Chapter 2
CASSIA
Mom places the tzatziki dip, crudités, pita, and grilled meat on the kitchen table before she orders our housekeeper, “Go get the others.”
“Yes, ma’am,” Maria quickly replies.
As I get up from the table to grab water for everyone, I remind Mom, “Remember my trip to the island the day after tomorrow. I’ll be gone for a week.”
Immediately after the alliance was formed, Dominik acquired a large island off the coast of Chile, which has since been converted into a safe haven for all its members. We all have our own homes, and there’s a half army to provide protection and a hospital should any of us need medical care. Last I heard, Dominik and his wife, Grace, were moving to the island because she’s pregnant, and they’d like to have the baby there.
Mom nods. “Just be back in time for Eleni’s birthday.”
“What about my birthday?” Eleni asks as she comes into the kitchen.
She’s seven years younger than me, and there’s a huge party being held for her twenty-first.
“I’m just telling Cassia to be back in time for your party,” Mom replies.
Eleni takes a seat at the table. “You better not miss it. I want to show off my badass sister to everyone.”
A smile tugs at my mouth as I sit down beside her. “I’ll be there.”
I wish I was as badass as my sisters think I am. Even though I’m trained in combat and how to shoot a gun, I don’t think I have it in me to kill someone. I’m the furthest thing from badass.
Kiki comes in, and as she takes a seat opposite Eleni, she steals a carrot stick and swipes it through the tzatziki before eating it.
Mom playfully slaps her shoulder. “Wait for your father.”
Eleni looks at Kiki while she asks, “Have you decided what to wear to my party?”
A mischievous expression settles on my youngest sister’s face. “I’m wearing my usual jeans and T-shirt.”
When Eleni glares at Kiki, a chuckle escapes me, but the sound quickly dies away when our father stalks into the kitchen. His mouth is turned down, and an angry expression darkens his face.
Gripping hold of a chair, he yanks it backward, making a noise as the legs scrape over the floor.
When he sits down, his eyes lock on me. “Cancel your trip.”
A light frown forms on my forehead. “Why?”
He lets out a huff and snaps his fingers at Mom, so she’ll bring him a glass of wine. She shoots him a glare before carrying out the order.
The way he disrespects Mom aggravates me to no end. Actually, he treats everyone like crap.
His eyes flick over the food on the table as he answers, “Because it’s a waste of time. There’s nothing those bastards can do for us.” A disgruntled snort follows the words that drip with disdain, then he adds, “They’re all talk and no action.” He lets out a huff. “And get back the hundred million I paid.”
Dad keeps muttering orders while I stare at him as if he’s lost his mind.
I’ve worked so hard to form an alliance with Enzo, Leo, Santiago, and Dominik. I’m going to need those men more than ever once I take over as the head of the Greek mafia because it’s a million times harder for a woman to rule in our world.
Also, Dad’s men, Michail, Savvas, and Arthur, are accustomed to doing things the old-school way, and I’ll have to replace them with people who will support my plans for the future.
I’ll definitely need the alliance going forward.
“Are you listening, Cassia?!” He slams a fist down on the table, making the plates, cutlery, and glasses rattle. Eleni startles, her eyes flicking between Dad and me, while Kiki and Mom exchange concerned looks.
Even though I’m worried and feeling anxious, I lift my chin and school my features into a serious expression. “I’m listening,” I murmur, my tone much calmer than I feel. “I disagree, though. The alliance is important, and I won’t withdraw.”
Dad’s face reddens, and his eyes narrow on me. “I’m still in charge, and you will do as you’re told.”
Mom places the glass of wine on the table near Dad, and as she takes her seat, she says, “Let’s try to enjoy the meal.”
Dad and I keep staring at each other, and I know if I back down, it will be a show of weakness. But damn, it’s much more difficult to refuse to give in to his demands than doing as I’m told.
My tone is firm as I state, “We need the alliance.”
“We don’t!” He levels me with a dark look that intimidates the hell out of me. “We need nothing from those fuckers. We have to focus all our resources and attention on organizing an attack on the bratva before they strike at us.”
I suppress the urge to shake some sense into my father, who’s dead set on starting a war with the bratva.
Stand your ground, Cassia. If you can’t win a simple argument, you have no place being the head of the Greek mafia.
“There has been no sign of the bratva since we took down Pavlov and his men during the attack at Dominik’s factory. It’s been over six months. You’re flogging a dead horse.”
“Enough!” Dad slams his fist on the table again, causing the wine glass to topple over.
Mom darts up, and muttering something under her breath, she hurries to grab some paper towels so she can wipe up the spilled wine.
Fear trickles into my chest, but I shove the emotion down and lean a little forward as I level my father with a dark look of my own.
“You wanting to attack the bratva is absolute madness. They’ll wipe us out. I’m not willing to risk our entire family and organization because you’re bloodthirsty and short-tempered, so calm the fuck down.”
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?”
I nod and suck in another calming breath.
My sisters come to give me hugs, then Eleni wraps her arm around my lower back and rests her head against my shoulder. “We’re all here for you.”
Without them, I wouldn’t survive this brutal world. I need to dig deep and somehow become more powerful than my father.
But how?