Chapter 15
KNIGHT
I check the room I’ll be using, and finding my duffle bag at the foot of the bed, I zip it open and dig between the three machine guns, a Beretta, and a Glock for a fresh shirt and cargo pants.
I’ve been living out of this bag since I started searching for Ronnie and have never bothered to set down roots.
There’s been no reason for me to have a home.
I zip the bag closed and walk to the ensuite bathroom. I drop the clean clothes on the counter before pulling the Heckler & Koch handgun from where it’s tucked into the waistband at the back of my pants.
Out of habit, I release the magazine and check that it’s loaded before slamming it back into place. I set the weapon down on the counter, then crouch to remove the K-Bar knife from where it’s tucked into my right boot.
I reach up and drop the blade beside the gun before focusing on taking off my boots.
As I undress, my thoughts turn to Cassia. It’s so fucking sad that she’s not able to mourn her family. All the heartbreak is just being bottled up inside her, and it will either harden or break her.
I don’t want her to harden like I did.
When Cassia’s working, she can be the badass queen she needs to be, but when we’re home, I’ll offer her all the comfort she needs. Hopefully, it will help her take the time to grieve.
I switch on the faucets, and as soon as the water warms up, I step beneath the spray. I don’t waste time as I wash myself, and minutes later, I step out of the shower and grab a towel.
After drying myself, I quickly put on a clean shirt and cargo pants. Just as I’ve stepped into my boots, I hear voices, and it has me grabbing my weapons.
I race out through the bedroom and burst into the hallway.
Cassia’s aunt shrieks with fright, and the man dressed in the island’s uniform freezes, his eyes widening as he stares at me.
“You’ll give me a heart attack,” the aunt chuckles, breathless from the fright.
“Sorry, ma’am,” I mutter.
“Call me Marina,” she offers.
I nod, then give her my name, “Lincoln Knight.”
“It’s nice to officially meet you, Lincoln,” she says. Her eyes, the same brown as Cassia’s, search my face. “Let me show the kind man where to place my luggage, then I’ll make us some tea.”
Even though I don’t drink tea, I nod.
While Marina shows the staff member to her room, I walk to Cassia’s bedroom. I stop near the closets and hear the water running in the shower.
From here on out, I’ll wait until she’s done before I shower so she’s not vulnerable while she’s naked.
The thought of Cassia naked has me thinking of the incident in the hospital. The image of her sexy ass, smooth olive skin, and breasts has me hardening, but then I hear movement and Marina saying, “Thank you so much.”
I instantly lose my hard-on, and take a moment to tuck the knife into the side of my boot and the gun into the waistband of my pants.
Slowly I walk closer to the door and watch as Marina escorts the staff member to the front door.
“Have a great day, Jorge,” she says, her tone friendly. When she heads toward the kitchen, she notices me, and her smile widens. “Don’t just stand there, Lincoln. Come, let’s have some tea before I die of thirst.”
I walk to the kitchen, and while I watch her prepare the tea, I start to feel awkward.
Marina looks like she’s in her mid-fifties, and she’s embracing the gray streaks in her hair. There are laugh lines on her face, telling me she smiles easily.
Cassia must’ve gotten her beauty from her mother’s side of the family because it sure wasn’t from Ilias.
“Tell me about yourself,” Marina suddenly says.
“Ma’am?” the word pops from me, a hint of nervousness in my voice, which is something I’m not used to.
“Marina,” she corrects me. She glances over her shoulder, then asks, “How did you meet my niece?”
“That’s a long story for another day,” Cassia suddenly says as she comes up behind me.
Thank fuck. I’ve been so long in the company of criminals that I’ve forgotten how to interact with normal people. Especially ones like Cassia’s friendly but curious aunt.
“Do you want some tea?” Marina asks Cassia.
“Coffee,” she replies, and noticing Marina is making tea for me, she adds, “Lincoln prefers coffee.”
Hearing them use my first name makes me feel…weird.
The last time I felt something resembling emotion creeping into my chest was when I had the last video call with Ronnie before she was taken. She was complaining about her workload, and I told her to suck it up.
The image of Ronnie rolling her eyes at me pops into my mind, but it’s followed closely by her body lying on the filthy bed.
I take a step backward and shake my head to rid myself of the haunting memory before it can turn into a full-blown flashback.
“Where are you from, Lincoln?” Marina asks, drawing my attention back to her, for which I’m grateful.
“Seattle,” I answer before thinking to add, “America.”
A smile tugs at her mouth as she hands me a steaming cup of coffee. “Do you have family there?”
“No.”
“Enough about Lincoln,” Cassia says before taking a sip of her coffee.
“Oh, hush. I’m just getting to know the man.” Marina walks to the living room and takes a seat on the couch.
Cassia gives me an apologetic look and whispers, “Make up an excuse and leave.”
“I’m not leaving you,” I mutter before heading to the living room while bracing for more questions from Marina.
As I take a seat on the other couch, she asks, “How old are you?”
From the corner of my eye, I notice Cassia’s head tilt as if she’s interested in hearing my answer.
“Thirty-seven.”
“Really? I wouldn’t have guessed,” Marina comments. “You look younger.” She takes a sip before shooting another question at me, “How did you get into the bodyguard business?”
I can see Cassia wants to jump in and save me from answering, but I reply, “I used to be a Navy Seal, so protecting people comes naturally to me.”
Locking eyes with Cassia, who seems to be nervous because her aunt is grilling me, I say, “Don’t worry. I have nothing to hide.”
“You sure?” she asks.
I nod, and when Marina gives us a questioning look, I explain, “I had some things happen in my past that’s left me with PTSD. Cassia is trying to avoid something triggering a flashback.”
“Oh,” Marina gasps. “I’m so sorry. I’ll stop prying.”
Even though it feels unnatural, I force a smile to my mouth to set Marina at ease. “Don’t worry about it.”
Cassia climbs to her feet. “I’m going to get to work.”
I stand up while saying, “Thank you for the coffee.”
“You’re welcome.”
Marina remains sitting on the couch, watching as Cassia and I walk to the front door. “Take good care of my niece.”
“I will, ma’am,” I assure her before stepping outside and pulling the door shut behind us.
Glancing at Cassia, I’m met with an apologetic smile. “Sorry about that.”
“It’s okay.” As we start to walk to the main building, I ask, “Is your aunt involved in the mafia?”
Cassia shakes her head. “Not at all.” She looks up at me. “So don’t talk about the violence around her.”
“Got it.”
When we enter the building, her arm brushes against mine, and an unexpected burst of tingles spreads through my body.
I clear my throat as I press the button to call the elevator, then let my eyes drift over Cassia. She’s wearing a cream-colored dress and high heels, and her hair is styled in an intricate braid.
It looks like she’s ready to go on a date rather than work.
The doors open, and as she steps forward, the silk fabric swishes around her legs.
The first time I saw her, she wore a white dress with a slit that exposed most of her leg when she sat down. It was at the initial meeting the alliance members had.
The second time, she was dressed in black combat gear.
I can remember every outfit she’s worn since I first laid eyes on her, and it makes my worry grow.
I can’t fall for her.
Jesus, besides my ability to protect her, I have nothing to offer her.
I’m in no state to get involved with a woman.
This is only a temporary arrangement.
One excuse after another pops into my mind as we ride up to the third floor, where there are offices and a team of staff who keep track of everything happening in the underbelly of crime.
The doors open, and when Cassia steps out first, my eyes drift down her back only to stop on her ass.
Christ, Knight! Get your shit together.
Clearing my throat, I glance around us and stay slightly behind her.
We walk into an area where the walls are covered in monitors showing a variety of information.
The manager quickly hurries toward Cassia. “It’s so good to see you back on your feet, Miss Dimitrou. I heard about your loss. My condolences.”
“Thank you.” Cassia lifts her chin. “I’ve been told survivors from my organization were informed to gather in Chile. Can you tell me where?”
“Of course.”
We follow him to a desk and watch as he types something into the system before saying, “They’re in a safe house near Puerto Aguirre.”
“Give me the address,” she orders. After the manager hands her a note with the details on it, she asks, “Can you arrange a yacht for me?”
“Yes. What time would you like to depart?”
“In thirty minutes.”
“I’ll make sure the yacht is ready for you.”
“Thank you.” She gives him a professional smile, then turns around and walks back toward the elevators.
When she presses the button for the top floor, I ask, “Are you meeting with the other members?”
“Yes. I sent them all a message after getting out of the shower.”
Concerned about her health, I ask, “Are you good to travel?”
“Yes.”
“Just don’t overdo it.”
Her eyes flick to me. “I took the extra time you insisted on and stayed in the hospital. I need to get to work, or I’ll lose everything. Don’t get in my way.”
I nod even though I know it’s going to be difficult standing still on the sidelines and not jumping in to help her.