Chapter 74: See you next week

When I wake up the next morning, it’s to the shrill ringing of my phone. The sound cuts through my sleep so sharply that I groan and bury my face deeper into the pillow.

It keeps ringing relentlessly, when I can’t ignore it anymore. I reach across the mattress with one hand, my eyes barely open, and blindly search for it.

When my fingers finally find the phone. I drag it toward me and answer without bothering to check the caller ID.

"Hello?"

"Rissa."

My eyes fly open and I sit upright so quickly that the room spins for a second.

"Cas!"

I clear my throat, suddenly very aware of how horrible my voice sounds.

"Hi, Cass."

There’s a tiny pause.

"It’s... umm... it’s been a little while."

"Yeah."

His voice is softer than usual.

"How are you faring? Are you doing okay? Is he treating you well?"

I glance around my room. The sunlight is slowly creeping through the curtains, painting pale streaks across the floor.

My mind immediately flashes back to last night. Lysander bleeding on the bathroom floor.

The blood, the two deep wounds and the way his body had eventually gone limp beneath my hands.

I swallow.

"Yes, Cas. I’m okay."

I force my voice to sound normal.

"How are you?"

"I’m okay, Rissa."

Another pause.

"So you just left."

I wince.

"I’m sorry, Cas."

I pull the blanket around myself.

"I know I shouldn’t have left without bidding you goodbye first. But I felt like if I went to say goodbye, I genuinely wouldn’t have been able to leave."

My voice softens.

"It might have been a little selfish of me. I’m sorry."

He sighs.

"It’s okay."

I can hear the affection underneath his words.

"I understand, Rissa."

I smile faintly.

"Are you sure you’re okay?"

His voice suddenly becomes more serious.

"They aren’t treating you badly, are they? I had a deal with Lysander. He better not be breaking that deal."

I almost laugh.

"I’m good, Cas."

I lean back against the headboard.

"I’ve even made a few friends, so I’m okay."

"Friends?"

"Yeah."

I think of Isabella and Victoria.

"What deal did you make with Lysander?"

"It’s nothing to worry your pretty head about."

I roll my eyes.

"That sounds suspicious."

He chuckles quietly then the silence returns.

A different kind this time I can feel him thinking.

Then he asks,

"I take it you know where Olivia is?"

My smile disappears.

"Umm... what?"

I deliberately make my voice confused.

"I don’t know what you mean."

I’m lying and he knows it, I know he knows it.

But neither of us says it.

"I just need to know if she’s fine, Ris."

His voice loses its teasing edge.

"That’s all. As her brother, I’m worried."

I close my eyes.

Olivia.

My sister, my best friend.

I understand Cassian’s worry. If I didn’t know where she was or how she was, I’d be going insane too.

"It’s not fair to leave him completely in the dark," I whisper to myself.

Then I sigh.

"She’s somewhere safe, Cas."

I pause.

"She’s safe."

The silence on the other end stretches.

Then I hear him exhale, It sounds like relief.

"Thank you."

"I’m sorry, Cas."

I rub my forehead.

"You know what Uncle Lorenzo will do to her."

"I understand."

His voice becomes colder.

"But I hope you understand the consequences of your actions too."

My stomach tightens.

"Nobody turns their back on the mafia."

He pauses.

"And Oli just did."

I say nothing.

"Nathaniel went missing too," he continues. "Should I assume the both of them are together?"

My heart skips.

I stare at the wall.

"Yes."

The word comes out quietly.

There is silence for a bit then Cassian asks,

"Is he...?"

He doesn’t finish the sentence but doesn’t need to. I know exactly what he’s asking.

Is Nathaniel the father?

I could lie and I almost do but if this entire thing turns to shit, I need someone in my corner.

Someone who knows, someone who can protect Olivia if things go wrong.

So I tell him the truth.

"Yes."

The silence that follows is terrifying. Then Cassian explodes.

"That fucking fucker!"

I pull the phone away from my ear.

"I’m going to kill him when I get my hands on him. I’ll skin him alive."

"Cassian! That’s your nephew or niece’s father!"

"Cas!"

"I don’t give a shit!"

His voice cracks with anger.

"He betrayed me."

He takes a breath.

"He was supposed to protect you girls. He literally watched you both grow up."

His voice drops

"He’s a fucking freak."

"Cas, you need to calm down."

I sit straighter.

"Please."

My voice softens.

"Uncle cannot know."

There is silence.

"Please, Cas. Promise me."

"Of course."

His voice is quieter now.

"Lorenzo will have his head if he knew he defiled Oli."

I wince.

The word makes my stomach turn.

Which is exactly why this secret can never reach Uncle Lorenzo.

"Which is why he won’t know."

I hold my breath.

"Right?"

"Right."

I close my eyes.

"Thank you."

"Take care of yourself, Ris."

His voice softens again.

"I’ll see you soon."

My eyes open.

"See me soon?"

"Yeah."

There’s something almost casual about the way he says it.

"Lysander didn’t tell you?"

"No. Tell me what?"

"There’s a meeting between both families next week."

I sit up straighter.

"What? A meeting?"

"Well, yes."

He sounds amused by my reaction.

"We have to show both families are a united front."

"How?"

"The minister is throwing a birthday party."

I blink.

"A minister?"

"Yeah. And both families were invited."

I stare at the phone.

A Luciano and Sanchez gathering In public.

Together.

After everything that has happened between the families. That sounds like a disaster waiting to happen.

"Okay then."

I try to sound casual.

"See you next week, Cas."

"Take care of yourself."

"You too."

The call ends and I slowly lower the phone.

For several seconds, I just sit there.

By next week, I’ll be standing in the same room with my family and Lysander’s.

A united front.

At least, that’s what everyone is supposed to believe.

I look toward the door. Something tells me next week is going to be anything but peaceful.