Chapter 10
KNIGHT
When I look at Cassia, all I see is the terror darkening her eyes.
The light brown of her irises was almost black, but after she came out of the boardroom, they were much lighter again.
Until she looked at me.
I told her I’m here for her protection, but she doesn’t seem to understand.
I hear the elevator doors shut behind Dominik and Santiago as I keep staring at Cassia.
She wipes sweat from her brow and lets out a sigh, which is out of character for her. She seems to realize her mistake and lifts her chin before she begins to walk toward the elevator.
Guarding Cassia, I’ve learned a few things about her. She puts on one hell of a brave act and comes across as a composed mafia boss, but beneath the surface, she’s scared out of her fucking mind and suffering in silence because she refuses to let anyone see her vulnerable side.
When she shoved me out of Eleni’s room and shut the door, it didn’t stop me from hearing her as she broke down.
She might fool everyone else, but not me.
Cassia presses the button for the elevator, but as the doors open, she sways to the side. Instinctively, I grab hold of her bicep to keep her standing.
She sucks in a sharp breath before snapping, “You’re hurting me.”
My fingers jump away from her arm, and it’s only then I realize I grabbed her right where she was shot.
Fuck.
“I’m sorry,” I apologize, my eyes flicking to her face to check if she’s okay. Her complexion is grayish, and I almost place my hand on her lower back but remember she was shot there as well.
We step into the elevator, and when Cassia sways again, she manages to press her hand against the side panel to brace herself.
Fuck this. I’m all for the woman making her own decisions, but this is getting ridiculous.
Turning, I scoop her up into my arms. I expect to get an earful, but instead, her head slumps against my shoulder, and I look down at her unconscious face.
The doors open on the first floor, and I exhale a sigh as I walk to the entrance. When I reach a golf cart, I stare at the open sides of the vehicle.
Yeah, that’s going to be a problem. Cassia will easily fall out.
Shrugging, I sit down behind the steering wheel and position Cassia on my lap before leaning her against my chest. I keep hold of her with my left arm while steering with my right.
I enjoy the sounds of nature as we slowly make our way toward the other side of the island, but only two minutes into the ten-minute ride, Cassia starts to stir.
I ease up on the gas, and the cart slows down to a crawl while I glance down at her face.
Her lashes lift, and for a split second, she looks drowsy, but then the sorrow and pain return, tightening her features and darkening her eyes.
Her gaze flicks around us before she realizes she’s sitting on my lap. When she darts off me, I shake my head because she shouldn’t be moving so fast. She might tear her stitches open.
She doesn’t even manage to remain standing for a minute on her own before she places her hand on the cart for support.
“Get in,” I mutter. “Before you pass out again.”
Luckily, she doesn’t argue, and I watch as she slowly moves to the passenger side. She sits down beside me and grips hold of the side panel.
Seeing that she’s struggling, I lift my arm and wrap it around her shoulders. “Just lean against me so you don’t fall out of the cart.”
Her hand presses against my ribs, but she doesn’t push away from me. Instead, she asks, “Why do you insist on helping me?”
“Because I’d hate to see you die after saving you twice.”
It’s not the only reason.
How do I explain that I can’t tear myself away from her? I’m scared the second I leave her alone someone will kill her.
I shouldn’t have left Ronnie alone. They wouldn’t have grabbed her if I was there to protect her.
The images start to flash through my mind, and I clench my jaw while tightening my grip on the steering wheel.
After blowing his brains out, I shove the fucker off my sister. She’s skinny as fuck, giving me the impression they starved her.
My eyes lock on hers, and seeing no life in her sky-blue irises, I stagger a step backward.
“Veronica,” I groan before I dart forward. I press my palm to the side of her face and lean over her. “Ronnie?”
I know she’s gone, that I’m too late, but I can’t stop myself from calling out to her.
Movement catches my eye, and as I straighten up, the fucker who just entered the room reaches for his gun. I don’t think twice as I open fire on him, and when they keep coming, I keep killing.
When the last motherfucker falls, I trudge through the blood and bodies to get to where Ronnie is lying on a filthy single bed.
Slinging the machine gun over my shoulder, I use a tattered sheet and wrap it around her body. Lifting my baby sister's lifeless body into my arms, I turn to leave when more men pour into the room.
With Ronnie in my arms, I can’t get to my gun quick enough. They’ll kill me before I manage to set her down.
One of them lets out a whistle while he looks at the dead bodies, then he asks, “You did all of this on your own?”
When I only stare at him, he slowly lifts his arms in a sign of peace. “We’ve come for one of our women who were taken.” His eyes touch on Ronnie. “Yours?”
I nod.
His features tighten, and his eyes tear up. “I’m sorry for your loss.” He shakes his head. “That’s brutal, man.”
I know.
He stares at me for a moment, then asks, “What are you going to do?”
I shake my head, unable to force a word past the pain that’s devouring me alive.
“My name is Santiago. You’re welcome to come with me. I have a safe place nearby.”
“Knight?”
The sound of Cassia’s voice drags me out of the darkness, and I shake my head lightly.
When I take in our surroundings, it’s to notice I’ve stopped the golf cart outside the hospital.
Shit, I zoned out while driving.
Turning my head, I look at Cassia and see a worried expression on her way too pale face.
“Are you okay?” she asks.
Climbing out of the cart, I nod. I walk around the front and reach the passenger side as she gets out. I bend my knees and scoop her into my arms.
“I can walk,” she argues with a weak voice.
“No, you can’t,” I mutter. “You took four bullets, in case you forgot.”
I expect her to argue more, but instead, I feel the side of her head press against my shoulder. Glancing down, it’s to see the stubborn woman has passed out again.
“You’re too proud for your own good,” I grumble under my breath.
Jasmine, the nurse, is the first to notice us, her eyes widening as she exclaims, “Is she okay?”
“Of course not.” I stalk to Cassia’s room and place her on the neat bed. When the nurse comes rushing into the room to hook Cassia up to an IV again, I leave to get a blanket from the storage room.
I grab the first one I lay eyes on, spin around, and head back to Cassia. Entering the hospital room, it’s to see the nurse getting ready to insert the IV into the inside of Cassia’s forearm. The woman only shoved up the fabric of the jacket.
“Wait,” I snap harshly.
Jasmine freezes, her eyes flying to me and fear ghosting over her features.
I pull Cassia up into a sitting position and take off the jacket before I gently lay her down again.
“Now you can put in the IV,” I mutter while I move to the foot of the bed. I pull the zippers down on her boots and take them off before setting them on the floor.
The instant Jasmine is done putting in the IV, she checks Cassia’s vitals. While she makes notes on the chart at the foot of the bed, I adjust the sheet over Cassia. When I drape the blanket over her and tuck it in at her sides, her eyes open.
Not noticing Cassia has regained consciousness, Jasmine leaves the room.
I check her forearm to make sure the IV was inserted correctly, then meet Cassia’s eyes.
She gives me a questioning look, which I ignore. I walk to the window that looks out into the hallway and glance into the room where Eleni used to lie. The bed has been made up with fresh sheets.
“Why won’t you leave?” she asks.
“I already answered you.”
I lift a hand and rub the pads of my fingers over the scruff on my jaw.
“Okay,” she murmurs. A few seconds later, she asks, “Why do you want to protect me?”
A frown forms on my forehead.
I don’t really know. There’s a weird pull that keeps me by her side, and I know I’ll regret it if I walk away and she’s killed .
Or maybe it’s because I finally have the chance to save someone.
I’ve quickly learned that Cassia is one hell of a determined woman, and I know I have to give her an answer.
Letting out a sigh, I turn around and walk to the side of the bed. I lock eyes with her and stare until her irises start to darken.
“Do you know your eyes turn dark when you’re scared?”
She frowns and glances away.
“You fool everyone else with the badass act, but I see right through it. You’re fucking terrified and in over your head.”
Her gaze snaps back to mine, anger tightening her features.
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.