All Chapters of Kissing My Husband's Tattooed Brother: Chapter 11 - Chapter 20

The Los Angeles penthouse suite smelled like jasmine oil and money.Floor-to-ceiling windows overlooked the city, lights stretching out like scattered diamonds. It was the most expensive penthouse in Hollywood LA, and she felt like she was sitting in the middle of an ocean. Everything was far from everything and there was so much space, 60 people could fit inside.Cassia set her suitcase down in the bedroom, taking it all in.Dorian's firm had booked the entire top floor of the hotel for their key people. Three bedrooms, a full bar, a balcony that wrapped around the entire suite. Excessive, even for them."Your room's on the left," Dorian called from the living area, already on his phone. "Mine's the master. Kael gets the one by the balcony when he arrives."Of course. Separate rooms. She shouldn't have expected anything different.Cassia unpacked in silence, hanging up the black dress Dorian had picked out. It was shapeless, high-necked, long-sleeved. The kind of dress that erased a

She laughed, shaking her head furiously. "You're his brother. His half-brother who he already hates. What kind of life would that be?""A real one.""Real?" Her voice rose. "Real is waking up and knowing where I stand. Real is having a home, a daughter who needs stability. Real is—""Letting him hurt you?" Kael cut in. "That's what you call real?""That's not fair.""None of this is fair." He stepped closer again. "But you standing here, defending him after what he did, that's insane.""Then I'm insane." She pushed past him, out of the bathroom. "Now leave.""Cassia—""I mean it, Kael." She walked to the door and opened it. "Get out."He stared at her. "You're making a mistake.""Then it's my mistake to make."He moved toward the door but stopped in front of her. "When you're ready—""I won't be." She cut him off. "This was... tonight was a mistake. All of it. The kiss, the bid, this conversation. It was all a mistake."His jaw tightened. "You don't mean that.""Yes, I do." She force

Cassia's povCassia wiped her face one more time and pushed herself off the floor. She caught her reflection in the mirror by the door and made a strangled sound. She had red eyes, swollen cheeks. She didn't look good.Cassia sighed and looked away.Elara. She needed to check on Elara.She smoothed her hair back, splashed cold water on her face in the bathroom, and headed downstairs. The hotel suite had a small living area where she'd left her daughter earlier with the iPad and headphones.Elara sat cross-legged on the couch, still in her pajamas, watching something with princesses. When she saw Cassia, her face lit up."Mama! You're back!"Cassia forced a smile. "Hi, baby. What are you watching?""The one with the ice castle." Elara patted the cushion beside her. "Sit with me."Cassia sat, and Elara immediately curled into her side. The warmth of her daughter pressed against her made something in Cassia's chest crack open again, but she held it together."Can we watch something else

Cassia looked down at Elara, whose face was streaked with tears. She couldn't let her daughter see whatever was about to happen in that room.She crouched down, wiping Elara's cheeks with her thumb. "Baby, I need you to go with this nice nurse for a little bit, okay?""But I want to stay with you," Elara whimpered."I know." Cassia's voice cracked. "But Mama needs to talk to Daddy alone. Just for a few minutes."A young nurse stepped forward, offering her hand to Elara. "We have a playroom downstairs with toys and books. Would you like to see it?"Elara looked at Cassia, uncertain."It's okay," Cassia said, forcing a smile. "I'll come get you soon. I promise."Elara took the nurse's hand reluctantly, clutching her rabbit with the other. As they walked away, she kept looking back. Cassia waved until they turned the corner.Then she turned to Dorian's room and pushed the door open.Dorian was sitting up in bed, his face flushed despite the bruises. He was pulling at the IV in his arm, c

The security guards released her in the hallway outside Ava's room."Ma'am, you need to stay calm," one of them said. "If there's another incident—""There won't be." Cassia's voice came out flat. Empty.They hesitated, then walked away, leaving her alone in the fluorescent-lit corridor.Cassia slid down the wall until she was sitting on the cold linoleum floor. She pulled her knees to her chest and stared at nothing.Three years. Before their wedding and before their engagement party.She tried to remember that night. Tried to picture Dorian and Ava together. Had they disappeared at the same time? Had she noticed anything? Any sign?But all she could remember was her own happiness. How excited she'd been. How in love.How stupid.The tears came again, silent this time. They ran down her face and dripped onto her jeans. She didn't wipe them away."Cassia."She looked up. Dorian stood at the end of the hallway, one hand braced against the wall. He'd put on a hospital robe over his gown