Forever Loved (Forever Lost Book 2) Page 13

  His schoolteachers had brought him up from then on, and of course the family nanny when he stayed with his aunt during the holidays. Leo had turned everything off that made him care about anyone other than himself. He’d then gone on to use that icy, emotionally devoid selfishness to drive him toward his personal successes. As soon as he’d been offered a scholarship in the States, Leo had known he was on the right path. He’d been so business-oriented that nothing held him back, not even the remnants of his family back home. His obsessive need to control everything took him far, and Leo knew it had caused him to become the cold-hearted man Cassie would eventually go on to meet.

  Back then, he’d seen women as worth nothing but a quick bit of fun and a feast for the eyes, which was why he’d chosen to invest in the escort business as soon as he graduated. Drugs had been his chosen profession for years by that point, so he’d simply continued on and developed his reach further and in deeper pockets. The world had been his for the taking, and he’d taken every single thing he could get.

  Leo had heard the rumors about him supposedly having an ex-girlfriend in England who’d broken his heart, but they weren’t true in the slightest. Perhaps his mother had broken it for him as a child, but he would never let himself think that much about what she’d done or how it’d affected him. The only other woman to have ever managed to both thaw and break his heart had been Cassie. The day Victor took her from him had been the worst day of his entire existence, and as he watched her sitting across from him over their meal, waiting patiently for his reply, he did what any other doting boyfriend would do. He agreed.

  “Sure, Jellybean. When do you want to go?” he replied, and he adored the sweet smile she afforded him in return. He wondered if she’d expected him to say no, but there was no way he’d ever let her down again. His own family might be disjointed and cold, but that didn’t mean he had to push hers away. The only member of the Solomon family tree he could stand to have around was his cousin, Brian, and that was only because the burly man was well connected in the city and had helped get him get set up. That, and because he had already proven himself to be one hell of a number-two. Leo wouldn’t even go as far to say he considered Brian a friend, perhaps more of an employee he regarded above all others because of blood.

  But, Cassie wanted her family in her life again, and that meant he would at least make the effort to try. He would go and be the respectable gentleman—or the fiercely loyal protector. Whichever one she needed, he’d be, and either way he silently vowed to her that he wouldn’t make a fuss.

  Cassie smiled that stunning, shy, happy smile she only ever saved for him. She was truly radiant. Beautiful. That look was what gave his life meaning. There were many things that made her happy now, and Leo knew it wasn’t all his doing, but he took pride in it. The sweet, innocent smile belonged to him—not the theater or her friends. That smile wasn’t even thanks to her independence and freedom. It was only for Leo. A gift she didn’t even know she was giving him, and that made him love it even more.

  ***

  Cassie realized without a shadow of doubt that she was madly in love with the man sitting opposite her. She’d known right from the moment Leo had come back into her life that they could get this far if they tried hard enough, and she’d gladly proven herself right. They’d fought each other and learned hard lessons along the way, but they’d gotten through so much together that she couldn’t ever imagine a world in which Leonardo Solomon no longer lay beside her at night, or kissed her good morning the following day.

  The waiter came and deposited a fresh glass of wine and a beer to their table, interrupting her train of thought, and Cassie looked around at the quaint Italian restaurant they’d found just a few weeks before. A middle-aged woman seemed to run the place, accompanied by her family and other employees, and Cassie felt right at home. She hadn’t seen or heard from her old boss, Mrs. Brown, in a long time, thanks to her being technologically challenged, and she missed her terribly. Hanna gave her updates during their web-chats, but other than that she felt completely detached from the world she’d once loved so much.

  Even Hanna had moved on with her life in a myriad of ways, and Cassie couldn’t blame her. She and Jamie had been a huge part of Cassie’s world in New York, but now they were about to have baby number two and he was running Leo’s American empire. Cassie wasn’t allowed entry into the States after being extradited, not even for a holiday, and hated that she couldn’t just jump on a flight and see her best friend and her family. Even though they’d visited not long ago, the euphoria was always short-lived once the routine returned.

  “Next week is Will’s birthday, maybe we can go down for the weekend as a surprise?” she asked, thinking how lovely it would be to see him. After all the chaos, it’d be nice going for a normal family trip, and Cassie couldn’t deny it’d been a long time since her last visit.

  Her baby brother had been the one person who’d truly stuck by her. He’d even offered her legal advice regarding her strange inheritance from Victor, and the necessary change of persona. All of it was in his limited experience, but he’d tried hard to make her transition easier, and she was eternally grateful. Will had been the one to greet her at the airport when Cassie had returned to the UK, and he’d been the one to hold her tight when the tears and depression had hit night after night in those first days back. He’d been her rock when she hadn’t wanted anything to cling to, and had pulled her back from the edge countless times. She owed her brother a debt worth far more than money or power, yet he’d never once asked her to give him a thing in return.

  She thought back to their days before Leo, before Victor, before Jonah. Growing up, Cassie had been close with all her family. Her parents had been proud of her for going off to London to follow her dreams. They’d supported her marriage with Jonah and were over the moon when they’d been offered the move to Broadway. In the same small village in rural Cornwall where she’d lived her entire childhood, everybody knew everyone else’s business, and of course that was fine when things were going well. Her mother had actually used the word “scandal” to categorize Cassie’s ordeal, and she knew she’d never forget how much distance that one word had put between them. There was so much she’d left unsaid, and at the time she hadn’t wanted to rock the boat, but Cassie wished they’d supported her better. Now that she was stronger than ever and healing more and more everyday thanks to Leo’s presence, she could see things so much clearer, and couldn’t deny her pain at having been discarded so easily. Despite their selfishness, though, they were still her parents, and there was no denying the fact they would always have a free pass no matter how hurt or upset she might be.

  “Let’s do it, love. Let’s go.” Leo broke her reverie again, and she caught the absolutely defiant look on his face. He seemed to feel the same, and was clued up on all of her issues when it came to her family. She knew Leo was ready and willing to defend her honor if it came to it, and with that solid force at her back, she was sure she could take anything anyone wanted to throw at her.

  ***

  By the end of the following day, the plans were made. Cassie booked rooms at the village hotel for them to sleep in rather than stay at her parents’ house. As much as she looked forward to seeing them, being under the same roof for three nights wasn’t her idea of fun, and she wanted to have the solace a room of their own would give them if a break were required. She’d booked two adjoining rooms, but was quick to offer Roger the choice if he’d rather not go with them.

  “You don’t have to come, Leo will be with me,” she told him, giving Roger the chance to take some vacation time while she and Leo were away. He shook his head and fixed her with a scowl.

  “Do you really think I’ll be able to relax knowing you’re there?” Cassie shrugged and wondered why not. “Your family is the one outside link people can use to find you. I want this whole trip monitored and your presence there kept as quiet as possible,” he demanded.

  His explanation startled her. Cassie ha
dn’t even considered that before. The Taylors were an obvious way by which somebody might track her down, and her mind began racing. She was quickly second-guessing her decision to go, but Roger seemed to sense her unease and grabbed her hand from across her desk. “Cassie, I’ve had eyes on that village ever since I started working for you. I would know if anyone had been there asking questions or scoping the place out. The hotel is a good idea, much better than staying with your folks, and you’ve booked it under a fake name so it’s all good. I just want you to bear in mind that maintaining your safety is my number one job, and rest assured that it’s exactly what I’m going to be doing the entire stay.”

  “Thanks, Rog. What would I do without you?” She shook off the wave of nausea that’d come over her along with the worry clenching at her gut.

  “I’m saying nothing,” he told her with a wink. “But we both know you’d be lost, heartbroken, a wreck…” Roger lay his hand over his heart and swept his non-existent hair back in a display of mock romanticism, making Cassie laugh loudly. She knew what he was doing. Roger often laid on a bit of comedy when he knew she was getting bogged down with her stresses and strains, but she still appreciated the effort, and it worked.

  ***

  The following Thursday, the three of them got settled in the car Roger had rented and headed for the motorway, ready for the long drive ahead. Cassie climbed in the back at first, wanting to sit with Leo while Roger drove, but soon had to switch to the front seat when a blast of travel sickness almost had her reaching for a bag. She’d suffered with it as a child, and had forgotten how badly she could be affected on longer journeys. Tube trains and quick cab rides had a lot to do with that forgetfulness. She’d barely driven anywhere in years, well, apart from the few outings while in Mexico, but she guessed the constant dread overtook her unsteadiness during that period of her life.

  Her travel sickness subsided, and she sat back in the chair and watched the world go by out the window. While Cassie loved the city, she realized she missed taking a drive in the countryside or going for a day at the beach, and vowed they would take the time to have more days out. Even if it meant her sitting in the front with Roger while Leo sprawled out on the backseat without her. They needed some time away from work and the chaos of the city, and she figured she could always take a tablet to ease the sickness next time.

  After a few more hours, they eventually pulled into a tiny village just outside of Newquay on the south coast of England, and then checked straight into the small hotel. Memories flooded Cassie’s mind, all of them good, and it felt wonderful being home again after having spent so many years away. She’d left at the age of eighteen to go to college and had never looked back, but she was now full of nostalgia and even regret at having been so keen to rush off and find an adventure.

  When they’d unloaded their things, Roger went into his room to do the same, using the adjoining door, which he purposely left open. Leo scooped Cassie into his arms regardless of the clear message from her bodyguard that he was still keeping an eye on them, and kissed her so hard she was sure her lips must be bruised.

  “What was that for?” she asked when he eventually pulled away, and she peered up into his dark eyes lovingly.

  “Nothing in particular,” he answered with a roguish grin, and leaned in close to whisper in her ear. “I was just thinking how much I want to tie you to this bed and make you scream until the management have to come and tell us off.” Cassie felt her cheeks burn, but his offer wasn’t an unwelcome one. She turned her head to look at the huge bed, with its chunky wooden headboard and four-poster-frame, and lifted her hand up to tug at Leo’s necktie.

  “Well then, I hope you have some more of these in that bag?” she murmured, turning back to look up at him. Leo pulled her in for another kiss, and only stopped when an insistent cough burst their private bubble.

  “I didn’t drive all this way to watch you two make out,” Roger grumbled. “Are we heading to your folks’ house straight away?” Cassie checked the time and nodded. She’d arranged for her parents to invite Will over after he’d finished work, where they’d meet them as a surprise. It was already past closing time at his law firm, so she guessed he’d either already be there or on his way, and she was excited to see her brother after so long. Cassie stepped away from her beau, after placing one last kiss on his delicious lips, and she grabbed her purse.

  They were back in the lobby in no time, and Cassie made a point not to make any eye contact with anyone in or around the hotel. She wanted this time away to be all about her family, not the small village in which everyone knew each other, and therefore knew all about her dark and sordid past. Nothing was sacred in this goldfish bowl, and she was eager to focus solely on those she loved rather than the people from her past who were looking for nothing more than the updated gossip to add to the tales they’d heard about her along the way.

  After a quick drive, the three of them pulled into a driveway outside a bungalow bigger than most townhouses in the city. The Taylors hadn’t sold up when their children had moved out; in fact they’d simply utilized the extra space as a library and study. Timothy and Penelope Taylor had both retired a few years before, but having always been busy professionals, they had never quite stopped work entirely. They each had projects in the community they focused on and small businesses they turned around for a while before moving on to the next idea, or so they’d told Cassie every time she called to check in. She didn’t doubt it for a moment. Her parents were never ones to sit around and do nothing.

  The trio of visitors had barely climbed out of the car when the front door flung open and Will came tumbling out. In his hurry to reach his sister’s side, he knocked over a large vase full of flowers on the porch, but obviously didn’t care. He scooped Cassie up into a hug and lifted her off her feet, twirling her around while the others looked on with wide smiles.

  Cassie gave Will a big kiss and stepped back once she’d been put down on her feet again. Her heart was so full, and she took in the sight of her not-so-small brother before her. He’d changed since she’d last seen him, and had bulked up too. She could feel the thick muscles beneath his shirt, and wondered if he’d started working out. His dark hair and eyes were exactly like hers, but she loved how he’d kept his innocent stare despite having grown in her absence. Cassie prayed he’d never experience the pain she had in life, and hoped that glint in his eye would never fade.

  “Will, I’d like to introduce you properly,” she told him, leading him over to where Leo stood waiting patiently by the car. Roger was out of the driver’s seat and scanning their perimeter already, seemingly giving them a minute to reacquaint themselves without his watchful gaze, and she was grateful to have a moment of their own.

  “So this is the infamous Leonardo Solomon. It’s an absolute pleasure to meet you at last,” Will said, taking the lead effortlessly in his usual calm way. He reached forward to shake his hand, and Cassie grinned as Leo reached out to take it, but then pulled him into a tight hug instead. He patted her brother’s back loudly and then pulled away after a couple of seconds, grinning from ear to ear.

  “The pleasure’s all mine. And please, call me Leo,” he told him, and Will nodded in silent acceptance. They’d been the same for years. Cassie and Will had always preferred it that way. The change hadn’t started out as an act of rebellion, at least not until their parents had shown how much it’d annoyed them, and by that point the shortened names were absolutely going to happen.

  Eventually, their mother, Penelope, came down from the doorstep and kissed Cassie on the cheek before shaking Leo’s hand in welcome.

  “Wonderful to meet you, Leonardo,” was all she had to say, clearly dismissing his preference, as always, but Leo remained cool and simply returned the kind greeting. Her father did the same, all prim and proper, and without an ounce of warmth towards her man. Cassie knew they blamed him for what’d happened to her with Victor. Penelope had outright told her so after the trial, and it was one of the main re
asons she hadn’t gone back to live with her parents and their small village when she’d returned. No one person was to blame for her hardships, except maybe Cassie herself, and while they snubbed any insinuation of her karmic considerations, her parents had also refused to believe that her misfortune could simply be bad luck or consequences. The men in her life had been to blame, and that was that, or so Penelope had informed her.

  When Leo had come back into Cassie’s world, she’d been excited to tell Will, but had dreaded telling her parents. They’d reacted exactly as she’d expected—with cold indifference masked beneath a fake smile, and lies masquerading themselves as compliments. Regardless of all that, Cassie still had said nothing to call them on their behavior. There might’ve been a different future mapped out for her once upon a time ago, but she also had to consider how she might’ve never gotten to see her family again if things with Victor had gone differently.

  She valued her freedom so much that she couldn’t bring herself to be upset with her mother’s oppressive opinions or her father’s grumpy aloofness. All that mattered was that she was away from the cartel’s clutches and had her family back in her life. Her parents evidently couldn’t understand that, but Cassie knew it wasn’t their fault. It was simply who they were. If she chose to stay away or never say the things aloud she wished she could, that was fine—as long as it was up to her.

  “So, Birthday Boy,” Cassie said, filling the silence by making a fuss of Will. “You have us for three whole days, what are we doing with it?” He seemed delighted, and Cassie loved the still gentle, boyish grin he awarded her.

  She wrapped an arm around his waist and followed him inside, bouncing on the balls of her feet with each step she took. Nothing could bring her down, not now she was here and in the arms of the boy she’d loved since the moment their mother had brought him home from hospital. He gave her a squeeze that made her heart ache, but in a good way. “I’ve missed you, Snot Face,” she told him with a grin.