Page 91 of The Villain
“Jet,” he says, stepping inside. Just before he closes the door, I notice Enzo is out there along with more soldiers, but before I can see more, the door is closed. “What the hell are you doing here?”
Jet stands. “Making sure Allegra here is all right. How’s your father?” he asks Cassian.
Cassian looks suspiciously at me, and I can’t seem to hold his gaze. Guilt, I guess. Although I haven’t done anything to feel guilty. Except that’s not completely true. I didn’t tell him about Jet’s visit earlier. The phone. But I don’t owe it to him to tell him, I remind myself. I’m collateral. A pawn. But I’m having a hard time believing that. Having a hard time looking at Cassian as an enemy. Am I being stupid? And what is that stupidity going to cost me?
“You know how he is,” Cassian answers accusingly.
Just then, a sound comes from the couch. A buzzing.
My gaze flies to the small clutch I tossed there just minutes ago. Shit. It must be Amal texting me.
Maybe they didn’t hear though. But then Cassian’s eyes narrow and he tilts his head.
That buzzing comes again. Another text.
Shit. Shit. Shit.
Jet’s watching us. Is he grinning? At the next buzz, Cassian walks over to pick up the clutch. He glances at me. The little velvet purse in a shade that matches my dress looks too small in his hands. Like a toy. He opens the bag, and I swear I see the pouch vibrate as yet another text comes through.
“Cassian, I can explain,” I say, my voice fading by the end as I take a step toward him.
He plucks the phone out and signals for me to stay where I am, so I do. I can’t not. My heart is racing, my stomach in knots.
“Password,” he says without looking at me. He can’t read the text, but he’ll see the notification on the locked screen. When I don’t answer him, he raises narrowed eyes to me. “I said password.”
“0243.”
He punches it in, still holding on to the clutch in his other hand as he scrolls through the messages. His jaw tenses, he’s clenching his teeth. Another text comes through as he tucks the phone into his pocket and shifts his gaze to me.
“Let me guess,” he starts, then looks to Jet. “You delivered this to her earlier today. When she was with Elenora.”
“How…” I start, but Cassian holds up a finger to me to be quiet. He tosses the clutch aside and looks to Jet.
“Those soldiers you bribed won’t be walking come tomorrow morning.”
“Oh my God,” my hands fly to my mouth. “Cassian, you can’t?—”
He turns to me and the look in his eyes is enough to shut me up. “What do you think this is, Allegra? What do you think we’re doing here?” he asks, taking a step toward me. It takes every ounce of strength in me not to back away. “Do you think we’re playing some fucking game?”
His words are fueled with a visceral rage. A moment later, he’s standing inches from me, and my back is against the wall.
“Tell me, Allegra. What game is it you think we’re playing? Some murder mystery? A soap opera maybe with me cast as the villain?”
“Cassian—”
“Tell me what fucking game!” he demands, making me jump.
“It’s not a game!” I cry out, tears blurring my vision as my heart races. When I try to scoot away, he slams a fist into the wall. I jump, afraid. Truly afraid.
“Fucking. Tell. Me. Am I the villain?”
“No! Get away from me!” I shove at him, but he doesn’t budge.
“And him? What role is he playing?”
“Christ, leave her alone,” Jet says. “It wasn’t her fault.” He comes toward us.
“Oh?” Cassian shifts his gaze to Jet, then back to me,fury in his eyes, fury and something else. Betrayal. “So you cast Jet as the hero then? Is that it?”
