BRANDONAthens, Greece“Okay, take a deep breath. This might irritate your skin a little, but it’s normal. You have to be very, very careful.” I looked at Cassius’s eyes as he started to remove my bandage.The procedure and the medication took four months. I had eleven operations and three plastic surgeries. Cassius said that my cheekbones were dislocated—the reason why the flesh wounds were always raw. It got infected because it wasn’t treated immediately. He said I was lucky it did not spread to the other part of my face. I still had more operations to go for my ribcage and the scars on my chest.“Are you ready?”I nodded. “More than ready...”Cassius started to carefully undo the bandage.“I was waiting for this moment, buddy—all my life. I waited for this,” he said.“I know, and I’ve been such a prick to you,” I admitted.“Heard something from Oliver? Did you talk to Alayna? Do they know about this day?”“No. I talked to Oliver, and they seemed fine.”He stopped. “Are you saying you didn’t talk to her?”“You know that there’s a threat to her life. You heard what they said. The enemies are smart. We have our grandfather and his fortune, but they are too many.”He sighed sharply.“It’s sickening that I have the same blood. That’s how they knew about you being here and doing well. Are you going to show yourself? It’s Aunt Agatha’s fortieth birthday next month, and you are invited because Grandfather is going as well. There will be a private meeting with the heads of the family. My father is coming. You are the legal head of your family. I heard they were going to talk about Grandfather’s will.”“Are you coming?”“Dad wants me to go. Oliver is flying here next month.”I smirked.“Of course, I’ll come. I can’t wait to see their faces when they see me. It’s funny; it’s a masquerade party,” I joked.“Maybe Alayna’s right after all,” he said suddenly.“Right about what?”She was right that everything would change if I took this path, and I was slowly changing. This heavy burden I’d been carrying my whole life. Starting with justice for my family and the people who wanted me dead. They already took my family’s life. I won’t risk any more lives for me. Not Oliver, not Casey, not Cassius, and not Alayna.***
The place I call home has become unfamiliar to me. A lot of things have changed. The lights are too bright; they almost hurt my eyes. I stroll into my living room and turn them off, slumping on the couch. My back and my neck are killing me.
It’s funny that I barely want to step foot into this house now when I couldn’t even get out of here before.
It’s been a long day, and I still have jet lag. I close my eyes to get a bit of rest, but the lights are turned on again.
“Hey!” I complain.
“I see now that you’re here...”
I force my eyes to open and find Cassius in my living room. “Cassius, what’s going on?”
“Where were you?” he answers me with a question, his voice stern.
“Can you turn off the light? Why are you still here?”
“I was waiting for you. Where have you been?”
I smirk. “I don’t think I like the sound of your voice.”
“I don’t think I like how you act either. You’re turning back to your old self,” he remarks.
I force myself to sit and scratch my head. “Where is this coming from? You were fine earlier.”
“Yes, until I saw Alayna,” he says firmly. “She’s in pain. She’s not like she used to be when I first met her. I told you many times in Athens, and you promised me you’d get back to your fucking senses.”
I press my temples with my fingers. Damn, my head. It just won’t stop pounding. “I’ll see her tomorrow, so what’s the big deal?”
“I don’t know what the hell is wrong with you anymore. You stood her up in Athens, may I remind you? I know that you suffered, but she suffered too.”
“I’m aware!” I shot back. “But I can’t face her right now, Cassius—”
“Finally, some truth.” He shakes his head incredulously. “You don’t want to see her anymore. Is this about Pauline?”
“No.” I avoid his eyes.
“Then what’s bothering you now?” he exclaims. “You’ve got what you wanted. I fixed your face, but if you’re going to be like this, I’d rather have your burned face than your attitude!”
“I don’t want to talk about this now, Cassius.” I stand up, raising my hand in surrender.
“I told you back in Athens, Brandon, and I’m serious. I’m giving you a chance. One last chanceMy chest tightens. He is serious. I know he likes Alayna. I always knew, but I could do nothing about it. “What right do you have to give me a chanceCassius’s jaw and fist clenched in unison. “She’s not here...”
Wait. What?“Where is she, Cassius?”
No, no, no. She can’t be outside alone. She’s not supposed to leave the house.“I took her to my clinic. She lost consciousness.”
I ball my fists. “Then what the fuck are you doing here?”
“Good. I guess you still worry about her, but it’s fine. She’s not alone.” His tone calms down.
At that moment, I realize again there are only a few people in the world I can trust; besides Oliver, Cassius is one of them. We had a misunderstanding in the past, but he is an ally. And I need him now for Alayna. He will keep her safe, so all these conversations are pointless. At the end of the day, Alayna will still be on Cassius's side.
Because that’s all that matters. Her safety.