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)
Before she can lose her shit, I continue, “I’m not saying you’re not brave. You have a fuck-ton of guts. I’ll give you that.”
“I’m not scared,” she snaps.
Before I can stop myself, I place my hands on either side of her head and lean in so close I can feel her breath hitting my lips. “The bratva wants you dead. You know they won’t stop coming after you. How many more bullets do you think you can survive?”
The image of Cassia lying covered in blood on the ground flashes through my mind, and I growl, “You need me.”
I can hear the fear creeping into her voice as she argues, “I have my own people.”
“Where are they?” I straighten up and wave a hand over the empty room. “Where the fuck were they while you were running for your life? Where were they when you took a bullet in the back?”
Anger starts to bubble in my chest, and I lean over her again, capturing her eyes with mine. “I saved you at the factory. I took out an army of Russians.” Leaning even closer, my tone is low and dangerous as I say, “Your people were either dead or hiding while I was the only one fighting for you.”
She turns her face away from me, her chin trembling as her stark reality sinks in.
“No one was loyal to you, Cassia, because you’re not the head of the Greek mafia.” I watch as she swallows hard, then I add, “Yet.”
Reaching for her face, I take hold of her jaw and turn her head so she’ll look at me.
“I’ll keep you alive and kill whoever you order me to kill.” Letting go of her jaw, I pull my hand away from her face. “I’ll protect you while you fight for your rightful place as the head of the Greek mafia.”
Her eyes flick over my face, and I watch as she processes everything I just said.
Her lips part, and her words are filled with caution as she asks, “And then?”
I shrug. “And then nothing.”
“What do you want in return?”
Taking a deep breath, I sit down on the armchair before I answer, “Nothing. I’ll get to kill evil fuckers. It’s why I joined Santiago.”
“To kill?” she asks, her eyebrows lifting. “That’s all you want?”
It’s not what I want. It’s what I need.
Chapter 11
KNIGHT
When I nod, I can see Cassia doesn’t believe me.
I can’t blame her. Nothing is for free in this world.
I take in her gray complexion and mutter, “Just so we’re clear. I won’t interfere in your life unless you do something stupid like today. You shouldn’t have left the hospital, but I understand why you did it.”
“And why do you think I did it?” she asks.
“You needed to show the others how strong you are. We all got the message loud and clear, so focus on healing.”
“Jesus, that’s the most I’ve ever heard him talk,” Santiago suddenly says from the doorway.
I glance over my shoulder and don’t bother commenting.
“But he’s right,” he agrees with me. “You need to take better care of yourself, or you won’t be worth shit to any of us.”
“Fine,” Cassia mumbles, then she asks, “Are you here to make arrangements for Eleni?”
Santiago only nods. He glances between us, then asks, “Have the two of you talked things out?”
I look at Cassia and ask, “Have we?”
She takes a deep breath and lets it out slowly before answering, “Yes.”
Santiago chuckles while he locks eyes with me. “Keep her safe.”
“You know I will,” I mutter.
He pats my shoulder and glances at Cassia, “I’ll check in on you later this week.”
“Thank you,” she replies. “I appreciate everything.”
I listen as Santiago walks out of the room while Cassia lies back down with a sigh.
I keep staring at her, and it has her meeting my eyes. “How long have you known Santiago?”
“Just over two years.”
I watch as she sinks deeper into the pillows, and her voice is softer. “Are you an assassin?”
“No.”
Her eyes begin to drift shut as she asks, “What line of business are you in?”
“Killing evil motherfuckers,” I answer honestly.
“Hmm…sounds like you’re an assassin,” she murmurs sleepily before drifting off.
I wait a few minutes before I admit, “No, I’m just a big brother whose heart was ripped out, and the only relief I get from the unbearable pain of losing my sister is killing scum like the bastards who murdered her.”
As I close my eyes, Cassia whispers, “I’m so sorry for the loss you suffered.”
My eyes pop open, and it’s to see her turn her back to me.
“They killed my youngest sister right in front of me. Eleni was holding onto Kiki’s hand when a bullet hit Kiki in the back of her head.”
Fuck. And then they gunned down Eleni right in front of her as well.
I have no words of comfort to offer her when her shoulders begin to shudder. Her breaths become choppy, an indication that she’s crying.