Page 1 of Ignited Heat

Prologue

Cassie

I check my phone nervously to see if I have any new messages. I don't because I blocked his number, but you never know. The Dragon's Lair, my family’s restaurant, is about to close, but the card room at the back will still be open for a few more hours. Marcos, my ex, spends a lot of time there. I broke up with him a month ago because of how possessive and abusive he was to me.

Needless to say, he thinks he can get me back by badgering me through every single channel of communication he has at his fingertips. I've shut down all my social media accounts, but that hasn't stopped the harassment.

I do a last check of the premises before leaving through the back. My car is parked there. Normally, I have company when I head out, but my mother had to leave early tonight.

I make sure the door is locked properly and cross the parking lot to my car. I stop and look around to see if there's anyone suspicious, but I don't see anyone—except for someone smoking, maybe. I make myself start walking again, and then I see the silhouette of a man, and I see the orange glow of the cigarette as he takes a puff. He's standing right in front of my car, so I start to back away.

If I am fast, I can make it over to Midnight Heat, the club down the block from our restaurant. The bouncers are usually still outside at the door around this time of night. I get close enough to see the bouncers, but Marcos catches up with me and grabs me by the wrist. He squeezes hard and I try to pull away from him, to no avail.

"Marcos, you're hurting me."

"You need to stop playing games with me, Cassandra."

"I'm not playing any games, Marcos. I'm not your girlfriend anymore."

I try to sound brave, but a little squeak in my voice gives my weakness away. I don't know how I convinced myself that I could get away from this man without consequence. I tug my arm again, but he just tightens his grip. Tears start flowing down my face from the pain he's causing. I didn't see at the time how he loved inflicting pain. But little by little, there was more and more evidence that this man was bad news and not just for me.

The bouncers at the club are too busy to notice me from where they are standing. I need to do something to get their attention. They'll run Marcos out of here. I need to be strong right now.

"Maybe if I threaten to show your family what a little slut you are, you'll come back to me."

"Wha-what do you mean?"

"You think I didn't tape you when we were together? There’s some nice footage of you sucking my cock like a dirty whore."

"Let me go, Marcos."

I keep pulling, trying to get away from him, but he's got a strong grip and doesn't mind using it. I look toward the door and hope for salvation, and finally, I see my savior. Jason Harris will come to my aid. But Marcos has seen him too and decides to let go, but not without a parting gift. Unbearable pain goes through my body as he puts out his cigarette on my hand. I scream and fall when he lets go of my hand, and he runs towards a car that's parked in front of the club. I cradle my hand against my chest and let the tears flow. I'll never get away from him.

I hear footsteps running towards me, and I don't know how I will face my brother’s best friend, Jason.

Chapter 1

Cassie

Tuck is late, as usual. He's my assigned bodyguard, but he still has duties at Midnight Heat. Because of my run-ins with Marcos, Jason wanted me to have a bodyguard when I walked back and forth between our restaurant and the club.

Jason found me last night, took me back to Midnight Heat, and cleaned and bandaged my burn. I refused to go to the hospital for such a small thing, but it was a bad burn.

I have several packages of food to be delivered for different employees at the nightclub, but I make Jason's plate myself. You see, I have a big-time crush on Jason Harris. He’s my wannabe boo, my wet dreams at night, and, yeah, my hero. I don’t think I’m those things to him, but a girl can hope.

Anyway, Jason started working security for the nightclub about five years ago. A couple of my brothers are ex-military and they sort of understood he was one of their own. Carlos, who hates everyone, had an immediate rapport with Jason, and they became best friends. Or at least as much of a friend as you can be to a man who says very little but sees everything.

"Don't you have a delivery, Xiao gong zhu?" My mother calls me Little Princess. It always makes me feel special.

"I do, Mama, but Tuck is late."

"We need to talk to your brothers about that attack."

"It wasn't an attack."

"It was, and Jason shouldn't be the one providing protection for you. That's what your seven brothers are for."

"Brandon won't be happy. Marcos is one of his best customers. He plays a lot, loses a lot, and drinks a lot."

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