Nero(108)

Cassandra stood still when she saw Nero sitting in her living room on the chair that faced the door. “H-how did—”

Nero smiled. “I walked through the front door.”

“M-mom! Dad!” Cassandra screamed, unmoving.

Nero laughed as she screamed. “They’re not here.”

Cassandra’s eyes started to water. “What did you do with them?”

Nero shrugged. “Nothing. They just had a little emergency at the hospital with Sebastian.” He was telling the truth. Sebastian was still recovering, trying to walk again and healing his third-degree burns. Nero hadn’t seen Sebastian in a while, and he had decided to check on his progress. He just might have taken a few steps back.

“What d-did you do to him?” A tear fell down her cheek.

Good.

Nero stood from the chair and walked towards her. “Nothing more than what you did to Elle.”

Cassandra still didn’t move as Nero stood right in front of her.

“Don’t hurt—” She started to cry.

Nero grabbed Cassandra, turned her around, and shoved her up against the wall. He heard her nose break. “You should have fucking thought of that before you beat the shit out of Elle.” As he let Cassandra go, she fell to the floor, bawling.

Nero held up his hands and made a fist. “Now, Elle gets upset when she sees my hands are hurt, and we can’t have that. She also begged me for me not to kill you, which I will never fucking understand. So, I think it’s only fair if you hurt the way Elle was hurt.”

“You can come out now.” Nero walked back to the chair.

I’m about to enjoy the fucking show.

Cassandra’s face lifted and turned towards the clicking of heels. She watched a tall blonde appear, wearing a light-pink, airy dress. Her eyes fell to the expensive, tall, nude pumps.

She stared up at her when she reached her.

The blonde sweetly smiled. “Hello, I’m Maria.”

Cassandra began to crawl away on her hands and knees.

Maria snickered and put her heel over Cassandra’s hand. “Honey, there’s nowhere for you to hide.”

Nero laughed as he heard the high-pitched scream come from Cassandra. He watched the best show of his fucking life play before his eyes. He had known Maria would show no mercy, and the begging and pleading was what he lived for.

When he watched Maria smooth down her hair and dress, he stood to join her.

Maria looked down at her once-gorgeous pumps. “You owe me a new pair of Christian Louboutin’s.”

Nero laughed. “Best money I’ll ever spend.”

Maria kissed Nero’s cheek. “I’ll send you the link.” Then she left the house with the click of her heels.

Nero returned his eyes to the mess on the floor. She was good.

Maria had given Cassandra a whole makeover, right down to a nice haircut.

Nero leaned down beside Cassandra to make sure she heard him well. “So, you know the drill, right?” He waited for her to answer, but she wasn’t able to. “Oh, that’s okay; I’ll remind you. My father owns your father, and I’d hate to see you poor and cold out on the street. Let’s face it, babe; you can get plastic surgery to fix that face of yours and your popped implant, but we know you’re not the working type.” Nero grabbed and pulled hard on the little bit of hair left on her head. “I’ll kill you and every motherfucker with the last name Ross in this fucking city if you come near Elle again.”

Nero stood to his feet and headed for the door. “Go get yourself cleaned up, babe. Mommy and Daddy should be here any minute.”

* * *

Elle was in a tight ball under the covers. She couldn’t sleep. Nero had been gone for hours. She hadn’t even moved when she crawled back in bed after Nero had left her.

She practically jumped out of bed when she heard the door downstairs open. When the light footsteps reached the stairs, Elle grew nervous and started breathing heavily from her heart racing. She didn’t even move when she felt his presence standing at the foot of the bed.

“I know you’re awake,” his dark voice spoke.

Elle swallowed as she sat up in the bed and held the covers around her breasts. She stared up at him, and for the first time, she believed she saw Nero for who he really was. A made man.

Nero held Elle’s eyes, making her see. “I will fight. I will torture. And I will kill in my line of work. I knew I would join the mob ever since I could remember, and you have to accept that because I am not giving you an option. It’s a part of me, just how you’re a part of me, but nothing—nothing—will ever come before you.

“No one will ever fucking touch what’s mine and not pay for it. That’s why she had to be dealt with.” Nero raised his hand when Elle looked like she was about to cry again. “I did not fucking kill her, but I promise you she wishes she was dead. However, I am not going to find you lying on the bathroom floor again, so the next person will not be so lucky. If anyone ever lays a hand on you, I will fucking kill them, and no amount of begging or crying will stop me. If you pull that shit again, I will torture the fucker twice as long. Do you understand me?”