Beautiful Trouble: A Dark Mafia Romance

“I made Roman swear never to hurt you.”

“Looks like great minds think alike.”

She groaned. “You didn’t need to give yourself up for me. I’m protected! I’m safe. But you’re not.”

“Cass, sweetie, I love you, but you’re not safe, either. Not with Darren coming after Roman. I did what I had to do and you made the exact same decision.”

She sounded frustrated. “I know. I still hate it.”

“Are you two happy at least?” I asked softly, trying to smooth things over.

“I couldn’t be happier with him, but things are rough right now. You know Darren’s been on the offensive lately?”

I clenched my jaw and began to pace around. “I heard some whispers. You know your man’s been pretty aggressive himself?”

A short silence. “I don’t know about that.”

“He tried to kill me, Cass. Tried twice.”

“That’s not true.”

“I can promise you it is.”

Another silence. I hated this so much. I didn’t want to argue with her, but we had to talk about this and figure out what the hell was going on.

“How do you know it was him?”

“Well, a bunch of guys with guns attacked me and Darren once while we were headed to Chicago. Then more guys with guns tried to kill me and Penny while I was dress shopping.”

“Darren has a lot of enemies.”

“Does he though?”

She let out a strangled, frustrated curse. “Roman wouldn’t hurt you. Maybe he attacked Darren and Darren’s sister, but not you.”

“Are you sure? How positive are you?”

“I’m positive.” Her tone went cold and flat.

I realized then and there that Cassie was impossibly loyal to her man. I couldn’t blame her for that—she loved him and that love surpassed everything else.

But she couldn’t conceive of a world in which Roman lied to her.

Maybe he wouldn’t. I didn’t know him that well.

I wanted to believe her. I was desperate for something to cling on to and maybe Cassie and Roman really were out to save me.

But I was there. I watched it happen. I was sure that his people nearly killed me, and I had to operate on what I experienced.

I loved Cassie. She was one of the only true friends I had in this messed-up world. She was my rock, my north star, the jelly to my peanut butter.

But we were in a fight for something bigger.

“I plan on seeing this marriage out, Cass. I love you, but I made a commitment.”

“You’re a hostage. How real can that commitment be?”

“As real as yours.” I felt guilty the instant that left my mouth. I wished I could reach out and shove it back inside.

She sounded hurt, but I knew she was trying not to show it. “It’s different and you know it. Besides, you’ve only been married for a night. It’s not too late to turn back.”

“Cassie—”

“We have people nearby. Not a lot of them because we have to be careful, but there are a few. I can give you names and addresses, and all you have to do is run away. Escape through the woods. You’re in the woods right now, aren’t you?”

“Please, Cassie—”

“All you have to do is run and Roman will take you in. I swear, he’s not trying to hurt you, and if he is, I’ll leave him. Hell, I’ll kill him. But he wouldn’t do that to me.”

I closed my eyes and tried not to cry.

This was what I wanted.

A way out. My best friend to swoop in to save me.

I was supposed to be the strong one. I remembered all those weeks and months ago when Cassie was in the back of the Sea Isle Club nearly in tears because of what that guy Manzi said to her and I offered to knee him in the nuts. That had been our relationship: she was quiet, meeker, and I was the tough, reckless one.

Now the roles were reversed. I felt lost and broken and confused, and she was offering me solace.

I couldn’t accept it. As much as it ripped me to shreds, it was too late.

If she said this days ago, I would’ve been all over the chance.

Now though, I was Winter Servant.

A new outside. Different name, different world.

I was still me though. Always would be me. Mom taught me that: no matter what happened, the core of a person always stayed the same.

Even if I was Darren’s wife, I was still myself.

I didn’t back down from challenges. I protected my friends no matter what.

That meant staying.

“I’m staying, Cassie.”

She sounded crestfallen. “Please. Just run. I’ll find a way to get you from there. Run right now.”

“I’m not going anywhere. I made a commitment.”

“You can’t mean it.”

“I do mean it.” I steadied myself, tightened my jaw. “We can end this together, you and me. Let’s get Roman and Darren in the same room. We can force them to negotiate.”

“Do you know why Darren hates Roman so much?” Cassie’s voice was a whisper like she didn’t want to be overheard.