Chapter 19: 17

The tension in the car was thick, but not in a way that made Cassie uncomfortable. Rather, it was the quiet relief, the type that settled deep into your bones after surviving something you weren’t sure you’d make it out of. Cassie was nestled securely in Nicco’s lap, her body relaxed against him, though her mind raced in conflicting directions. She could feel the steady rise and fall of his chest, the warmth of his arms wrapped protectively around her. Every so often, his grip would tighten slightly as if he needed to reassure himself that she was still there.

Aleksander, behind the wheel, had his phone pressed to his ear, speaking to Kai in clipped tones.

“Yeah, we got her,” Aleks said, his voice laced with exhaustion. “We’re on the way back now. Where are you?”

A pause.

“Still dealing with your old man? Tch. Yeah, well, just sit tight, we'll deal with your old man together. Amongst other things."

Cassie barely registered the rest of the conversation. Her focus was on Nicco, who nuzzled into the crook of her neck, breathing her in like she was something sacred. A soft giggle escaped her lips at the ticklish sensation.

“You don’t know how scared I was,” Nicco murmured, his lips brushing against her skin. “When we found out you were gone… I wanted to burn that entire fucking place to the ground.”

Cassie turned slightly to meet his gaze, her heart doing an odd little flip at the intensity in his deep brown eyes. “I’m here now,” she whispered, unsure of what else to say.

“That’s not the point,” Nicco countered, tucking a loose strand of hair behind her ear. “You shouldn’t have had to go through that. You shouldn’t have been alone to begin with.”

Cassie swallowed, her emotions warring with each other. She wasn’t used to this—this kind of warmth, this kind of devotion. Nicco was looking at her like she was the most precious thing in the world, and yet, somewhere in the back of her mind, Aleksander’s piercing gaze lingered too. The way he had looked at her when he was furious, the unspoken words between them.

She was drawn to both of them. And that terrified her.

They arrived at the house not long after. The moment they stepped inside, Phoenix greeted them with his usual charm, setting a bowl of fruit salad with whipped cream in front of Cassie.

“Figured you could use something fresh,” he said with a wink, placing a fork beside the bowl.

Cassie smiled, touched by the gesture. “Thanks, Phoenix.”

As she took a bite, the conversation in the room took a turn. Nicco, who had been quiet for too long, finally let his anger be known.

“This is bullshit,” he snapped, rounding on Lucien. “You left her alone. What the hell were you thinking?”

Lucien rolled his eyes, crossing his arms. “I didn’t plan for her to get kidnapped, or her leaving the house, Nicco.”

“That’s the problem! You didn’t plan at all,” Nicco shot back, voice rising. “You were supposed to watch her. Instead, you left her to fend for herself, and she got taken.”

Lucien’s jaw tightened. “You think I don’t feel like shit about that? I didn’t realize she was alone until it was too late.”

“Too late could’ve meant dead,” Nicco hissed, stepping closer. “Do you get that, Lucien? She could’ve fucking died.”

Lucien met his glare, unflinching. “And yet, she didn’t.”

Nicco’s hands curled into fists at his sides, his whole body vibrating with anger. Aleksander, sensing the shift, stepped between them, a warning in his eyes. “Enough,” he ordered, his voice cutting through the tension. “We don’t have time for this shit. We need to focus on what comes next.”

Nicco exhaled sharply, running a hand through his hair. He turned to Cassie, his anger melting into something softer, something filled with guilt. “I just… I can’t lose you,” he admitted, his voice barely above a whisper.

Cassie felt her throat tighten. “I know,” she murmured, reaching out to take his hand.

Phoenix cleared his throat, breaking the heavy silence. “So, what’s the plan?”

Aleks sighed. “For now? She doesn’t go anywhere alone. Not even for a damn second.”

Cassie’s stomach twisted at that. “You guys can’t just keep me locked up here.”

“Until we figure out how they found you, yes, we can,” Nicco shot back. “And we will.”

She bristled at the finality in his voice, but deep down, she knew they were right.

Phoenix leaned against the counter, watching the exchange with a frown. “Well, if we’re stuck together, we might as well not make it miserable. Cass, finish your snack. We’ll come up with a more concrete plan in the morning.”

Cassie sighed, taking another bite of fruit, all while her mind whirled with the implications of what had just been decided for her. The reality was settling in fast—this wasn’t over. Not by a long shot.