Page 21 of The Devil After Dark
“Entertainment?”
Cassio’s eyes scanned me before he spoke. “Games of violence with willing and unwilling participants.”
My stomach turned and I could not help but look out across the ruins. I had heard rumors of these games and read incomplete histories that alluded to them as well. This was a place of horror and death. “Oh,” I breathed. I had thought this to be a beautiful place maybe of theater or music, not one of violence. Cassio was just still and quiet beside me. “Did this entertainment stop after this was destroyed?” Why the hell did I ask? I wasn’t sure I wanted the answer. I’d grown up with stories of magic wielders kidnapping lesser humans. It was why I was always told to avoid them. But no one dared share specifics if they had known any.
“No. The games became more exclusive and hidden. Some of the other provinces still partake. The games in this province, however, stopped about ten years ago,” he said, his voice sad.
“Only ten years?” I shuddered.
“My mother was an unwilling participant in the Claiming. Which means my father partook and won. That was about forty years ago,” Cassio said softly as he stared out over the grounds.
I wasn’t sure how to respond to that. I didn’t want to know what the Claiming was. I was too afraid to learn what any of these sick games had been. “They both survived one of the … games?” I asked cautiously. “Well obviously, because you are here,” I stammered awkwardly.
Cassio let out a huff of a laugh. “Yep. And they were unhappily together until my father was murdered along with my brother. Then my mother left … I didn’t try to look for her either. I imagine she needed to get far away from my fathers memory.”
“Gods, Cassio. I am so sorry,” I whispered in disbelief. How awful for him.
Cassio shook his head as if shaking off the memories. “What about your family?”
How could I follow up what he had just shared about his family? “Alive and well in the west. My older brother and younger sister still live out there too,” I responded carefully. My heart hurt for Cassio. I had chosen to leave my family and although I stayed in touch, none of us had the expectation that I would visit. His family however …
“Do you miss them?” he asked. I nodded. I did miss them. But moving here had been the right choice for me. I was running away for my own good and thankfully they understood.
Suddenly my phone buzzed and I almost dropped it as I startled. Looking down I realized it was my alarm telling me to leave so I could get home and cleaned up before heading in to work for the afternoon. “Shit. I need to get going,” I mumbled.
Cassio’s finger on my chin lifted my face to his. He gave me a gentle kiss. “Want to run down the hill or do you want a ride?” he asked casually.
I laughed. “I was planning on running, but thank you for the offer.”
“Alright, enjoy yourself,” he responded with a smile. Then he gave my ass a playful spank. “You better get going!”
I laughed and bit my lip as I took steps away from him. He just watched me as I turned and made my way through the ruins to the path that would take me back down the hill.
twenty-four
LIANA
I wasn’t expectingto get home from work to find Cassio in my condo. What was even more shocking was it was still daylight and his mask was nowhere to be found. Instead, he was only wearing a pair of sweatpants slung low across his hips. The muscles of his abdomen and his tattoo covered arms and torso had me staring like an idiot, my mouth not finding words to say. I was convinced I was hallucinating when he guided me to my balcony door and pointed to the rosé in an ice bucket and the charcuterie board on my balcony table. “Go put on something comfortable, baby. I’m making you dinner tonight,” Cassio whispered into my ear as he wrapped his arms around me from behind. I must certainly be hallucinating.
I am pretty sure I did not say a single word to him as I retreated to my bedroom in complete shock. When I emerged wearing the sweats and cropped shirt that had been laid out on my bed, Cassio poured us both glasses of wine and sat casually in one of my chairs. “Does my Angel speak?” Cassio teased.
I opened my mouth and then closed it again. After taking a deepbreath I was finally able to say something. “I think I am in a little bit of shock.”
Cassio’s blue eyes lit with his amused smirk. “Come sit on my lap,” he said, his voice suddenly demanding. And this was the Cassio I was more used to. I slowly stood and found a seat on his lap where his hands slid under my shirt to grasp my naked waist. “Why are you surprised I am here taking care of you?” he asked, his voice bordering on a challenge.
“Because not only did I run into you just this morning, but normally you arrive in the cover of darkness and you don’t really have a track record of sticking around after … you know,” I replied, my cheeks heating.
“Hmm … the ‘you know’ part will come later, baby.”
I laughed. His seriousness and the absurdity of everything we were made me laugh out loud right in his face. His hands tightened on my hips as his face grew stern. “You are full of surprises, Cassio. What are you making me for dinner?” I said with a smile and ran my finger along the tattoo on his arm. His face softened to a smile. This was another side of Cassio I was worried I could get attached to.
CASSIO
I could get used to nights like this with Liana. I could get used to her small condo too. Sitting on her balcony together and enjoying the quiet evening was like medicine for my soul. My entire life I knew what I would become. It hadn’t ever been a question. But sitting here with Liana over empty dinner plates and a glass of expensive liquor and a cigar on the table in front of me … well I might be willing to give it all away for more nights like this.
Sure, I wanted Liana to assimilate into my life. I wanted to shower her in material things and reap thebenefits of having her around. Whatever made her happy would make me happy. If she wanted to work, I would let her. If she wanted to give up her career and take up some hobbies, I would let her do that too. My mind wandered to making her pregnant and seeing her belly grow with our child. Fuck. I wanted her to have my children. I wanted to get her pregnant tonight. I had toyed with the idea of replacing her birth control pills—hell, I had nearly done it. I wanted to trap her so that she could never leave. But, at the last second, I had decided against it. I wanted her towantto have my children. It would be worth the wait.
I sat enjoying the view of my woman as she smiled and animatedly told me about her family. She was a little sad to not see them as often as she liked, but her face lit when she talked about them. They were good people. People who had avoided the likes of me. And for the first time, I wanted to live up to whatever expectation her family might have for her future husband. I wasn’t about to give up my reign, but I would do everything I could to keep their daughter safe and loved and happy.
