Fiercely independent, Cassie settled into an unpredictable, sometimes dangerous life under the park bridge with Janice and Pete. Her heart marred by past betrayals, she found trusting others difficult. But, after witnessing a murder, will she sacrifice her freedoms and place her trust in three unselfish men bent on keeping her, Pete, and Janice safe? Detectives Alex, Raf, and Ryder Consopolat, brothers raised with a strong sense of family unity, strive to bring down the local mob boss, but their witnesses keep dying. Fate intervenes, providing them one final opportunity to end a tyrant’s reign. Can they keep their reluctant allies alive, or will they all be victims of The Boss?
THE setting sun gleamed off the thick, brown braid hanging halfway down the teenage girl’s back as she ambled the busy streets of Albany, New York. She paused in front of a fruit stand, knelt, and pretended to tie her shoelaces.
Cassie surveyed the area in a slow arc, checking for wary eyes, above all those of the stand owner. Good, he’s busy.
She rose, grabbed a small loaf of homemade bread, a stalk of three bananas, and took off at a dead run.
Movement caught the owner’s attention, and he swiped at the girl’s hand as she fled but missed. “Hey! Come back here!” The heavyset man chased the girl as fast as possible, but she turned into a narrow alleyway and jumped a fence. “Damned kids,” he huffed, his chest heaving as he hurried back to his stand. The street urchins would empty his cart if left alone too long.
Cassie continued to run even after she lost the man. She made several more turns behind a few buildings and through alleyways before stopping to sit on a stoop to slow her rapid breathing. A moment later, she stood and disappeared, her small frame dissolved into the bushes on the boundary of McCain Park.
As she crossed the bike path, the fading light took her breath away. Red, yellow, and orange streaks cut ribbons of color into the deep blue impending night. The teen let out a sigh, and the fog hung in the chilly autumn evening. She slipped her backpack off, stashed her loot inside, then shouldered the bag and hurried on her way.
The wind picked up, pushing her to move faster towards home. Home. For a normal person, a roof, walls, doors, and windows. But for Cassie, it meant cold ground under a dilapidated park bridge the city forgot existed. She claimed as her home, her shelter, the most protected and valuable area—the corner by the support beams.
“Hey, Pete,” she called to the big lump across from her spot. She glanced across the ten-foot span and raised a brow at the sleeping form. After three tentative steps towards Pete, he stirred, and she breathed a sigh of relief.
The old man pushed himself upward and rubbed his face. He put a hand to his back and stretched, a groan escaping while he removed the kinks. First, he shifted to all fours, preparing to stand. Second, he lifted one leg, planting his foot, and held a deep breath as muscles strained to lift until the other foot gained a solid footing under him. Finally, with the help of both hands, he pushed the rest of the way up—bone and sinew cracking and screaming in protest. Pete groaned with effort.
Cassie winced at the sounds the simple task caused, but- they needed him to stay mobile for all their sakes. She wished he would allow her help, but he had to do it by himself. She walked a few feet to her space and sighed. Damn!
Janice froze at Cassie’s sigh. She shouldn’t be in the older girl’s bed, but the best pillows and blankets called to her.
Cassie nudged the small, still body with her foot. When the lump still didn’t move, her face reddened. “Janice!” Arms crossed over her chest, her blood boiling. “Janice! Move it.” Still no response. “Damn it, get outta my spot!” She reached out a hand and yanked the covers away, her voice ear-splitting.
Janice rolled over and winced. The firelight danced off the black and blue around her eye. Bobbed, dirty-blond hair fell away from her face as defiant ocean blue eyes lifted to meet Cassie’s brown ones.
“My God! What the hell happened?” Cassie knelt and took Janice’s chin in her thumb and forefinger. “Who did this?” She turned the younger girl’s head, examining the colorful bruise.
With a cluck of her tongue, Janice pulled her chin from Cassie’s fingers. “The bitch who owns the stand on Fourth, sucker punched me. Paid her back, though.” She sneered through her yellow-toothed grin.
“When are you going to learn?” Cassie rolled her eyes and moved to their fire, equidistant between her spot and Pete’s. “You need to work on your patience. The cops will catch you one of these times. Or, you’ll end up in the hospital.” She sat a few feet from Pete and caught his eye. His expression confirmed her assessment. Damned kid.
“Pfft. Let ‘em try. I don’t care.”
“Don’t you roll your eyes at me, little girl. Don’t test me, or I’ll turn you in myself.”
Janice scurried around the fire, shrinking back. “You wouldn’t.”
“Cassie.” Pete leaned toward her and lowered his voice. His best friend would never betray them—they were family. Sometimes Cassie’s temper got the better of her. It seemed to happen more and more, a topic to discuss later.
Cassie shot him an irritated glare, inhaling deeply before blowing out her frustration from puffed cheeks. “Fine,” she muttered, then glanced at Janice. “Just be careful.” When the younger girl bobbed her head, Cassie slipped out of the backpack strap and hauled the bag into her lap.
She pulled out the fruits of her labor, lifting it in triumph. “Ta Da! Dinner is served!”
“Nice job!” Pete smiled and caught the banana Cassie tossed to him.
After flinging a banana to Janice, she broke the bread into equal chunks. She held the pieces out for Janice to choose. Once Janice picked, Cassie took one and handed the larger piece to Pete, who nibbled his banana.
Ravenous, Janice dug into the provisions. She lacked the courage to tell her friend she lost the apple in the struggle and therefore didn’t eat today. One more slight to the older, take-charge girl’s mantra: if you take a risk, ensure you receive the reward.
“Anything to drink?” Pete glanced up as he finished his supper.
With a raised brow, Cassie reached into her backpack and held up a battered thirty-two-ounce plastic bottle. “We got water or water.” When he nodded, she handed the drink to him.
“Thanks.” After a few long sips, he tossed it across the fire.
Janice drank greedily, almost draining the container.
“No! Hello?” Cassie scrambled over and pulled the bottle away, spilling the precious contents. She growled in frustration; her amber-flecked brown eyes narrowed on the girl before her. “You barely left me any!”
“Plenty left.” Janice swiped water from her chin and pointed to the two inches of remaining liquid.
“You little wench!” Cassie drained the remaining liquid, shoved the crinkled container at Janice, and yanked her up by the collar as she stood. “Now you gotta get more.”
“What? I ain’t goin’ out there! Haze and his crew deal near there! They’ll kill me.”
“Them or me? Choose.”
She tried to stop them, but Janice’s eyes filled and overflowed. The past year had been a real education, but not enough of one. She still goaded Cassie too much. A stab of self-resentment pierced her chest and made it ache. “I… I’m sorry.” She sniffed and dried her nose on a grimy sleeve.
Cassie took a steadying breath. Her hands opened, and Janice stepped back. She shook her head, her eyes landing on Janice’s pile of blankets. She walked a few steps, knelt, and rummaged through the dirty coverings. She leaned back at the smell. Damn. The kid must’ve found these in a garbage pile. Ugh. She used her thumb and first finger to set them aside.
“Must be somewhere.” She spotted Janice’s backpack. As a rule, she wouldn’t rifle through someone’s property, but tonight she made an exception. After rummaging for a moment, she found it. The bottle crinkled when she grabbed it and again when she drank. “Aah.” Cassie finished the drink with a grin and threw both empty jugs back into the bag.
Janice wiped her face with her palm and sniffed. She sat on the ground next to the warmth, head bowed. I deserved it. They pounded that lesson into her every day at home; she deserved everything they dished out. She gathered her legs to her and hugged them, rocking slightly.
Pete read Janice’s body language, noting her retreat. Years of being invisible and people-watching made him astute at reading others. Their young companion made it difficult sometimes, though. They knew little about her past, but it had to be painful.
She jumped to the defensive around others and only spoke to him and Cassie. Her first night under their bridge, her fear and distrust hung in the air as thick as fog. They had to leave food and water by the fire and retreat to bed before she would eat. After living here for three months, the dirty, scared girl trusted them enough to tell them her name.
He broke from the memories with a slight shake of the head. Five feet away, the firelight danced in Janice’s eyes, dark with regret and self-loathing.
Prior to her thoughts turning too dark, Pete spoke gently, “I ate all the food one summer before Cassie came home, not a smart idea.” He shook his greying head. “I believed she would throw me in our fire.”
“I thought about it, but lucky for me the wild blackberry bushes were in full bloom.” Reflecting on her revenge made Cassie’s grin widen. “He thought twice when he woke the next morning.” She raised an amused brow at Pete.
“Definitely.” Pete laughed; his life-worn face lit with joy.
“What’d you do?”
“You know how there are always a few berries people don’t pick in time?” When Janice acknowledged her, she continued, “I mashed them and, well, you could say someone was a little blue for a while.”
“Ewww!” Janice covered her mouth and giggled.
Pete nodded. “I couldn’t wash it off! It lasted a whole week! People kept asking if I needed help! We got extra food and clothes, though. People thought I had frostbite! One lady even offered to take me to the hospital!”
“It worked for us. We had an excellent panning week.” The giggles consumed them until they rolled on the ground. After several minutes, they quieted and gathered themselves.
Pete smiled, glad Janice cheered up. People made mistakes. That’s life. They sat in silence for a short time before his body reminded him of its limitations.
He yawned, covering it with a hand. “Goodnight.” Pete repeated his unsteady standing routine and shuffled to his bed. He tugged the blankets back, climbed in with his shoes on and covered himself.
Cassie stole a glance at Janice. They were similar in some ways and yet so different in others. She offered an olive branch. “Tomorrow, we’ll try to find you better blankets. Those stink and can’t be warm.”
“Fine.” A flicker of hope.
“For tonight,” Cassie leaned back to grab one of hers. “You can use this one. Can’t have you freezing to death.”
Janice’s face lit up. “Wow. Thanks, sis.” She stood and walked to her bed, holding the huge, fuzzy, thick covering as if it were precious cargo. The other blankets shoved to the side, she rolled herself up in her new treasure and used the others to cover her sneaker-clad feet. Perfect. She snuggled down and, a moment later, fell asleep.
With a chuckle, Cassie banked the fire, strolled to her spot, and climbed into her bed. What a difference without my favorite fuzzy. She shivered but knew her little sister needed it more. She raised her brows.
To call someone, anyone, family sounded foreign to her, but somehow these two had worked their way into her heart. Maybe I’ve gotten too soft? A memory floated before her and slipped into her subconscious as she drifted to sleep.
“But why? After everything we’ve been through together at the orphanage, why?” Cassie met the darkened emerald-green eyes of her best friend. His uncombed, short, brown hair stuck up in different directions, adding to the crazy look in his eyes.
His laugh rumbled deep and maniacal at the hurt in her gaze. “What a stupid bitch! How are you so naive, Cass? Did you really think we were friends? Need another lesson, huh?” He slapped her savagely across the face, venom laced his words. “There’s only one thing you bitches are good for.” He punched her, landing on top of her in the grass, an evil grin on his face.
Stars danced in her vision from the first blow, but her raised hands blocked the next strikes. Fight or flight instinct hit, and Cassie growled, pulled her arm back, and connected with his nose. She bucked and kicked her legs, causing him to fall a few feet from her. She scrambled to her feet and stepped back.
“Bitch! You’ll never amount to anything! You’re nothing but a fat whore! That’s why no one has adopted you! No one will ever want you!” He put the back of his hand to his broken nose to staunch the blood and glared at her as he rose.
“Why, Viho? I thought you … you believed me!” Tears pricked her eyes. She confided what the boys did to her, and now he didn’t believe her?
“I confronted Larry and Dustin and almost beat the shit out of them for hurting you. But Larry said you walked around your room naked on purpose, waiting for him to see you. You act like he raped you, but I know the truth! Dustin and two other guys told me the same story. You’re nothing but a dirty whore!”
“What?!” Cassie’s face reddened. “You know they’re a bunch of liars!” The tears poured down her cheeks unchecked, his betrayal breaking her heart into little pieces.
She took several steps back and scanned her surroundings. This is their special spot in the woods, a tiny glen confined by trees and shrubs. Where they could act naturally and share their secrets. A secluded spot a mile into the dense woods behind the orphanage. Too isolated. Her pulse quickened. She had to escape, NOW!
Viho stepped forward, reached for her, and caught her wrist. He twisted her left arm behind her back and pulled her to him, front to chest. His eyes focused on her breasts straining against him.
Cassie cried out; her breath caught in her throat as he stared at her. Now! Her mind screamed. Act now! She swung her free arm as forcibly as she could and slapped him across the head. At the same time, her knee connected with his groin. When he let go, she rubbed her hurt arm and kicked him in the jaw.
As he rolled on the ground holding his privates with one hand and his jaw with the other, she backed away. The gold flecks in her brown eyes flashed as she growled, “You will never touch me again. Ever.” Her vision blurred, she turned, pushed through the brush, and fled. She screamed when a hand grabbed her from behind.
“Cassie. It’s alright! It’s me, Pete. Shh. You’re safe.” Pete knelt beside her, urging her awake. As soon as he heard her angry mutters, he crawled to her, faster than if he walked. She lay on her side, so Pete held the top arm with little force, just enough so she didn’t injure herself as she thrashed. He kept his touch light as he scooted around her, so they faced each other.
“NOOOOOO!” She flung her body wildly in a desperate effort to pull away, her heart pounding in her chest.
“Cassandra Leigh! Open your eyes. I’m here.” Pete stilled, waiting. He wondered what triggered the nightmare. Her little fight with Janice?
Who knows my middle name? Wait, I know that voice. She opened her eyes wide, wild and searching.
Where am I? In slow motion, the world moved into focus. Fire. Their fire. She tipped her head back until she could see Pete. He wore a concerned, scared, and empathetic expression.
“You’re safe. I got you,” Pete crooned. Relief flooded him when she sat up, leaned into his open arms, and sobbed. He held on for several minutes as she started to calm. When she pulled back, he reached into a pocket and withdrew a handkerchief. He offered it to her and waited while she pulled herself together.
“Thanks,” Cassie pulled further from him, her voice low and embarrassed. She handed him the hankie, pulled her knees to her chest, wrapped her arms around them, and rested her chin.
“Want to talk about it?”
After several moments of silence, she answered with a shaky sigh, “Viho.”
Pete nodded and kept his surprise hidden, waiting for her to continue.
She pulled in a breath as she glanced towards Janice. “I’m fine.” When he gave her an incredulous look, she dropped her gaze. “Honest.” Cassie fixed her blankets, lay down, and pulled them over herself.
“Sure.” Pete moved to his knees and crawled back to his bed. Maybe tomorrow, when we’re alone, she will open up.