Chapter 7
CASSIA
Prying my eyes open, I feel completely disorientated.
It’s silent around me, but somewhere outside, I hear birds chirping.
My vision focuses on a window that looks outside, and beyond the glass is a view of lush greenery and trees.
A frown starts to form on my forehead as my eyes flick to the machines next to the bed. I become aware of sweat making the fabric of whatever I’m wearing stick to my skin.
God, why is it so hot in here?
I glance down and notice the wooly blanket covering me. Lifting my hand, my entire body aches and a soft groan escapes me as I take hold of the blanket. Slowly pulling it off, it drops to the floor, taking the white sheet along with it.
I’m hit with cool air as my arm drops over my stomach, the needle of the IV tugging at the skin of the back of my hand. I notice someone dressed me in a white shirt and pants. It looks like loungewear.
Eleni!
My eyes flick to my right only to stop on the armchair where Knight is sitting, his gaze locked on me with laser focus. There are harsh lines around his eyes and mouth, the dangerous expression on his face making a chill creep over my body.
The first time I saw him, I thought he was good-looking, in a badass kind of way, but now, as I stare at the man who’s saved my life twice, all I see is danger lurking in his dark green eyes. He looks at me with a murderous expression that makes me think he’s planning to kill me.
He must be over six foot, and every inch of him is rock solid.
My tongue darts out to wet my lips before I ask, “My sister?”
He tips his head toward the window that looks out into the hallway, but all I can see from where I’m lying is a wall and part of the ceiling.
Frustration slithers into my chest, and needing to check on Eleni, I start to struggle into a sitting position.
Knight tilts his head, his eyes narrowing on me, making another chill ripple over my clammy skin.
When I push my legs over the side of the bed, there’s a throbbing in my thigh that radiates up my hips and into my lower back.
Knight shakes his head but says nothing as I gingerly climb onto my feet. With one hand braced on the bed, I take hold of the IV stand and use it as a crutch as I slowly make my way to the door.
My head starts to spin, and before I can make it to the hallway, a nurse appears.
Her eyes widen as they lock on my face. “You’re too pale! You should get back into bed until you’re a little stronger.”
“Leave her,” Knight’s voice rumbles from right behind me.
The nurse’s eyes flit between Knight and me, then she mutters, “Just don’t overdo it.”
I nod and continue to shuffle out of the room. When I’m able to peer through the other window, I see Eleni lying on a bed where she’s hooked up to all kinds of medical equipment.
“Jesus,” I whisper, my eyes tearing up at the sight of my unconscious sister.
My head spins again, but I push through until I make it into Eleni’s room.
Standing beside her bed, I hear movement, and the next second, something presses against the back of my legs and Knight orders in a gruff tone, “Sit.”
I lower myself onto the armchair while glancing up at him. “Thank you.”
The man just nods and crosses his arms over his broad chest, which makes his muscled biceps strain against the fabric of the brown long-sleeved shirt he’s wearing.
I turn my gaze to Eleni, and reaching for her, I gently brush the tips of my fingers over her hair.
“I’m here,” I murmur softly, my emotions threatening to spiral into a world of chaos.
Knowing I have to be strong and look like the head of the Greek mafia, keeps me from bursting out in tears.
Conscious of Knight standing slightly behind me, my voice is strained as I say, “Thanks for everything, but you can leave.”
“No.”
My head turns, and I glance up at him again. “I appreciate all you’ve done, but we’re okay now. You don’t have to stay here.”
An impatient look flickers over his face, and confusion fills me as I stare at the man who doesn’t look like he’s going to leave.
“If Santiago ordered you to guard us, it’s not necessary on the island,” I tell him.
“Santiago doesn’t order me to do anything,” he mutters, the deep and gruff sound of his voice making goosebumps spread over my arms.
“Oh.” I glance away from him, unable to hold his stare for longer than a few seconds. “It’s really okay for you to leave. I’d like to be alone with my sister.”
So I don’t break down in front of you.
“Pretend I’m not here.”
I let out a huff and meet his eyes again. “That’s a little hard to do with you right behind me. Can you at least wait out in the hallway?”
He thinks about it for a second as he glances at the open door. With a nod, he stalks out.
Shit, that man is way too intense and needs to relax.
I turn my attention back to my sister, and as I stare at her, one after the other, destructive emotions pour into my chest.
I’m hit with a sense of failure because Eleni got hurt, then utter devastation rips through me when the memories hit me hard.
Kiki being shot in the head.
Dad being killed at the foot of the stairs.
Having no idea what happened to Mom.
The screams and gunshots.
The panic and terror of thinking the next bullet will be the one to end my life.
The blood pooling beneath Eleni’s head and also trickling from her nose.
My eyes dart over my sister’s face, and I place my hand against the side of her head as I lean closer. Needing to know how she’s doing, I glance over my shoulder to where Knight is leaning back against a wall in the hallway with arms crossed over his chest.
“Did the doctor say anything about Eleni?” I ask him.
He pushes away from the wall and comes to stand in the doorway. “Besides being shot and the bullet hitting her left lung, she cracked her skull, and there was swelling on her brain. They took her out of the induced coma at the same time as you.”
His tone is brisk, as if he’s reporting official information, and it agitates me.
“Can you get the doctor for me?” I ask while looking at Eleni again.
“Cassia wants to see Dr. Anthony,” he calls out, making my eyes dart back to where he’s still standing in the doorway.
The nurse comes hurrying down the hallway, and she has to wait a few seconds before Knight steps to the side so she can pass.
“Hi,” I say, my attention split between the woman and Knight. “I would like to know how my sister is doing.”
“The swelling on her brain is being monitored. We’ll only know more once she wakes up.”
“How long will that take?”
“We can’t say for sure,” the nurse replies.
I stare at Eleni, and my voice quivers as I ask, “But she’ll wake up, right? She’ll be fine?”
The nurse places her hand on my shoulder. “It’s better if you talk with Dr. Anthony. He’s on his way.”
Worry coils around my heart as I continue to look at Eleni.
“You should get back to bed,” the nurse mentions. “Too much strain on your body might slow the healing process.”
I shake my head. “I’ll be fine here.”
There’s a pause in conversation, then she says, “I’m at the nurses’ station if you need me.”
I nod, my eyes glued to my sister.
For a while, there are only the sounds coming from the medical equipment.
Suddenly, a wave of shock hits me so hard I suck in a sharp breath, and physical pain radiates through my body.
Kiki, Mom, Dad, Uncle George, Aunt Vasaliki… the guards.
My voice is thick with unshed tears as I ask, “How long has it been?”
“Nine days.” Knight clears his throat. “We only got you out of Greece after you were stable enough to travel.”
My tone is hoarse as I ask the dreaded question, “The rest of my family?”
“All dead. Santiago and Dominik made arrangements for everyone to be buried in Athens.”
Oh God.
The machines start to make distressing alarms, and it has my heart stopping in my chest.
The nurse comes running back into the room, and she shoves the chair Knight placed by the bed away before silencing the alarms.
In absolute horror, I watch as she starts to do chest compressions on Eleni.
NoNoNoNoNo!
I feel Knight taking hold of my arm, and his body presses against my side while his other arm wraps around my shoulders.
I barely breathe as I watch the nurse do everything she can to help Eleni.
The next second, Dr. Anthony, who I met on a previous occasion, comes running into the room. I watch them fight to save my sister, and I keep praying and holding out hope that she’ll pull through.
But then Dr. Anthony shakes his head while looking at me and saying, “I’m sorry.”
“No!” I cry as I pull away from Knight. “What happened?”
“She had a cardiac event because of the swelling in her brain,” the nurse explains.
The doctor comes toward me, and it has me taking a step backward and bumping into Knight.
“Her injuries were just too much for her body to handle,” the doctor says, giving me a sympathetic look. “I’m sorry, Miss Dimitrou.”
With my heart obliterated in my chest, I can only whisper, “Leave.”
The doctor and nurse switch off the machines before walking out of the room.
“You too,” I grind the words out between clenched teeth to Knight. “Shut the door behind you on your way out.”
When he doesn’t do as I ask, a chaotic mess of emotions pours through me like a destructive force. Not caring about the pain, I swing around and start shoving him until he’s out of the room. The IV is ripped out of my hand, but I couldn’t care less.
I slam the door shut and quickly close the blinds while my body trembles severely, then sinking down to the floor, a silent cry rips from me.
I’ve lost everyone.
I cover my mouth with my hand to muffle the sobs as they burst from me.
What do I do?
How do I go on without my family?
I somehow manage to pull myself up off the floor, and when I slump down in the armchair, I take hold of Eleni’s limp hand, which still has a hint of warmth. Resting my head on her thigh, my shoulders shake as the sobs keep coming until it feels like I might hyperventilate.
God, I’m all alone.
I can only trust the alliance members to a certain point, and they’ll be expecting me to recover quickly and put my organization back together.
Otherwise, I won’t be able to contribute much to the alliance.
Jesus.
Panic pours through my veins while my sorrow keeps hitting me in relentless waves.
And the bratva will probably keep coming after me until I’m dead.
An audible sob bursts from me, and I quickly cover my mouth and press my face against Eleni’s leg to smother the sounds.
It feels like my heart is being ripped out of my chest, and the empty space is being filled with unbearable grief as I cry for everyone I’ve lost.
Devastated, the emotions keep growing and spiraling out of control. I can’t focus on anything but the loss I’ve suffered.
My breathing keeps speeding up, and a wave of dizziness hits.
I start passing out, and I can feel myself drifting in and out of consciousness, and I’m finding it impossible to pull myself together.
An arm wraps around my back while another moves in beneath my legs. It feels like I’m floating, and when I pry my eyes open, I see a brown shirt before everything goes black once more.
When I wake again, I’m lying on my bed. I’m too drowsy to open my eyes while someone places a blanket over me. I think it’s Knight.
A cool palm settles over my forehead.
“Sleep,” Knight’s rough voice rumbles softly. “I won’t leave your side.”
I don’t know why he’s here or why he won’t leave, but knowing he’s watching over me, I fall into a dreamless sleep.