Page 29 of Reign

Cas levels a glance at Adam that would make a whole band of demons piss themselves on the spot.

“I catch you touching her again, I’ll make sure your decomposing corpse is what feeds those trees.”

“Oh my god! Cas!” I turn to Adam, “He doesn’t mean that. He didn’t sleep well last night. Thank you for helping me. And the lemon trees are lovely.”

Somewhere in the background I hear Camila snicker.

“I meant it. Every word,” Cas replies, not caring at all about being rude.

Adam looks back and forth between us and finally grabs his gloves off the counter before turning to go out to the pool. Pausing at the kitchen door he looks back at Cas with one hand on the handle, his gray t-shirt already starting to stain with sweat even though he’s still inside. “This is Miami, man. I can get pussy anywhere. Not everyone wants a piece of your girl.” He could just leave it there, but instead he adds, “Besides, I like my women a little taller, and brunette.” He flashes a wink at Camila and finally leaves the kitchen.

“I’m firing that guy.”

“Oh my god, Cas, no, you are not. He was just helping me sit down before I passed out in the floor.”

Concern paints his features as Camila saunters over to the counter, finishes making the cocktail I started, and heads out to flirt with the gardener.

“Do you feel okay?” he asks, fingers splaying across my back instantly.

“Yes. He just scared me because I didn’t think anyone was coming today and my system just overreacted,” I explain.

We’d already vetted the gardener, the plumber, and the HVAC guys. All of their information was left on the table for us when we got here. They’re independent contractors that serve our residential area. We found websites, reviews, employee pictures, etc… it must have been enough to satisfy Cas because he let them stay on. Apparently, Mateo said the heat and humidity down here really wreak havoc on a home and after living in Aruba, Cas knew that was true.

While Cas and I are going back and forth, my phone chimes from the table. I’d forgotten that’s what I’d come in for.

Jo: Let’s talk. My house.

I hold the phone out to Cas so he can read the message on the screen, studying his features while he does so. Part of me wants to reach over and stroke his jawline and put us both out of our misery. But with Cas, I know it’s all or nothing and right now I need to get to Joelle, but I promise myselfsoon.

I don’t try to fight Cas when he wants to walk me down to Joelle’s. Only seven houses down, she lives in the cul-de-sac but after walking in on Adam’s hand making contact with my skin, Cas is on the edge and I don’t want to push him off. So I accept that he’s going to accompany me.

Only when we open the front door, we’re halted in our tracks. There’s a white Porsche SUV sitting in our driveway. Behind the wheel is Nikita Orlov.

The tinted driver-side window rolls down and Nikita turns his head to look at us. “I think it’s time we talk,” he says, mimicking his sister’s text, but it’s clear that he’s only talking to Cas.

Cas points at me while I stare like a deer in the headlights. Nikita has aviator sunglasses on and button-down with the sleeves rolled up. His left forearm is propped on the edge of the door and he looks like the worst and most delicious kind of sin the world has to offer.

Cas nods his head in my direction not breaking eye contact with Nikita. “She’s on her way to your sister’s. I don’t want her to walk there alone.”

I’m thankful that I slipped a tank top over my almost naked torso before heading to Joelle’s house, but something about Nikita’s gaze makes me feel like I’m standing in my birthday suit anyway. There’s so muchalphain the air that it’s hard to keep my heart rate below two hundred.

“Get in,” he says to both of us. “I’ll drive you down and then Dominic, you’re coming with me.”

“Where are you guys going?” I ask. If Cas thinks he gets to be overprotective about me without being on the receiving end himself, then he has another thing coming, but it’s Nikita who answers.

“I have something Dominic needs to see. It’s safer if you’re not present.” He must catch the look in Cas’s eyes because he adds, “You’ll be safe with Jo, though, otherwise I wouldn’t leave her alone either.”

Let’s hope he’s right.

Fourteen

Casper/Dominic/Casandro

“KEEP YOUR MOUTH SHUT and stay down,” Nikita instructs. “If I give you a pistol and they find you, they’ll shoot you on the spot so I’m not arming you. But if you’re seen, I’m not saving you either.”

“Understood.”

We’re at a small, dumpy marina. It’s not well-maintained and most of the boats look like they came here to die. I’m not sure what nefarious activities are carried out during the day, but I think I’m about to find out. Before we pull through the gate of the private marina, Nikita pulls over behind a dumpster to shield us from view and points to a boat slip where a giant cabin cruiser is docked, looking sorely out of place.

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