Total pages in book: 76
Estimated words: 73724 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 369(@200wpm)___ 295(@250wpm)___ 246(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 73724 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 369(@200wpm)___ 295(@250wpm)___ 246(@300wpm)
“I know there’s a lot to take care of, but I think you should still be in the hospital,” Santiago says while standing up.
I watch him walk around the table and lightly frown when he crouches beside my chair. His eyes are filled with compassion as he looks at me.
“What do you need done, Cassia? We’ll take care of it while you recover.”
I glance at everyone, then ask, “Shouldn’t we talk about my position in the alliance?”
Santiago straightens up again, and shoving a hand into his pocket, he frowns at me. “Why? Do you plan on withdrawing?”
I quickly shake my head. “No, but my organization took one hell of a hit. I don’t know how long it will take for me to rebuild it all.”
Everyone looks at me with confused expressions, and I begin to realize the men have never given me any reason to assume they’d want to cut ties with me.
Enzo lets out a sigh as he stands up. He buttons his jacket while muttering, “We don’t turn our back on each other when shit goes down.” He gives the other men a chin lift and walks to the door. “Go back to the hospital and heal.”
When he leaves the room, my gaze swings back to the remaining three men.
“Is that what you thought?” Dominik asks. “That we’d kick you out?”
“I don’t have much to offer the alliance right now,” I admit.
“You dragged my ass out of a burning building,” Dominik reminds me.
“Mine too,” Santiago adds.
“Now it’s our turn to help you,” Leo says as he climbs to his feet. “I’ve sent word out to any survivors in your organization. My men are on the ground and helping them find their way to Chile.”
Oh my God.
For a split second, my chin trembles, but I fight to keep my composure. “Thank you, Leo.”
“You would do the same for me,” he says before heading to the door. “Let me know when you’ve fully recovered so we can plan how to proceed.”
“I will.”
When I’m alone with Santiago and Dominik, Santiago takes the seat beside me and scoots closer.
He places his hand on my shoulder. “You’ve suffered one hell of a blow, Cassia. We’re all here to help where we can. What do you need?”
“I need to have Eleni transported to Athens so she can be buried there,” I say while my throat strains. My heart shatters again as I ask, “Did they really wipe out my entire family? No one survived?”
Santiago gives me a compassionate look that makes it so much harder for me not to cry. “Your uncle and aunt were hit at the same time as you. They also attacked three of your warehouses. None of your family survived. I’m sorry, Cassia.”
Jesus.
“And my mother’s sister?”
He tilts his head. “You have another aunt?”
I nod quickly. “Marina Doukas. She lives in New Zealand.”
Santiago glances at Dominik, who says, “I’ll have someone check on her as soon as possible.”
My eyes widen again. “Oh my God. If you didn’t know about her, that might mean the bratva also doesn’t know of her.”
“With a little luck,” Santiago mutters.
“If she’s alive, please bring her to the island,” I request.
“I’ll send Evinka to get her.”
I give Dominik a grateful smile. “Thank you.”
“Anything else?” Santiago asks.
I think for a moment, then say, “No, just help with getting Eleni to Athens.”
“I’ll take care of it for you. You need to go back to the hospital.”
Nodding, I climb to my feet and take a moment to look at the men. “I appreciate the help.”
“Don’t worry. One day you can drag my ass out of a burning building again,” Santiago chuckles.
We walk to the door, and as we leave the room, Knight pushes away from the wall he’s leaning against.
“There is another problem,” I say as I come to a stop. Gesturing at Knight, I ask Santiago, “Can you tell him to stop following me.”
Santiago looks at Knight and asks, “Do we have a problem?”
Knight shakes his head. “Just keeping her safe.”
“I don’t need protection on the island, and soon, I’ll meet up with my own people,” I mention.
“They didn’t keep you safe in Greece,” Knight grumbles. “You almost died.”
“I don’t really have a say in the matter,” Santiago informs me.
My eyes snap to his face. “Doesn’t he work for you?”
Santiago shrugs. “No. He’s more like a business partner slash friend. I can vouch for him, though. He’s really good at what he does.” I watch as he starts to walk away from Knight and me. “Take a moment to talk things out, then get your ass back to the hospital.”
Dominik comes out of the office, and busy on the call, he jogs to catch the elevator Santiago is climbing into.
Just great.
I lift my arm and use the back of my hand to wipe the beads of sweat from my forehead while letting out a sigh.