CADEnce (Deception Book 2) (21 page)

He eyed me when I chuckled and regarded him. Fucking idiot. They were all fucking idiots. They had no idea they would all be dead within the week anyway. They all needed to go; I couldn’t trust anyone and when I made Star my wife and knocked her up I didn’t want anyone else there.

“Cheers!” I smirked at him, lifting my glass of juice in the air.

He shrugged then grinned and lifted his own. “Cheers.”

Yeah, they were definitely fucking idiots!

“GOOD MORNING.” I GREETED DANTE and Frank cheerfully as they sat silently at the dining table. Their gazes slid to me, deep frown lines across their brows.

Trying to hide my smug smile, I walked over to the dresser and poured a glass of juice.

“A good fuck was obviously what you needed.” Dante chuckled arrogantly. I could still hear the tight tone in his voice, his withdrawal becoming unbearable. Unfortunately, or rather for the plan I had in my head, fortunately, his temper was constantly simmering just below the surface. “But that’s always the case with whores. Dick is a drug, and you always need your fix don’t you, Star?”

Ignoring him, I allowed my eyes to soften when they landed on Frank. Taking the chair next to him I smiled at him as I sat beside him. “I’m sorry, about yesterday,” I said regretfully. “It was a shock but I’m glad you’re here with me.” I rested my hand on top of his on the table, giving it a slight squeeze. “I missed you.”

I felt the rage bubbling from Dante, and not wanting to push too much too soon, I removed my hand and reached for a croissant, finally giving Dante my attention but making sure to drop the smile. “Is there anything specific you wanted from me today?”

He narrowed his eyes as he stabbed at a piece of his bacon. “Always offering yourself to me, Star. See what I mean about being a whore?”

I smiled and shrugged. He knew exactly what I meant but my nonchalance angered him further. Sliding the bacon off his fork with his teeth, the sound making goose bumps erupt all over me, he smirked. “You’re not to leave the house today. I’m not sure right now if I want to fill your dirty cunt or not.”

I nodded, holding on to the bile that threatened to choke me. “No problem. I’ll be in the studio if you need me.”

His eyes narrowed and he tipped his head. “Although I’ve known for a while that you’re mine, Star, I want to know why all of a sudden you’ve realized that fact.”

Frank shifted uncomfortably beside me but I shrugged, pulling at my pastry and popping a small piece in my mouth. “What’s the point in fighting you?” I sighed as if I was exhausted and rubbed at my eyes. “I’m not going anywhere, you made sure of that. I need this to be as easy as possible.”

Dante pursed his lips and regarded me. “Finally sunk in has it?”

I flicked him a sad glance, forcing tears into my eyes but didn’t reply. All he needed to know was that I’d given in, stopped the fight for my benefit and not his.

He sighed loudly and stood. “I’ll allow you the morning to paint then I’ll come and fetch you. I have plans for us this afternoon.”

I swallowed the fear and nodded, noticing the way his fists clenched to stop the shake in his hands. His eyes were bloodshot, the whites tinged with a hint of yellow. What the hell was he on? He was struggling to even breathe.

When he closed the door behind him I turned to Frank. “Could you do me a favor?” He nodded, giving me a soft smile, obviously pleased we were on talking terms. “The studio was set up by Dante for me and everything is haphazard. When I’m painting I like to have things within reach to snatch up quickly before my mind breaks. Can you help me shift the furniture closer to the window please?”

“Sure.” He stood up, placing a hand on my shoulder. I forced myself not to recoil, my mind filled with the visions of what he’d done to Blue with those hands. “I’ll meet you up there. I have a few things to sort out first.”

I smiled widely at him, my eyes flicking to the door when Malik walked through. His gaze was curious when he saw my camaraderie with Frank.

Malik nodded in acknowledgment as Frank passed him, then took Frank’s chair beside me and reached for his selection of breakfast. “What’s going on?” He didn’t look at me but I sensed his suspicion.

“Nothing, I was just asking Frank to help me shift the furniture in the studio.”

He blinked. “I’d have helped you, you know that.” I frowned at the look of hurt on his face.

“What’s going on, Malik?” I asked quietly, hiding our conversation from the cameras.

“Nothing’s going on. Just that . . .” He sucked air through his teeth and slid his eyes to mine. “Just be careful with Frank. He’s not the man he showed to you. He’s cruel and sadistic.”

I nodded, placing my croissant back onto my plate as my stomach churned. “I know. I know what he did to Blue.”

Malik nodded, lowering his eyes. “He and Hunter both deserve to be fucked in hell for what they did to that girl.”

“Hunter?”

“Yeah.” He nodded, his jaw clenching with his disgust. “He’s what we call a ‘Supplier.’ He supplies people with whatever they want . . . including motherfuckers who rape and beat women.”

I shivered and forced some coffee into my stomach in an attempt to alleviate the nausea.

“Anyway,” Malik sighed and rose from his chair. “Just, be careful, yeah?”

I nodded. “I will.”

He paused as if he wanted to say something else but turned and left the room instead.

Slumping back in my chair, I took a big breath, fortifying myself from the inside. I wasn’t sure I could do this. However, I didn’t see another way out. The way Dante was going, if he didn’t get a fix soon, I would die. He wouldn’t be able to hold onto his rage forever, and I knew it would only take a single thing to make him snap and take his punishment on me too far.

My heart ached and I closed my eyes picturing Cade’s soft smile. “I miss you, baby.” Grief forced tears from my eyes but I gulped them back. Tears wouldn’t get me anywhere; they’d just drag me down and exhaust me.

And for the next stage, I needed all the energy I could muster.

“HERE?” FRANK ASKED THROUGH CLENCHED teeth as he shifted a large shelving unit across the room. Stalling, I tipped my head back and forth, relishing in his discomfort.

“Hmm. I’m not sure now. No, put it back where it was.” Rolling his eyes, he grumbled something and struggled back across the room.

Dante caught my attention through the window when he emerged from the outbuilding, his fingers in his mouth as he chewed on his nails. Looking at the clock, I realized it was already lunch time, so checking Dante was on his way towards the house, I closed my eyes for a moment, building my resolve then gritted my teeth and made my way over to the shelf that housed all the paint pots, dragging a chair with me.

“Frank!” I shouted with a gasp as I gripped the edge of the shelf. “Shit, quick, help me.”

I held onto the three paint cans with one hand, my fingers spread precariously as I tried to support them, and pulled on the shelf with my other hand, my legs wobbling as I stretched up on my tiptoes to reach.

“What the hell are you doing?” Frank cried as he shot across the room to help me.

As soon as he reached me, his hand reaching up to mine to hold the shelf, I let go with both hands. The shelf, complete with all three opened paint cans crashed to the floor, splattering both Frank and me in a rainbow of color.

Frank gasped at the same time as me when the chair tipped up and we both went to the floor. He landed on top of me, red paint dribbling down his forehead, his face a palette of various color as red, blue and green acrylic paint oozed down from his hair.

I knew I looked the same. I opened my eyes, staring up at Frank when he did the same and his eyes poked through the goo.

I didn’t need to fake my laughter; he looked downright hilarious. He obviously thought the same when he saw me, his lips twitching under the paint before a bark of laughter tore from him.

I joined him, both of us hysterical, both of our bodies writhing on the floor, Frank’s huge body only supported by one of his hands as he tried to hold himself above me.

“WHAT THE FUCK?” Dante bellowed.

Both Frank and I froze, our eyes snapping to each other, both of us aware that shit was about to hit the fan.

He scrambled off me, attempting to wipe the paint from his face with hands that were just as covered. “Shelf came down,” he said.

Dante was furious, his whole face red with rage, his blazing eyes narrow and flicking wildly from me to Frank then back to me.

“I’m sure it did,” he growled taking a step towards us both. “What the fuck are you doing in here?”

Frank frowned, one side of his face scrunching in astonishment at Dante’s uncalled fury. “Helping Faye move furniture.”

Dante shot his eyes to mine. “Why are you moving things?”

I allowed my gaze to remain on Frank for a couple of seconds before I slid my eyes to Dante. “It’s not practical the way it’s set up at the moment, that’s all.”

He regarded me questioningly, his eyes glaring as he tried to read if I was lying. A shiver wracked his body and he winced, bringing his hands to his arms to rub his goose pimpled flesh.

Malik appeared in the doorway, his eyes flicking between us, silent and waiting for Dante to blow off. He held my gaze for a moment, his scrutiny moving from me to Frank, his eyes widening slightly before they went back to Dante.

“Jethro called. He said the stock just came in.”

Dante blinked, excitement lighting his face as his attention instantly shifted from Frank and me to Malik. “Already?”

Malik just shrugged, his face stone cold.

Dante turned to me. “I have business to attend to.” I lifted a brow. He meant his drugs had been delivered and he needed to go score. However, holding back my smile, I nodded, excitement racing through me with the opportunity I needed falling straight into my lap like a gift from Father Christmas.

“Sure.”

I was stunned. His drugs were obviously more important than me if he was willing to leave me alone. My happiness was short lived when he added, “Frank will remain here with you.”!

I saw Malik shift uncomfortably and it wasn’t until I noticed his unease that my nerves kicked into gear. If Frank had done what he did to Blue, what was he actually capable of?

“I’ll stay too,” Malik offered.

Dante spun round, query and suspicion in his eyes. Malik leaned into Dante’s ear and whispered something. Dante’s eyes flicked to Frank before he nodded sternly, thankfully agreeing with Malik and whatever he had advised.

I stiffened when Dante moved quickly across the room to me. Wincing when he snatched my face in his fingers, I tensed, preparing myself for his hatred. He leaned forward, bringing his face into mine as a cruel smirk curled his lip. “I trust you will behave, Star. You know the consequences if you don’t!”

Dropping me suddenly, he spun round to Frank. “And don’t think I’m not watching you.”

Frank sighed, shaking his head, but Dante didn’t seem to notice before he turned to Malik. “Watch them both!” Malik gave him a stern nod with the order. Dante flicked Frank and me one last glance, disappearing quickly through the door. “And get cleaned up!”

Frank followed him out, leaving me and Malik silently staring at each other. Finally, he shook his head and sighed. “What are you playing at, Faye?”