Angel's Mafia (gxg) ✓

LIII | Heartbreak

"YES." THE WORD hangs in the air for a single moment, so simple, so quiet, so unassuming. Then the world explodes into a smattering of applause and cheering.

Cassian gives a shout of joy and reaches to kiss me. I avoid it and merely embrace him.

From the balcony, I see Angel disappear and I want to follow her so badly my blood aches, but I don't. I need to see this through first.

Nonno and Giacomo Genovese come over to congratulate us. They kiss both our cheeks and the Reaper looks at me with such pride that I know, inevitably, he will be disappointed.

Giacomo gives Cassian a dark, meaningful look. With an almost imperceptible shake, Cassian says no. The exchange is so quick and fleeting I wouldn't have noticed if I hadn't been paying attention.

After that, I get lost in a sea of people who come to say we'll make beautiful children or that we'll be powerful or that they're happy for us. I plaster on a stiff smile and shake their hands and nod. Yes, I am happy. Yes, I am in love. It feels so mechanical, so robotic, that Cassian even whispers in my ear, "Are you okay?"

I make a show of acting like I'm in shock, and then I improve my acting.

For the rest of the night, all I need to do is think of Angel and my smile keeps from cracking.

AS SOON AS WE GO UPSTAIRS, WE SIT down on my bed. Quickly, before I let my nerves get to me, I say, "I think we need to talk."

It's almost three in the morning. Cassian looks like he's ready to fall asleep, but as soon as he sees my face, he bolts awake.

I am on the verge of tears. "Cassian," I begin. He shakes his head, as though he can't believe it. "Cassian, listen."

He shakes his head again. "No, you―you said yes."

"I care about you," I start.

He stands up and hits the wall. It makes me startle with shock but I hiccup and continue, "I care about you a lot. You know that. But what I feel for you isn't what I . . . I care about you like a friend. Like a brother. And I don't want to hurt you, but I'm telling you now―"

"Goddamn it, Cade!" he shouts, slamming his fist on my bed.

I continue, tears streaming down my face. "Cassian, I need to tell you this because . . . because I can't be with you."

"But you smiled, the way you smiled, you were so full of joy―"

His face changes slowly as he realizes. "That smile wasn't for me, was it?" he says grimly.

"Cassian, I―"

He moves close to me, his eyes meeting mine. In this moment he is not handsome. His face is twisted in wrath. "You still love her."

"Cassian, listen, please!"

"What about the time we've spent together? Was it all just a lie? Was it all just pretend?" he sneers.

"No," I protest. "No, I care about you. I had fun when we were together, I liked being with you, I just―"

"You just what?" he says. "You just?"

"I'm sorry," I whisper, and he grabs my face, my jaw.

"You're a liar."

"No―"

"You cheated on me."

"No!"

His fingers squeeze on my face, like he is ready to snap me, but then he lets go with a sound of disgust. "Whore." And he turns away.

I swipe the tears away, suddenly furious. He has no right, not when I never lied to him or cheated on him.

But before I can say anything, he asks, "Why did you say yes?"

Softly, I answer, "I didn't want to hurt you. And in front of that crowd, I couldn't give you the explanation you deserved. The one you needed from me."

"So this is your explanation," he scoffs.

I swallow.

"Let me guess, you're forgetting the part where you're in love with that bitch." He throws a book off my desk, and it hits the wall. "Am I right? I'm right, aren't I?"

"Please, Cassian, you're not listening, I don't see you that―"

"You're in love with her!" he roars. Then in a soft, dangerous tone, he adds, "Aren't you?"

"It's not why―"

"But you are," he says.

There is no use lying. I give the faintest nod I can possibly muster, and he stalks out of the room without another word.

"Cassian!" I call out. "Wait."

He just needs to cool off, I convince myself. He needs to relax, to process. Right now, he is in such a haze of fury he can't think straight. He is so tangled in his emotion he will become violent, chaotic. I've seen him around other people, I've seen his temper. Right now, he will unleash it. I need to stop him before it's too late.

Which is exactly why I follow him.

>>>

You probably want to get to the next chapter, and I don't blame you. Good luck!

ALSO. Would you guys read a sequel on another character? Any guesses to who it is?

From the moon and back,
Sarai