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 cross my arms over my chest. “I’m listening.”
“I need a second-in-charge. I thought about Savvas, but he’s old school, and there’s a lot I want to change.”
“You want me to be your right-hand man?” I ask.
“Yes.”
I didn’t see that coming.
Cassia’s offer tells me how much she really trusts me and that she’s with me for the long haul.
“How will your people feel about that? I’m not Greek,” I state the obvious.
“I don’t care that you’re not Greek, and they have no say in who I choose. Just like they have no say in who I’ll marry one day.”
I stare at her for a moment, then ask, “Will you take advice from me without it turning into a fight?”
“Yes, but we’re going to argue at some point. It’s inevitable, but what happens at work stays at work. I don’t want it mixing with my home life. I’ve had enough of that with my father.”
I think for a moment, and coming up with an idea to make this really work in my favor, I demand, “On one condition. You have to promise yourself to me right now. I want to hear the words.”
Cassia stares at me as she thinks about my demand, then climbing to her feet, she comes to stand in front of me and lifts her chin. “I, Cassia Dimitrou, promise myself to you, Lincoln Knight. I will marry no other but you.” Then, she makes a demand of her own. “But the marriage has to take place as soon as possible. It will make me appear stronger to everyone if I’m married. The men in my world tend to think they can fuck with a woman if she’s single.”
I’ll marry her right now.
I nod. “I agree. The last thing I need is some fucking bastard sniffing around you.”
Her lips curve up as she wraps her arms around my neck. I take hold of her hips and tug her closer.
“So, do you accept my offer?” she asks.
I nod. “Definitely.”
When I lean down to kiss her, she pulls back. “One more thing.”
“What?”
“When I introduce you at a meeting, I’ll refer to you as my second-in-charge and never as my husband. It will strictly be business.”
“Got it.”
When I lean down again, she pulls even farther back. “Oh. Another thing.”
I just stare at her.
“Will you take my last name?” Before I can ask why, she explains, “My heir has to be a Dimitrou.”
“Everyone knows me as Knight.” I think for a moment, then ask, “How about a double-barrel last name?”
“Lincoln Knight-Dimitrou?”
“Just for me. We can give the children your last name,” I add.
“You’ll be okay with that?” she asks.
“Yes. For you, I’ll be okay with anything.”
She smiles again, and this time, I take hold of her jaw to keep her in place while I press a hard kiss to her mouth.
The phone I got for her starts to ring, and I let her go so she can take the call.
She digs the device out of her handbag, then answers, “Cassia speaking.” Her smile grows wider as she listens. “Aunt Marina! I was going to call you to give you my new number. I’m glad Santiago gave it to you.” She listens again, then asks, “Have you settled in okay?” She listens to whatever her aunt says before replying, “Okay. I’ll be careful.”
When she hangs up, I ask, “Is Marina going to stay on the island indefinitely?”
Cassia shakes her head. “I thought about having her stay with me, but I’ll let her return to New Zealand at some point.”
“Why did you change your mind?”
After putting the phone away, she turns to look at me. “Because I now have you, and my aunt was never part of this world. She might not be married or have any children, but her life is in New Zealand. I can’t just expect her to pick up her entire life and move to Greece.”
I nod, and glancing around the suite, I ask, “What’s next on the agenda?”
“My first order to you.” Her features turn deadly serious. “Get me Rodion Nikitin’s phone number.”
I frown slightly. “You’re going to call the head of the bratva? Wouldn’t it be better to plan an attack instead?”
“It’s another thing I’ve been thinking about.” She shakes her head. “That’s what my father wanted to do. He kept making threats about attacking the bratva.” She shakes her head. “He only made threats, and the bratva wiped out half my people in a single coordinated attack. They’re impossibly strong. Can you imagine what they would do to my organization if I actually decided to go to war? Blood would flow down the streets. I might have the money for a war, but they have the manpower.” Again, she shakes her head before going quiet and thinking about whatever she’s planning. “Like I said, I plan to do things differently. I’m going to make them a deal they can’t refuse.”