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)
Dad’s eyes narrow even more as he also leans in closer and his tone is a low rumble as he growls, “What did you just say to me?”
Even though I’m shaking in my boots, I school my expression into an icy look and lift my chin. “Calm. The fuck. Down.”
He stares at me, and for a nerve-racking moment, I’m not sure whether he’s going to slap me or listen to me.
My sisters and mom are so quiet you could hear a pin drop in the kitchen as tense seconds tick by.
Suddenly, Dad’s arm shoots out, and my body reacts instinctively. I jerk backward, and his fist narrowly misses my face. As shock vibrates through every cell in my body, I instinctively lunge forward. With my fingers wrapping around his throat, I shove him back while using my foot to swipe his chair to the side.
Dad hits the floor with a loud thud, and I hear my sisters and mom gasp.
Crouching over Dad, my breaths explode from me as I bite the words out through clenched teeth. “It’s time for you to retire before you burn everything to the ground. I want what’s best for the family and that includes you, Mpampà. Don’t make me fight you.”
Unfortunately, Dad recovers from the shock of my attack, and with one hard punch to my side, I’m sent staggering backward while inhaling sharply.
“Ilias!” Mom screams. “Stop this madness.”
Knowing there’s no way I can back down now and that my family’s future depends on who wins, I do my best to ignore the sharp pain as I brace for the fight.
My body’s trembling, and my mind races a mile a minute. I’m torn between being scared of what this will mean for our relationship and needing to prove that I’m able to fight for myself and those I care about.
God. Is this really happening?
As I face off with my father, my heart breaks as I remember being a child and sitting on his lap while watching cartoons. Memories of going sailing with him and how proud he was to introduce me as his daughter flit through my mind.
For a second, my chin quivers, and tears threaten to overwhelm me, but by the grace of God, I’m able to steel myself again.
With my eyes locked on his, I say, “I love you, Mpampà, but so help me God, I will fight you on this matter every step of the way. The bratva will annihilate us.”
He takes a threatening step closer to me, and with rage tightening his features, he growls, “If you’re not with me, you’re against me.”
Dread pours through my veins as I shake my head. “Don’t do this.”
“Ilias,” Mom whimpers, her eyes darting between us.
His furious gaze holds mine prisoner as he demands, “Are you with me or against me, Cassia?”
God. If I agree, I might as well sign a declaration of war against the bratva, but if I go against my father, I’ll be cast out.
Or killed.
My eyes flick to my sisters, who both have scared expressions on their faces. When my gaze settles on Mom, she gives me a pleading look.
My eyes return to my father, and knowing every man in the organization will remain loyal to him, I have no choice but to say, “I’m with you.”
His mouth lifts in a sneer before he backhands me across the face. As my head whips to the side, he says, “Never forget your place. You’re not in charge yet. You’ll go to the damn island and get my money back from that farce of an alliance.”
When he storms out of the kitchen, I hear my siblings' breaths speed up, and Kiki is the first to let out a sob.
Mom rushes around the table, and wrapping her arms around me, she hugs me tightly as she says, “We’ll find a way to control him. You did the right thing by agreeing with him.”
I shake my head, and my tone is heavy with worry. “He’ll get us all killed. The bratva is too powerful for us to take down.”
“Let’s get past Eleni’s birthday, and then you can deal with your father.” Mom pulls back, and lifting her hand to my face, she gently cups my cheek. It’s still stinging from when Dad backhanded me.
Yeah, but how do I deal with this mess? There’s not much I can do until Dad steps down and names me the head of the organization.
And God only knows if and when that will happen.
My body is shaking violently, and I suck in a couple of deep breaths in an attempt to calm down.
Mom gives me another hug before framing my face with both her hands. Her eyes sparkle with unshed tears as she says, “You did good, agápi mou. I’m proud of you.” Her hands move down to settle on my shoulders. “You’ll make a great leader, but for now, we have to bide our time. Okay?”