wall forcefully.

 "Why!" She punched the poor wall again while bood started flowing out of her hands. "I can't anymore!" She threw her hand again for another hard punch but the pain didn't come to her as the previous two punches.

She looked up and saw Michael holding her thrown punch. "This wouldn't change anything Cassie." He said, catching her in a strong gaze. 

"Why does he have to be such a jerk at this time?" She asked, snatching her hands out of his hold. He stood straight with that and released a long sigh.

"Lucky you, You didn't get shot like Jake. Right? Look at it from the bright side." He said fixing his black leather jacket. His face was void of any emotions while Cassandra's was red with anger.

"What are you talking about Mike?" She stood harshly knocking out the bench behind her. She was furious and he knew.

"He didn't even ask me why I wanted to go. He just-" 

"So what, Cassie? He is the Don! You know you can't defy him. You knew what you were getting into when you joined." He lashed finally, getting tired of her stubbornness.

'Why can't she just be like all the girls and get scared while I yell at her?' He thought when she looked at him with a death stare. 

She wasn't scared by his voice, if possible, she looked more dangerous than usual. There was no point trying to ask politely. Turns out she must use her own way to do things around here.

"You are right, I knew what I was getting into." She said and Michael continued. "And I am sure you know what will await you if you try running away. He will find you Cassie. And believe me when I say, he wouldn't be gentle once he does."

With that, he walked out of the room leaving her standing there. But she was thinking the exact thing he told her not to do.

'I'm sorry don, but you didn't leave me no choice. Guess I will have to run away from you too.' she thought and carried her black bag pack on her shoulder to go out, never returning back.

Half an hour earlier 

"Michael, weren't you supposed to be at the training field by now?" Tobias asked, looking at Michael. He has been standing rooted on the floor looking back at Tobias without saying anything.

"I need to tell you something, Tob." His voice had some edges behind it.

"You've mentioned that around…" he took a quick glance at his silver watch. "Yeah, five minutes ago. And you've been freaking staring at me ever since. What is it that you want to tell me?" Tobias pulled out his reading glasses off his eyes and stood from his chair. 

He was trying to read Michael's eyes and tell what he wanted but Michael was as impenetrable as always and it's starting to get on his nerves. What annoyed him more, was that Michael was nervous, that's what he could keep ignoring.

"Speak, Michael!" Tobias snapped at him and Michael jumped out of nervousness.

"It's Cassandra." He almost whispered. He was looking down on the floor, not daring to meet Tobias's eyes.

Hearing her name Tobias's eyes shoot wide. His attention was now focussed on what Michael has to say.

"What about her?" Tobias asked.

"She was talking to me the other day and." Tobias was getting annoyed by the passing time.

"And what Michael? Don't test my patience now." 

"She said that she wants out." He finished in one breath. 

Tobias's eyes flashed with a glint of danger. "No." He said immediately without thinking twice. She can't get out. Not when she just allowed him to get closer to her. Not when he has so many things he wants to tell her. So many things he wants to confess to her.

"But Tob-"

"Don't call me that!" Michael flinched.

"You know she can't get out. You should have told her that, the moment she mentioned wanting out." He rushed around his office table and stood In front of Michael. 

"What are you still doing here, get out!" He yelled and Michael needn't be told twice as he went out of the office in a fraction of second 

Tobias rubbed the skin between his eyebrows while thinking hard about how he could make her forget about wanting out. 'Weren't I treating her properly? Was I not giving her more attention? Why does she want to go out?' 

"Don?" A small feminine voice, which he so much adored, spoke.

"Cassandra, get in." He said looking at the beautiful lady standing by his office door. 

Hearing his approving voice, Cassandra walked into the office with her both hands bent backwards. She was wearing black blazers above her white crop top. Her long legs were covered by black leggings and her hair was put in a ponytail leaving some baby hairs falling on her forehead. 'Simple yet elegant.' Tobias thought of her outfit.

While she neared the table which Tobias was leaning on, she stopped on her tracks and looked at him with her golden brown eyes.

She wanted to tell him something but the respect she has for him was making it so difficult to say her thoughts aloud.

"Don, I know you won't approve but please, I-" 

He didn't let her finish her words before he grabbed her a hand from behind her and pulled her closer to him. Cassandra took a sharp gasp with the sudden shift but didn't do anything to retaliate.

"There's something you need to know, Cassie." His face was dangerously close to her and his breath fanned her ear when he spoke.

 "Once you become mine, you forever stay mine." He growled slowly and Cassandra shut her eyes tightly with his voice.

"Please, I need to." She said with her eyes still closed. She was so close to his body, that she could feel the heat emitting from his torso.

"I gave you everything Cassie. Home, support, strong backing, power." 

She opened her eyes to look at him. Guilt was eating her with each word that came out of his mouth. She hung her head low again and listened to the vibration of his voice.

"Look at me when I'm talking to you!" He roared, making Cassandra angry with his ordering voice. She never liked to be forced to do anything and it starts with these small things.

"You can't go out. And don't even think about running away because I will definitely find you." He said and let go of her hand harshly. But Cassandra was more determined to do exactly what he told her not to. 

She left the room with fiercer eyes. She can't hold back any more. 

There are bigger debts she has to pay and she got haunted for ten years because of it. It has been long enough and if what she has to do to get

back to her hometown and payback is running away from a famous international mafia? Then be it.