Page 131 of As the Rain Falls (Sainte Madeleine #1)

GIVE A LITTLE, GET A LOT

Beckett

The bell rings, and I unlock the passenger seat door, waiting for Cassandra to get in.

Exhaustion presses down on me; sleepless nights are all I’ve been having.

My eyelids droop as I press my head against the window, heavy with the weight of it all—remembering Lucia, trying to be a good friend, and an even better boyfriend.

Cassandra sleeps poorly most days, and I end up staying awake with her.

Our late night conversations are the best and worst part of my day.

I love talking to her, but we need to find a way to make her sleep through the night.

I’m thinking about talking to her about considering a visit to the doctor. Sleeping pills and prescriptions are not ideal, but she could use them if nothing else works. I pop another gum into my mouth and exhale deeply.

Then I see them.

Cassandra walks out with Antony, stepping onto the sidewalk. A few faces behind, Angelina, Kayla, and Mateo follow, their laughter blending into the background noise.

The group stops at the gates, waiting for a car to pass. Antony gestures wildly as he talks, pointing at himself and the school behind him, like he’s explaining something important.

I’m so distracted by the sight of her, how good she looks with her hair down, that I almost miss the flash of a red car pulling up at the corner of my eye, slow and deliberate.

It yanks me out of my sleepy haze.

The driver’s door swings open, and a tall man steps out, older than me by only a few years. Something about him feels sharp today, calculated.

His tailored suit is crisp, his blonde hair is slicked back, and not a strand is out of place. And the way he steps onto the pavement gives him an air of importance, like the world has yet to figure out that we all owe him something.

Nathaniel Rivera.

Cassandra sees him after I do.

Her face crumbles and her body goes rigid as he moves fast, making his way towards her and our friends. Alarmed green eyes snap to mine. I’m out of the truck before I can even think, my body moving of its own.

She takes a step back, gripping Antony’s sleeve and shrinking into herself, trying to make her body appear smaller. Antony frowns, confused, looking between her and me.

Nathaniel moves fast. Too fast. He closes the distance between them with sharp, practiced strides, taking off his sunglasses.

“Get in the car.” I hear him command.

Whatever expression is showing on my face can’t be good, because Antony instinctively pushes him back, stepping in front of Cassandra.

“Calm down, man.”

“What’s going on?”

Mateo moves closer too, with an effortless mask of calm as he intertwines his fingers with Angelina, pulling her back. The tension crackles in the air as I reach where they are, crossing the street without even looking both ways.

Nathaniel fixes his posture, looking the perfect picture of calm as he looks back, noticing me for the very first time.

“Just picking up my sister.”

Cassandra’s breath hitches, her eyebrows shooting up in desperation. “I’m not going with him.”

“Yes, you are.” Nathaniel’s eyes flick back to our friends, hard and unyielding. “This is about Cassandra and me, so you better stay out of it.”

“You don’t get to order her around,” I say, stepping closer and reaching for her.

Cassandra meets me halfway to grab my hand, her fingers shaking as they circle mine. I pull her into my arms, and she doesn’t resist, her skin cold beneath my fingers.

“We’re hanging out at Silvio’s,” I tell him my tone is final. “She’ll get her homework done. I’ll drive her home later.”

It’s a lie.

She’ll sleep at my house.

Cassandra is not going home tonight, not while he’s there.

My pulse hammers. I really don’t care that he’s back or that her father might call the cops. I can’t let him take her.

Nathaniel tilts his head, like he’s reevaluating his approach.

“Cassandra, please,” his voice shifts, turning into something gentle. Caring, almost. “Mom is worried sick about you. We need to talk.”

Kayla steps in, her brown eyes darting between us, trying to deescalate the situation. “Can’t this wait until tonight?”

Nathaniel ignores her.

“Come on, Cass. Let’s not make a scene,” his voice is dripping with faux concern. I want to punch him. “You’ve had enough fun the past month.”

Mateo scoffs, immediately seeing through him, “You’re the only one making a scene, man. What’s up with you?”

People are watching now.

A few teachers and students are lingering in the parking lot, watching us from afar. I motion for Cassandra to move towards my car, wanting to get her out of here, but Nathaniel blocks her way.

His hand shoots out to grab her.I yank him off before he can.

Nathaniel meets my gaze, then, and I can see the wheels turning in his head. It’s like he’s just now registering me as a real obstacle and not just a guy pretending to care.

“My mother is waiting for her call,” he says through gritted teeth.

“The phone goes both ways,” I taunt him back, getting in his face. “We both know that it’s not true. She doesn’t care about Cassandra.”

He snaps, “And what do you know about my family?”

“I know enough.”

“Who is she to you?” his voice is measured, but I see the challenge burning in his gaze. “Because that’s my sister right there, and—”

“She’s mine, Nathaniel.” I touch my own chest, feeling my tattoo itch. “My girlfriend.”

Nathaniel stills. His expression doesn’t change, but I can feel the shift in the air, how it builds up after I use those words.

Mine .

And then, I know I got under his skin.

I shake my head.

If he’s smart, Nathaniel will back off. But something tells me he doesn’t like losing, especially not to another guy.

Slowly, he smirks.

“Ah, I get it now.” He turns to Cassandra, malice dripping from every word being spoken. “His poor sister died, and now he’s going after mine. Right Cassie?”

The words hit like a slap in the face.I don’t understand what’s behind them, but the weight falls on top of me nonetheless because I see the way she freezes. How the color drains from her face, and she glances back at me, terrified and out of her mind because of him.

“Go to the car,” Nathaniel barks at her. “Now!”

Who the hell does he think he is to give her orders?

I press my hand to her shoulder, allowing her to stay exactly where she wants to be.I’ve never felt this. In fact, the desperation to get him away from her is unlike anything I’ve never felt before in my entire life.

“Is this all she is to you? A possession? A fucking doll?”

I need him gone.

Dead.

I need him dead.

Kayla looks at Cassandra, her voice small. She’s sensing that something isn’t right.

“Why is he saying that?”

Nathaniel doesn’t even spare her a glance. His focus remains on his sister, his gaze darkening with something possessive.

“Cassandra!”

And then, the thought clicks into place, sharp and electric.

This is a power play.

Nathaniel thrives on control, on ownership, knowing she’s too scared to do anything but bend under his will. It’s not about taking her home, it’s about the whole process leading up to it. He wants her to be watching over her shoulders, waiting for the moment the ball inevitably drops.

You have to be ahead of the game to beat him, to strip that power away from him, and leave him with nothing.

Didn’t my father teach me that?

How to strip things away from others?

“What’s it going to be, Cass?” I ask, voice steady and clear. I’m pretending that he isn’t even there, that his breath isn’t felt on my skin. “Are you staying with me, or are you getting in his car?”

Nathaniel goes rigid, barely keeping himself together.

He doesn’t like that I’m giving her a choice.

Of course, he doesn’t.

He’s never given her one before, right?

Cassandra’s eyes widen, not understanding what I’m doing. She tries to look at him, but I shift, blocking her line of sight.

I wonder what he might do once she starts believing that she deserves far more than what he planned for her.Because I can give that to her, if only she’ll allow me to, and there’s nothing I’d like more than to ruin his entire life so she can finally start to live hers.

“It’s your call,” I add quietly, because it is.

One word from her and I’m setting Le Port on fire. I’ll ruin his life, reputation, and his legacy. I won’t stop until he’s nothing. I will let it consume me until I am done for, but I can walk away too.

Truth is, I would have ended Nathaniel Rivera ages ago if Cassandra had even whispered to me that he’d touched a single hair of hers. I’m dying for an opportunity now, really, but it’s her shot. This is not about me.

“I want to stay with you, but I don’t want to get yelled at anymore.” She rubs circles in my palm with her digits, grounding me. “So maybe I should go with him.”

No.

Absolutely not.

“Cass is riding with me,” I announce, but mostly speaking to our friends. “Angie, help her get to the car.”

I want them to walk her to the car, far away from him and back to safety. Nathaniel is too stubborn. He tries to take a step forward, but I block him. His mask cracks, and I finally see him for who he is. This man is a pathetic mess.

“Who the fuck do you think you are, man?” he yells, thrashing against me, seething. “You think this is a game? I can ruin your life, Evans.”

I smirk, yanking him back.

“Like hell you can. You’re just a coward.”

His eyes darken. “This is about Lucia, isn’t it?”

I scoff, “What the hell are you even talking about, man?”

“You think you can save her? You’re wrong,” he sneers. “The bitch was mine before you even set your sights on her.”

Red.

That’s all I see.

“Keep her name,”I raise my voice, pushing his shoulder. “…out of your mouth!”

He laughs louder, low and cruel, “Ask her. Ask Cassandra. It was so easy, but she didn’t tell you that, did she? Girls are impressionable when they’re young. They look for saviors, don’t they? But I guess you already know all about that.”

I clench my fists.

“Is that what’s going to help you sleep at night, Nathaniel? Convincing yourself I’m just like you?” His smirk falters, but I keep going, taunting him, pushing him to the limit when I add. “When she’s gone, who are you going to control?”

“You.” He spits on the ground before lowering his voice. “I don’t think you’re just like me, no. I’m the bad guy, and you’re the good one. Good guys don’t just take; they’re more interested in giving back, aren’t they? ”

“This is all a game to you,” I conclude. “She really is just a… pawn to you.”

“She’s mine,” he mutters, losing it altogether. “She’s fucking mine!” And then he tries to raise his hand at me but gives up at the last second once he realizes there’s an audience. “You won’t take her from me!”

Disposable.

That’s how he sees her.

Not as a person, not even as a human being.

“I already have!” I take a step back, then another, distancing myself from him until I reach the car.

My body is thrumming with age, feeling the burn of the glares coming from people around us.

“Where is everybody?” I ask, wondering if our friends left. “Did they just leave you?”

“No, I asked them to go home.” She swallows hard. “I told them I’d explain everything later. I don’t want them to see me like this.”

“No way in hell I’m letting you go.” I shake my head, trying to find a solution to all this, but my thoughts are clouded by rage. “You can’t go back to that house.”

Cassandra frowns, tears gathering at the corner of her eyes. “But what about my parents?”

“Let them call the cops on me. Fuck if I care!” I say, voice tight as I pull onto the road. “He’s not hurting you again.”

We stay quiet until we reach a red light.

I grip the wheel, listening to Cassandra crying.

“But then, what happens next?”

I finally let myself glance at her, and the sight of her wiping away her tears so desperately makes my chest tighten.

My first instinct is to tell her the truth: I don’t know.But I can’t tell her that. So I exhale, and steady my voice, and push all the worries down.

“We figure things out.”

“I don’t want to go back.” Her hands grip her seatbelt, knuckles turning white. I reach over, gently prying her fingers loose, threading them with mine. She breathes heavily. “Nathaniel is dangerous.”

“He is a dead man walking,” I mutter while pressing a kiss to the back of her hand. “You know that.”

Cassandra lets out a weak laugh at that, shaking her head, like she can’t believe I’m being honest about this.

“You can’t just kill him,” she says, and I know she truly believes it.

I don’t answer to that because I don’t trust myself not to say something stupid. The light turns green, but I don’t move yet.

A random car behind us honks. I press the gas pedal. It’s not until we’re far away from Sainte Madeleine that a wild thought crosses my mind, something that I know is wrong but also unavoidable.

What if I do kill him?

What happens after that?