see through his bullshit, he appreciates it. There’s clearly something between us, the beginning of something anyway. If I betray him and it doesn’t work…I know he’ll torture me and kill me. He said it straight to my face.”
“That was exactly what I warned you about.”
“So…I think I have a different idea.”
“What?” Landon asked. “Kill him in his sleep and take his body to Damien? You’d never succeed. And I’m sure they want him alive.”
“No.” My new idea was just as dangerous as my original plan, but it might have a better chance of success. “What if I tell Cato about my dilemma? What if I tell him my father has been kidnapped and the only way I can save him is by handing Cato over?”
My brother gave me the same look he’d been giving me our whole lives—like I was the biggest idiot on the planet. “And you think Cato will happily hand himself over to make your life easier? Maybe you’re good in bed, but no woman is that good.”
“That’s not what I meant.”
“Then what did you mean? Tell me how this idea could possibly work.”
“Cato Marino is the most powerful man in this country. You’ve told me that more than once, and I’ve seen it with my own eyes. He owns everything and everyone. What if I told him the truth and asked for his help? Who would be better to make that happen? Cato could snap his fingers and our father would be saved and Damien and Micah would be six feet under. They wouldn’t stand a chance against him.”
When Landon didn’t argue right away, it meant he was considering my words. With narrowed eyes and focused thoughts, he mulled it over. “That sounds like a dream come true. But why would he want to help you after you admit this was all a ruse? You tricked him, and he fell for it. He’s gonna be so pissed, he’ll probably rip your head off.”
“True…”
“Like, actually snap your neck. I’ve heard that’s his favorite way to kill people.”
At least it would be painless and wouldn’t make a mess. I’d look pretty in my casket.
“Cato will never forgive you for tricking him. The guy could be madly in love with you, but the second he realizes everything was a lie, he’ll rip you apart. This guy rules with fear and torture. You’re not special. He treats all his enemies exactly the same way. He’s not gonna allow you to make a fool out of him.”
I knew Cato was the killing machine Landon described him as, but I also knew there was a small layer of softness underneath his hard exterior. He did have some good in him, some understanding. “I still think I have a better chance telling him the truth than going through with this plan. It’s obvious I’m only doing it to save my father. I’m not after his money or his power. Any human being would understand that.”
Landon shook his head. “I disagree.”
I wouldn’t make my move right this second anyway, so it didn’t matter. I still had time to think about what I was going to do.
“You’ll need to make a decision soon. You’re running out of time. Damien and Micah won’t be patient much longer.”
“Well, it’s way too soon. There’s nothing I can do right now.”
“If the guy is only sleeping with you, I’d say you have some leverage.”
“But when my job ends, we’re over. I can’t stretch it out forever.”
Landon took a drink. “Look at it this way. This is the first time in the guy’s life where he’s only wanted one woman. He went from threesomes to a twosome. Not only that, but he wants it just to be the two of you. That’s called ownership. That’s called possessiveness. That’s called a man marking his territory. When a man gets to that point, he doesn’t walk away. Maybe he doesn’t realize it now, but he will eventually. So if you keep this up, you’ll eventually break through his exterior. The question is, do you have enough time for that?”
I sat in the living room with a glass of wine in hand. My laptop was on my thighs, and I was researching the artwork I wanted to put in the hallway on the second level. Cato’s house was so enormous that finding enough artwork to fill every space was difficult. After I was finished with it, it would practically be a museum itself. Anyone who had the honor of visiting his home