8. Annalise

8

ANNALISE

M y heart thuds erratically in my chest as I hastily type out a message to Sienna, my fingers trembling with anxiety.

This was such a stupid idea. I should have left the second I saw Cassius.

I blow out a breath.

Maybe I should just quit and get away from here. I can’t let them hurt Franny and Gina. I can’t lose them.

I see the bubbles pop up on my phone to indicate that Sienna is texting me back, but I don’t get the chance to see what she says because I hear my name being called.

“Annalise!” My head jerks up, and I find myself looking into the bright blue eyes of the same girl I just saw in Damian’s office. Her rosy cheeks are flushed with excitement. Cassius stands beside her, his striking blue gaze trained on me with an unreadable expression.

Briefly, I wonder who she is and how she’s involved with Cassius and Damian, but I don’t dare ask.

“I don’t believe we’ve met,” I tell her, standing up from my desk and pressing my phone into my pocket. I attempt to hide my fear behind a mask of normalcy.

“I know more about you than you think.” She smiles, but her words don’t comfort me. In fact, they might do the exact opposite. She has to be involved with the brothers…in whatever messed up organization they’re in. “I’m Isabella, by the way. You don’t look very busy.”

“Looks can be deceiving.”

“You’re right.” Her smile grows. “I like you already.”

I swallow, unsure how I’m supposed to respond to that. “Thank you?”

“Would you care to join me and Cassius for lunch?” The question is innocent enough, but I shake my head. I don’t need to get any more entangled than I already am. I’d risk them finding out the truth.

“Thank you for the offer.” I smile, although I’m sure it doesn’t reach my eyes. “But, I actually have a lot of work to do…”

“Stewart will clear that up for you,” she says quickly, eliminating my excuse.

That makes me even more uneasy. What could she possibly want to sit down and have lunch with me for?

“That wouldn’t be fair to the other people that?—”

This time it’s Cassius who interrupts me. “Isabella was attempting to be kind to you, but it wasn’t a question.”

My mouth closes, and I stare between the two of them. Not seeing any way out of the situation, I purse my lips and nod. “I would be delighted.”

I glance over at Cassius, who gives me a nod of approval. My heart races in my chest. This doesn’t feel safe, but if I can just get through this without raising suspicion, then I can leave for good. It was a terrible idea for me to come here, whether it’s a high-paying job or not, and I hate myself for putting my daughters at risk.

It will never happen again.

“Let’s go.” Isabella steps right up to me and links her arm around mine as if we’re best friends. It makes me feel a bit awkward, but I don’t dare snatch my arm away.

I can’t afford to make any mistakes, even if it does feel like I’m walking into the lion’s den.

She guides me outside, and I’m a bit surprised we don’t walk to the garage. “You don’t mind walking, do you?” Isabella cocks her head at me. “It’s just such a beautiful day. I’d hate to waste it.”

There’s something underlying about her tone that I just can’t pinpoint. “No, I don’t mind.”

“Good. You’re so agreeable. No wonder my brothers like you.”

Brothers? Like me?

So, that’s who this girl is. She’s their sister, which would explain why Cassius had forced me to come. But her words… She doesn’t have a clue that she couldn’t be further from the truth.

A part of me is happy that we’re walking outside. They can’t do anything to me with all of these people around…out in public.

The walk to the restaurant doesn’t last long. It’s this little hole-in-the-wall place, not where I expected us to go. The outside looks like it’s falling apart, but the inside…smells amazing.

“You always come here.” Cassius lets out a breath, gaze set on his sister. “That little Italian boy doesn’t have a clue who you are.”

“That’s not true.” Isabella punches her brother in the arm.

“If his father knew who we were, he’d shoot us.”

My heart drops. He can’t be serious, can he?

Isabella just smiles. “It’s a good thing then that he doesn’t.”

If I thought I was uncomfortable before…my legs are really shaking now.

For a second, when I turn to look at Isabella, I just see a teenage girl vying for the affections of a boy it’s clear she can’t have. Now that I’m looking at her, I can see the resemblance between her and her brothers. She’s beautiful in an almost ethereal kind of way.

“Take a seat, Annalise,” Cassius commands, his voice smooth and effortlessly charming. I glance around the room, struggling to focus on choosing a table when all I can think about is how wrong this situation feels.

“Uh, by the window?” I suggest, hoping that the view might provide some much-needed distraction from the tension coiling within me. Cassius nods and guides us to the table with practiced ease, his every movement radiating confidence and control.

As we sit down and Cassius and Isabella begin to make small talk, I can’t shake the nagging feeling that I’m being watched, that my every move is being scrutinized. I try to ignore it.

There aren’t too many other people in the restaurant, but that’s not surprising given the time and the fact that it’s a weekday. Most people are probably working, which is what I wish I was doing.

“Annalise, do you like pasta?” Isabella asks, her eyes wide with curiosity as she studies me.

“Uh, yes,” I reply, forcing a smile. “It’s one of my favorites.”

“Good! You should try the spaghetti here. It’s amazing!” She grins.

Feeling his gaze, I turn to look at Cassius. For a moment, I feel as if I’m drowning in those blue depths, the intensity of his stare threatening to unravel me.

“Okay,” I say softly, forcing my eyes away from him and down to the menu. “Spaghetti it is.”

Isabella puts her hand in the air, beckoning over the only waiter in the restaurant. He’s a younger man, face and hair clean-cut. When he smiles, you can see his dimples. His skin is almost tan, and his eyes immediately fall to Isabella.

This must be the boy she likes.

“Lucius,” she calls. “Three spaghetti and meatballs for the table.”

“Of course.” He doesn’t even bother to write it down. It’s an easy enough meal I suppose. “Anything to drink?”

“Water for now.”

He nods and heads into the back.

As we wait for our meals to arrive, I struggle to keep up with their conversation, my mind racing with questions and doubts. It feels odd to be here, sharing a meal with these people who could so easily destroy everything I hold dear.

Each passing moment feels like an eternity, each laugh and casual touch between Isabella and Cassius a reminder of how far I’ve strayed from the safety of my ordinary life.

“Annalise,” Isabella says, drawing my attention back to her. “Tell me about yourself. What do you like to do in your free time?”

I hesitate, wary of revealing too much about myself, especially in front of Cassius. All it would take is one slip, one misplaced word, for my carefully constructed world to come crashing down around me. “Well, I…uh, enjoy reading,” I stammer, keeping my gaze fixed on the worn wooden table between us.

That’s not too revealing.

“Reading?” Isabella leans forward, her eyes sparkling with curiosity. “That’s great! What kind of books do you like?”

“Mostly mystery novels,” I admit, my words coming a little easier now. “They help me escape from reality for a while.”

Isabella nods, seemingly satisfied with my answer. “And your family? Do you have any siblings?”

She’s digging for information. Cassius is looking down at his phone, but I can tell he’s still listening to every word I say.

Be careful.

I swallow hard, my throat suddenly dry. “No, it’s just me.”

“Just you?” The way she says it makes me feel like she knows more than she lets on. “How sad. Not even a boyfriend?”

I glance nervously at Cassius, who has remained silent throughout our conversation. His gaze is unreadable. The tension in the air is almost tangible, its weight settling heavily on my shoulders. “No boyfriend.”

“Annalise,” Isabella continues, seemingly oblivious to my discomfort, “don’t you ever feel lonely?”

My breath catches in my throat, and I force myself to meet her gaze. “Sometimes,” I admit, my voice barely more than a whisper. “But I was alone a lot growing up. It’s nothing new to me.”

“Interesting.”

I feel like I’m being interrogated. “I have a question for you. Why did you invite me here?”

She smiles, her eyes flitting over to Cassius. “I have to go to the bathroom. Annalise, join me.”

“But, I don’t…” I cut myself off. I like my chances better in the bathroom with Isabella than out here with Cassius. “Okay.”

She slides out from beside Cassius, and I stand up and follow her to the bathroom. Once we’re inside, her face becomes serious. “I didn’t want to ask you this in front of my brother, but are you okay?”

I wasn’t expecting that. “Am I okay?” I repeat, scared that I’ve heard her wrong.

“I saw you with Damian. You didn’t look comfortable. Is there something going on between you and my brothers?”

Yes, I have two twin girls from them. “No.”

She eyes me. “I can’t tell if you’re telling the truth or not, and you don’t have to confide in me if you don’t want to. But let me give you a piece of advice. If you’re seeking them out, stop. It’s best if you maintain your distance from them. They’re complicated men, with even more complicated lives.”

Her words send a shiver down my spine. I’ve figured that out already.

“But if they’re seeking you out…you’re already in trouble.”

She’s just confirmed my worst fears.

Isabella looks down at her phone. “Come on, we have to get back.”

I want to say thank you, but I don’t know what I would be thanking her for. For giving me advice? For seemingly being on my side?

None of that will matter once I leave tonight.

She opens the door, and I follow her back to the table. Our food has arrived.

Cassius looks between the two of us, studying us. “Is everything all right?” he asks, his voice smooth and deep.

“Why wouldn’t it be?” Isabella smiles. Now, I realize that it’s a mask—she acts like she’s clueless but she knows more than she shows.

“I need to get back to work,” Cassius announces.

“We haven’t even eaten yet” Isabella pouts, her disappointment evident.

Cassius leans down to kiss her forehead. “Next time.”

As he straightens up, his gaze lingers on me for a brief moment. “I’ve ordered my car to be brought here. I didn’t feel like walking back. Would you care for a ride, Annalise?”

A flare of anxiety sparks within me, but I push it down. The sooner I can get out of here, the better. “That would be appreciated, thank you,” I murmur, trying to sound confident.

“Very well. Let’s go then.” He gestures toward the sleek black car parked nearby. “Have this packed up for us, Isabella, and send it back to the office.”

She smiles at us as we walk out.

We walk in silence, the tension between us palpable, and yet I can’t deny the strange allure he has over me. The air seems charged with electricity, making my skin tingle and my breath catch in my throat.

It shouldn’t be this way. He shouldn’t scare me and turn me on at the same time.

As we reach the car, I try to focus on anything other than him, but it feels impossible. Surprisingly, he opens the door for me.

“Thank you,” I whisper, sliding into the seat and trying to ignore the way his fingers brush against mine as he hands me the seat belt.

The drive is filled with a tense silence, neither of us daring to speak. I keep my eyes fixed on the passing scenery, willing myself not to look at him. But despite my best efforts, I find myself stealing a few glances at him.

I reach into my pocket to check my phone for the time when a realization hits me.

“Wait,” I say. “I think I left my phone back at the table.”

How will Sienna be able to reach me for the girls?

“Did you now?” Cassius asks, his voice colder than usual. But then I see my phone in his hand, screen illuminated with a text message preview.

How did he…? When I was in the bathroom.

“Give that back!” I lunge toward him, desperation fueling my actions. But he moves it just out of my reach.

“Who are Franny and Gina?” he asks, his voice suddenly demanding. His gaze pierces through me, making me shiver involuntarily.

He knows the truth.