Page 40 of Thawed Gladiator: Cassius

I shake my head, feeling lost. “I don’t know,” I admit. “But I know I can’t stay here, not after what I’ve done.”

Dara, who has been listening intently, suddenly claps her hands together. “Well, this is perfect timing then,” she says, her voice bright. “Come to the gala with me tonight. It’ll give you a chance to see more of the world, to figure out your next steps. My staff can help you find a place to stay. I can have one of my security guys stay with you, teach you how to order food, drive, navigate the city. Or perhaps you’d like to come to New York. That’s my home base.”

She glances at Laura and Varro as she asks, “He has access to some of the money from the gold, right? One thing I’ve discovered, money can fix a lot of problems. I’ll keep him safe.”

Looking back at me, she says, “Who knows? Maybe you’ll find that you’re not built to live in the middle of nowhere for the rest of your life.”

“I… uh…”

Dara’s face lights up with a triumphant smile. “Excellent! We’ll leave in a few hours. I’ll have someone bring you suitable attire.”

“Suitable…” I repeat, wondering what’s wrong with the jeans and t-shirt all of us wear. We were told it was appropriate.

Dara spears me with a provocative smile and says, “Can’t showcase that perfect ass in what you’re wearing.” She winks at me.

The weekly assimilation classes we all take haven’t covered winking, but I’m pretty sure Dara wants me to do more than escort her to a party.

As she stands to leave, discussing logistics with Varro and Laura, I remain seated, wondering what I’ve gotten myself into. It really doesn’t matter. I need to leave Secundo Casu, let Diana keep this new life she’s built, and discover who I am and what I want in this new world I’ve been dropped into.

Chapter Thirty-Two

Diana

My alarm chirps at five AM, same as every morning, but for the first time since I started at Second Chance, I don’t immediately jump up to check on the horses. Instead, I lie here, staring at the ceiling, listening to the familiar sounds of the compound—the barn, the soft nickering, the rustle of hay, the quiet footsteps that must be Cassius doing the morning feed.

Cassius.

My chest tightens at the thought of him. A week ago, I would have been out there helping him, stealing glances when I thought he wasn’t looking, treasuring those small moments of connection. Now…

The stranger in my mirror looks hollow-eyed as I finally drag myself through my morning routine. My hands shake as I try to braid my hair, and I give up, pulling it into a messy ponytail instead. What’s the point? Soon enough I’ll be gone from here, back to… where? The thought sends a wave of nausea through me.

A loud whinny from Atlas breaks through my spiral. He’s probably wondering why I’m late. The horses don’t care about human drama—they just know their routines, trust their people to be there. Except I won’t be, soon. My vision blurs as I imagine someone else feeding them, grooming them, teaching new students how to earn their trust.

The walk to Laura’s farmhouse feels endless. Each step past familiar landmarks triggers memories I’m not ready to face: the corner of the barn where Cassius kissed me, the fence where we shared lunch on sunny days, the fields where I first saw him ride like he was born in the saddle. I’d thought those memories would be treasures. Now they’re just wounds.

Laura answers her door before I can knock, as if she’s been waiting for me. One look at her face tells me she got my text about leaving.

“Come in,” she says gently, leading me to her cozy living room. “I’ve just made coffee.”

I sink into an overstuffed armchair, grateful for the momentary reprieve. The familiar scent of coffee fills the air, and suddenly I’m fighting back tears. It’s the little things that break you—thefriendly chats, the comfortable silences, the sense of belonging I’d finally found here.

“Laura, I—” My voice catches. I swallow hard, trying again. “I know this puts you in a difficult position. I’ll stay until you find my replacement. The program deserves—”

“Before you say anything else,” Laura interrupts, her voice kind but firm, “there’s something you should know.” She sets her coffee down, meeting my eyes. “Cassius is gone.”

The words hit me like a physical blow. “Gone?” I repeat stupidly. “What do you mean, gone?”

“He left with Dara this morning. He…” She hesitates. “He’s decided to leave Second Chance.”

I stare at her, my mind refusing to process the information. “But why would he…” Understanding dawns, bitter on my tongue. “Because of me. He left so I wouldn’t have to.”

“He said he didn’t want to be the reason you gave up your home and your job here,” Laura confirms softly. “He insisted that you stay.”

A laugh escapes me, edged with hysteria. “Of course he did. After what he did last night, now he decides to be the noble one? He had to make the grand gesture.” The laugh turns into something dangerously close to a sob. “I was supposed to be the one leaving. It was my choice to make.”

“Was it?” Laura asks quietly. “The choice to leave, I mean. Is that really what you want?”

I open my mouth to say yes, to stick to my plan, but the word won’t come. Instead, I find myself looking out the window at the property I’ve come to love. The early morning sun gilds the barn roof, and I can see Bailey leading Buddy from his stall, her movements confident in a way they never were when she first arrived. She chose to come to Second Chance on Saturday because what we provide here has value. As it does for Jason, who’s helping Lucien with the hay delivery, their laughter carrying on the breeze.

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