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He chokes on a breath, “A week?”

“Yes. Now if you’ll excuse me, I have better things to do. Goodbye, Solis.”

He tries to say something else but I hang up before he can. I’m not worried about him at all. Miguel Solis has always beenirrelevant. More of a dog begging for scraps from his elder brother’s table. He stuck by Gabriel all his life. Enjoyed his success without working for any of his own.

It’s all pathetic if I’m being honest. But people like that can be dangerous. And completely untrustworthy. He’s one of the reasons I brought Cassie here when I did. She has no idea, what lengths I’d go to in order to protect her.

Even from those she considers family.

CHAPTER TEN

CASSIE

I woke up crying.

Or should I say with dried tears running down my face?

I think I was dreaming about something sad. I don’t remember it though. I have a pretty sweet ability when it comes to things that cause me discomfort. I can simply forget them. Push them to the back of my mind.

Which is why I tried not to dwell when I woke up. Plus I had something on my agenda today and I wasn’t going to let some dream I don’t remember depress me in anyway.

I twirl in front of the mirror, the silk of the gown catching the light just right. It’s strapless, ivory and delicate in all the ways I’m not. Lila claps her hands from her loveseat, nearly knocking over the try of macaroons she brought over earlier.

“You look like a princess, miss Solis,” she gushes. “Absolutely beautiful.”

I offer her a small smile, smoothing the front of the bodice.

“As annoying as it is that I have to try on wedding dresses while trapped in captivity, I have to admit this isn’t the worst day of my life.”

“It’s all about mindset,” Lila says sagely.

Ana’s also in the room. in the corner with a sketchpad balanced on her knee. She lifts her head just enough to offer me a small smile and a thumbs up at the dress before going back to her doodle. She hasn’t said more than five words since she came in with the racks of gowns. I’m not sure if she dislikes me or people in general.

But I like her nonetheless. Her quiet is somehow calming, steady.

Another dress waits for me, draped carefully across the chaise. Lace sleeves, illusion neckline. I’m reaching for the zipper at the back of the current dress when the door swings open.

No knock. No warning. Damien.

I freeze with one arm halfway out of the gown. Lila jumps to her feet like she’s just been caught gossiping in church. Ana doesn’t move, though I see her pencil pause.

He steps inside like the room belongs to him. Technically it does but it’s still annoying.

His eyes rake over me, my bare shoulder, the curve of my spine and settle somewhere between smug and amused. My top of my breasts are literally on fucking display. I’m going to kill him!

“You look beautiful, sweetheart,” he drawls, his eyes on my face through with his initial perusal.

“First off, why the hell didn’t you knock?” I snap.

Lila steps forward to help me out of the dress while simultaneously helping me into the robe hanging off the hook. I throw it over my body without looking at him.

“I need permission to enter my wife’s room?” he asks with an innocent expression.

“I’m not your fucking wife!” I snap, my voice echoing through the room like a gunshot. “I’m sick of this. Does anyone have a gun? Anyone? I’ll gladly end this circus right now.”

Silence.

Eyes drop. No one moves.