Chapter 29

CHAPTER TWENTY-NINE

Cain

I woke up with a plan.

Violet needs to know everything.

I've put this off long enough, and now there's a threat to her finding out in a way I do not want her to. She has to know, because I'm not letting her go. She has to know I've wanted her from the first time I ever saw her. She has to know I knew she was the one for me.

But Jesus, the timing on this…

I told her I love her because I do. And when the truth comes out, I need to believe that it's enough, even if I have to fucking grovel on my knees for her.

We walk hand-in-hand to my office. The house is oddly quiet today, and it isn't until we get to my office that I see why: all hands are on deck.

Claude, Henri, and Joe, as well as all of my new hires and trainees, and even our damn doctor, wait for me in my office.

Violet whistles. "Whoa. Now this is quite a greeting, you guys."

I meet Joe's eyes. He looks grim, goddammit. I run my fingers through my hair and grit my teeth.

Claude stands and gestures for Violet to take a seat, but I shake my head. "She'll sit with me." I want her to be as close to me as possible when we hear whatever it is they tell us.

I sit at my desk chair and she perches on my knee, alert and focused, but her hand rests on my thigh. My fingers wrap around hers.

"Not gonna waste time, boss," Joe begins. Everyone quiets and looks at him. "We found Armand tracking you last night. Seems he hasn't gotten over being let go, and he's got an ax to grind."

I nod. Figured as much. All of my men, like me, were former military. We all have a history together, too. But when Armand threatened Violet's life last year, I'd had enough. I wanted her brought here, but safely and on her terms. He got her in a car accident and could've killed her.

He was the first one I'd ever fired.

"Understood."

"Armand was the one who got into an accident with me," Violet says. She frowns. "Kinda thought he was a douche."

"I seem to recall you calling him that, didn't you?" Joe asks, his eyes twinkling.

She shrugs. No regrets.

I love this woman.

Claude speaks up. "Armand wanted to be number one with Cain. Never really stepped up enough to get there, so he wasn't happy when we let him go."

"Got it." Violet nods. "Does this have anything to do with what happened at Descamps' house last night?"

"I'm getting there," Joe says.

"We don't have all day, Joe." Violet's eyes snap at him, her anger evident.

She needs to be patient. I keep my voice low. "Violet."

She frowns but nods.

"We interrogated Descamps' team. They've been taken care of. They were all ready to talk once he was out of the picture."

I nod.

"He's in with the Rossis."

I blow out a low whistle.

"They're organized crime, right?" Violet asks.

"Yeah. They're the biggest mafia group in New England. Practically run Boston, oversee all imports in the Northeast. They practically own every harbor from here to Newport. Got a family home just north of Boston, too."

Violet blinks. "Wow."

"Yeah," Joe continues. "It seems your parents did some work for them." He clears his throat and looks to me.

"She knows they were assassins, Joe."

I wince. Here it comes.

Henri looks to me before he speaks, and I give him a nod. "Her father wasn't. He was a bookkeeper for them but not a made man. Neither of them were actually in with the Rossi family. Both were contractors that worked for them."

"She contracted hits," Violet says in a low voice. She winces. "Didn't she?"

"Your mother did, Violet," Joe says gently. She nods. She's already figured this out.

"So she was an assassin for the Rossis. Then why were she and my dad killed?"

"The Rossis were not responsible for their deaths. They did a hit for the Rossis, but the hit was on one of their rivals. We suspect the Rossi target brought vengeance back to them."

"You suspect?" Violet's voice holds a note of anger. "I want more than suspect."

"We're working on that, Violet. Descamps's men gave us everything they knew."

She nods. "So we go to the Rossis."

A murmur goes up in the group, and Violet gives a questioning look.

"You don't just… go to the Rossis, Violet."

She tips her head to me. "No? And why not?"

"They're the most notorious crime ring on the East Coast, that's why. They'll blow your head off and bury your body, then pour a glass of wine and call it a day before we've gotten anywhere."

"Well that's rather drastic," she mutters. "I can play nice."

"I'll go with you." My men all look my way. Claude shakes his head slowly from side to side, and Henri's mouth drops open.

"Sir," Henri says. "They can't be trusted."

"I'm not trusting them. We have questions, and they have answers."

"They do. And we'll go together." I turn to Joe. "Bring Armand in."

He holds my gaze but doesn't respond at first. I know he's worried about what Armand will say to Violet, but I can't hold back the truth any longer. I need her to know exactly where we stand.

There's a knock on the door. "Yes?" I answer.

The door opens, and Skylar comes in. She stares at me with accusation in her eyes, her arms crossed over her chest. "Excuse me. There's an all-hands-on-deck staff meeting, and no one invited me?"

"Come in, Sky." One of the guys stands to let her sit, and she waves him off.

"I'm one of the team now, since I looked through all that footage." Her gaze swivels to mine, and she clears her throat. "And I do mean all the footage, Cain. That wasn't my initial plan, but it's how things worked out. And it seems there's lots that needs to happen and be brought to light, no?"

Shit.

"There is, Skylar, but in time. Right now, we have to move on the Rossis. They were likely the ones that sent someone to silence Descamps. They're onto us, and we need to be proactive."

"Right. Is Violet going with you?"

I nod. "We'll go together."

She blows out a breath. "Take me with you."

The room goes so quiet, I can hear the slow ticking of a clock on the wall.

"Excuse me?"

"Take me with you." There's a note of steel in her voice that's unlike Skylar.

Is my baby sister quietly blackmailing me?

"Sky, you haven't trained with him," Violet says gently. "We've worked for months on my knife and gun skills."

"No, but I've trained with you, " Sky says, holding her own. The first time I ever saw Violet, she was training young kids in martial arts. Skylar's been working with her for months, but is still very much a novice.

"It'll be a dangerous situation, though," Violet says, her voice tighter now.

"Listen, I have reasons for wanting to go, okay?" Skylar says. "Plus, I know them."

"You know the Rossis?" I ask.

Skylar shrugs. "I used to read Tarot cards with the youngest Rossi girl. And I maybe had a little fling with… one of her brothers," she says in a rush.

I swear under my breath. "You had an affair with one of the Rossi brothers?"

"Cain, honey, take a deep breath," Violet says, running her hand along my arm. "That vein's pulsing in your temple again…"

"My sister slept with one of the Rossi brothers, read Tarot fucking cards with the sister, and you want me to calm down?"

"Now wait," Skylar says, her brows coming together. "I didn't tell you I slept with any of them."

Violet rolls her eyes. "Kids, kids, settle down." She gives Skylar a pointed look. "Sweetie, you hang your laundry on a sex chair. There's no shame."

Skylar shakes her head. "It's a tantric chaise. Fine. Are you going to take me with you or what?"

Violet looks to me. The room's gone silent, as if everyone's holding their breath waiting for me. "Could be really helpful having someone with us that knows them, even if her history is a bit… dubious."

"Did you cheat on any of them?" I ask sternly.

"Cain!"

I need to know. "Did you?"

"Of course not," she huffs out, offended.

"Did any of them cheat on you ?"

"No. The only reason we didn't see each other anymore was that he went to college internationally and we just sort of lost touch. In fact, he was quite the gentleman in bed." Oh, God, I do not need to hear this.

"And his sister's lovely. We still keep in touch."

"Boss, might be a good idea," Joe says. "They're a lot less likely to attack if there's a friend between you."

"Honest to God, Skylar, you cannot ever do something so stupid again. Seriously."

"Cain, I've grown up now. You know that. I can handle myself just fine, and with the skills Violet's teaching me, I'll be even more prepared than ever."

"Fine. Fine. But don't do anything without my permission, is that clear?"

She nods eagerly, while Violet takes out the diary. She hops off my lap and speaks in hushed tones to Henri, who takes the diary with a nod and jots down notes. I know it will all come clear in the end.

I hate that the two women that mean more to me than anything in the world are in a dangerous situation like this. I hate that I can't trust the people we're going to see.

And I hate that I haven't told Violet the truth. Skylar knows, I know she does.

I can't hold this back anymore.

"Sky, I need to talk to Violet alone before you come with us." I don't look at Violet. I can't. Not yet.

"You do," she says with a nod. "I understand. I'll wait for you in the truck."

I shake my head. "I'm not sure how long this will take. I'll call you when we're ready to go."

I feel like I'm going to be sick. I don't like the way Violet's face has paled, or the way she gently tugs her hand out of mine and wraps her arms around her body.

"Okay," Skylar says with a nod. "Violet, just remember you love him, okay?"

Violet looks sharply at Skylar, and I groan. Seriously, Skylar? Seriously ?

"Skylar, go read a book or something, and stop interfering," Violet scolds. Skylar shrugs and heads to the truck. Maybe I should send her to the house. Who knows how long this will take.

When the door shuts behind her, Violet turns to me. Her amethyst eyes glow with fire, and she stands up straighter. My girl may be a tiny thing, but she's powerful and potent, and I feel that straight in my gut right now. She raises one brow at me. "Spill, Mr. Master."

"Target range."

She slow-blinks, then nods. "Do you plan on seducing me after you tell me whatever the hell it is you need to tell me?"

"No, babe. I'm not planning on seducing you." I can't keep the melancholy out of my tone.

Jesus. I've waited months and months to get Violet to myself. I've worked my ass off building trust, establishing what's between us. I want Violet, and I don't want to share her… not now, not ever.

But I'll have to give her a chance to walk away.

I've never felt so helpless in my life.

We get to the target range, and the world seems eerily silent. It's as if the entire planet is waiting on the conversation I'm about to have with her.

A part of me hopes there will be a distraction of some sort, that a meteor will fall to Earth, or a bomb will explode, or… something. Anything, to keep me away from having the conversation I have to have with her.

She shuts the door with finality, then turns to me. "Cain, I feel like I'm going to be sick waiting for this."

"Me, too."

Her voice is pained when she pleads with me. She places her hands on my shoulders, nearly standing on her tiptoes. "Then tell me, babe. Please."

I bend down and brush my lips to hers. It might be the last time I ever do. I want one more chance with her, one more taste of her, before I lay out what could destroy us.

When I pull away, her eyes are filled with tears. "That felt like a goodbye. Why did that feel like a goodbye?"

I'd flay the very skin off my back to keep her happy. To keep those eyes from filling with tears like that.

There's no more time. I have to man the fuck up and tell her.

I have to tell her everything.

"Violet, when you first came here, that day you came and asked me to help you find your parents' killer?"

She nods slowly. Waiting. There's no easy way to say this.

"I already knew who you were." I watch her eyes grow troubled, but she doesn't speak.

"It was my intent from the very beginning to bring you here. I… had been obsessed with you for months."

A look of confusion crosses her features. I'm sure she's replaying everything in her mind, trying to figure this all out, trying to decipher my meaning. "What do you mean?"

I sit heavily on a chair by the door and tug her down to my lap, but she gently extricates herself from me and sits beside me instead.

Jesus.

"I was doing surveillance with Armand and Joe. There was an asshole cheating on his wife, and we were monitoring people at the mall. We had cameras set up, and we recorded everything to get evidence. And…well, there you were."

"At the mall?" She looks perplexed. She needs a full view of things before she can make any judgment call. It's her way. "Oh. Oh, wait." She pales. "Cain, that was… back in the spring. I did a demonstration at the mall. That was… months and months before I met you." Even her lips look paler.

Jesus.

"I know." I clear my throat. "I saw you there, and I had to have you. You looked at the camera. You didn't even know that you did, and I… saw your eyes. They mesmerized me. I remember thinking they looked like amethyst caught in moonlight."

She looks at me sadly. "You had me followed."

"I followed you myself. I watched you. I looked into you."

"You stalked me, Cain." Her voice sounds distant and hollow. I reach for her hand, but she pulls back. I feel stung. She hasn't yelled or gotten angry or hurt me in any way.

A part of me wishes she would.

I'm not going to sugarcoat this. "I did, baby."

Her voice is a whisper. "Don't call me that."

My gut clenches. "I was obsessed with you, Violet. No. I am obsessed with you."

"You never told me. If you'd only told me…"

"You would've run from me."

"You don't know that!" Now, I see the anger. Now, I feel it. She stands, but I quickly tug her back down so she doesn't run. We have to talk this out.

"I don't, but I know you well enough to know that vulnerability scares the living hell out of you. I knew I had to show you that you could trust me."

"By lying to me?" She laughs mirthlessly. "Tell me how that works?"

"God, babe, no. By showing you I was a man who had your best interest in mind."

"And in your mind, stalking me, luring me here, and acting like I was a perfect stranger the first day we met was somehow the right thing to do?"

My phone rings, but I silence it.

"Go ahead. Take it," she says, looking away. "I need a minute."

"No."

She looks at me and purses her lips. "Suit yourself."

"Listen to me, Violet."

"That's all I've done is listen." Her arms are wound across her chest as if to wall herself off from me. As if she wants to ensure I don't touch her.

"So when Armand got into that accident with me… it wasn't an accident at all? You put him up to it? How, Cain?"

I blow out a breath and go for broke. "You're the kind of woman who values independence. You need to know that things are on your terms."

"So you thought it best, in that omniscient mind of yours, to make those decisions for me? Oh, I get it now. Lovely."

She blinks, and a tear rolls down her cheek. Fuck.

Fuck.

"I knew I could help you. I knew you'd want me to. But I had to make sure you were doing things on your terms."

"Cain, how could I ever trust you again after this?" She stands and shakes her head. I reach for her, but she bats my hand away.

"I deserve this," I tell her honestly. Jesus, I deserve this and so much fucking more. I wish she'd yell at me, or hit me, or throw something at me for fuck's sake. I wish she'd slap me or even come at me and fight, which she absolutely could do. She hasn't really, other than the little spat with the cudgels, since that first day she attacked me and I warned her never to try to fight me again. I wouldn't defend myself, though. I'd let her hurt me and know I deserved more than whatever the fuck she gave me. "Sorry seems so futile, babe."

"Don't call me that," she says, and when her voice wobbles a little, my heart breaks. I've done her wrong, and I'm paying the price. I'd give up my goddamn kingdom to erase the hurt in her eyes. I'd give up damn near anything.

"Violet—" I reach for her, but she throws her hand up, palm facing me.

"No, Mr. Master. I'm Miss Price to you. I came here for your help in finding my parents' murderer, and now we're on the cusp of a breakthrough. We'll finish this job." Her voice is cold and distant, as hollow as an empty shell. "And then we're over. I can't be with a man I can't trust." Her voice breaks, and fresh tears spill down her cheeks. "You were the only one I thought I could."

I expected her anger. I even half-expected her to react like this, hurt and distant and angry. But a part of me hoped we could talk it through. That she'd forgive me. That we had enough trust between us that we could work through anything.

My phone rings again, the only sound in the soundproof target range. I look at this place that holds so many memories for us. It's become the place of our trysts, the place that belongs to just the two of us. The others rarely even come here anymore, since they know it's sacred to us. In seconds, I take in everything that has meaning in here, unsure of what to say or how to respond.

"You should answer that, Mr. Master," she says in that same cold, distant voice I don't ever want to hear again. "It could be important."

I yank the phone out of my pocket and see Joe's name. "Yeah?" It isn't his fault everything's gone to shit, but I'm pissed that anyone's got the nerve to interrupt me right now. My sun has disappeared, leaving me in bleak, cold darkness.

I put the phone on speaker so Violet hears.

"Boss, you gotta move. The Rossis leave this afternoon for their home in Tuscany and won't be back for another month."

I curse, gripping my phone so hard my fingers hurt. "When do they leave?"

"Two hours. Skylar's waiting by the truck. She's rigged up, and we've got you on surveillance. Anything they say or do will be recorded. Go now, and Henri will fill you in on what you need to know on the way."

Violet nods. "Thanks, Joe. We're on our way."

The furious energy in me boils and simmers to a dangerous heat. Someone's left a velvet-lined box of throwing knives, Violet's weapon of choice, on a nearby table. I grab the nearest one, pull my arm back, and whip it at the target at the end of the range. Violet flinches when it sinks straight into the heart. She grabs a second one from the box and I half-expect her to throw it, too, but she slides it into to her ankle sheath. My girl loves her throwing knives.

My girl.

My woman.

My everything.

I don't even remember the last time I cried but fuck if it doesn't tempt me. Throwing the knife hasn't helped at all.

A brisk wind kicks up when we step outside, flecks of snow and ice raining down. This time of year in Salem it's rare for snow, but the occasional freezing rain isn't out of the question. My instinct is to drape my arm around Violet to protect her from the cold, but the way she holds herself tells me that wouldn't be welcome right now. She doesn't want me anywhere near her, and I don't fucking blame her at all.

Skylar waits for us.

We have a job to do. I gave her my word, and even if everything's over between us—even if she wants to leave forever—I made her a promise, and I intend on keeping it.