Sincerely, Yours

Chapter 6

Kassandra cleaned the blood off German's busted lip. "Are you sure you're okay?" She asked.

"It's just a tiny cut. Nothing to worry about. I deserved it." He said, grabbing her face and kissing her.

"Robert didn't have to hit you."

"If I had a sister and she was in the same situation as you, I would do the same thing to the guy, probably even worse. He held back some of his anger." He sat her down on the bed and kneeled in front of her. "Why don't you tell me why you really dropped out of school."

"I didn't have any friends. The classes were really hard and the professors were of no help. And specially because I don't think it's fair that mom and Robert have to kill themselves working to send me away. I know they want the best for me, but I want to help them for once."

"And what was your plan? Come to town and work at the diner with them?"

"If I had to, yes. Mom is getting older, she shouldn't be working double shifts anymore. She shouldn't be on her feet all day."

"You are going to go back to school. Not right now, but when things settle down a bit, okay? I can help your mom and Robert. I can even put them up in a nicer house."

"You would do that?"

"Of course I would."

A knock on the door interrupted them. "Mr. Rios." Mariano called from the other side.

"Yes, Mariano. What is it?" German asked as he opened the door.

"Carlo Mendoza is at the club asking for you. He says he needs to see you now, both of you." He said pointing at Kassandra.

German looked at Kassandra worried. "Go get the car ready, while we get dressed." He told Mariano that left.

"What does he want?" Kassandra asked, scared.

"Only one way to find out." He went to his closet and took out a suit, Kassandra looked through her suitcase for something to wear. "Nothing provocative, please, Kass." After he got dressed he looked at her, dressed in white dress pants and a black long sleeve blouse. "Perfect." He went to his chest drawer and pulled out a gun, placing it in the back of his pants.

"Are you expecting that type of trouble?"

"Always have to be prepared. Let's go." He said, grabbing her hand and leaving the room.

When they arrived at the club, it wasn't as packed as the previous nights, which German was glad for. Mariano opened the car door for them. German got out first and helped Kassandra out. "What's the plan?" Mariano asked.

"Kass, you are to stay by my side at all times. And Mariano, you stay by her side. If by any chance we get separated, you go with her, understand?"

"Yes, sir."

"Kass, do you understand?"

"Yes, German."

As they entered the club, everyone stared at her. They made their way to the VIP area. The guy at the door nodded at German and let him in. Inside the VIP room were the same men she saw the night before, the ones that held her down. They all looked down as they walked in, except Carlo.

"So, here we are, Carlo. What do you want?" German asked, taking a seat and pulling Kassandra to his lap.

"This thing confuses me, German." Carlo said, pointing at them.

"What's confusing you, Carlo? Kass, like I told you last night, is mine, not for you or any of your men. You have your pick of women that would willingly sleep with you. You picked the wrong one at the club, then you were forcing yourself on her."

"She was by herself the whole night. She didn't have any men with her, protecting her. Are you sure she's yours?"

"Yes, Carlo."

"Something ain't right here. We had a deal, and it didn't include the lovely lady."

"I never agreed to such a deal, Carlo. And you know it. That was my father's doing. I'm in charge now, so things change."

"It doesn't work like that, German, and you know it. You either agree to the deal or we go to war."

German was quiet for a moment. He looked at Kassandra and took a deep breath. "Then I guess we will be going to war."

"You don't know who you're dealing with, German. I will destroy you and everything your father has worked for, it will all be mine. Including her." He said pointing to Kassandra.

"Mariano, take her outside." German said standing up and pushing Kassandra towards Mariano.

"German, what are you doing?" Kassandra asked as Mariano held her arm and started pulling her towards the door.

"For once, do what you're told!" German yelled without looking at her.

Mariano took her outside and they went to the bar. "What is the deal Carlo was talking about?" Kassandra asked Mariano.

"I can't talk about it, miss."

She ordered a drink and waited for German for what seemed hours. When he finally came outside, he took the drink out of Kassandra's hands and put it down in the bar. He grabbed her hand and pulled her outside the club. "Come on, we are going home."

On the way to the house, he was quiet. They arrived at the house and climbed the stairs to their room. "German, is something wrong?" Kassandra asked.

"Nothing for you to worry about. It's just business."

"But I do worry. Specially what Carlo said, worries me."

"Kass, I would never let anything happen to you, okay? But he was right about us going to war. It's going to be dangerous for you to leave the house now. I'm sorry."

"What was the deal he was talking about?"

"Something he and my father agreed to. I never agreed so it doesn't apply to me."

"What was it?"

"I'm not going to discuss it with you, okay? The less you know about my business, the better. Are we clear?"

"Yes, we are."

"It's been a long day, let's get some rest." He said, kissing her forehead.