Chapter 19
CASSIA
As soon as we enter the living room that has one couch and a variety of other chairs, Knight orders, “Keep your weapon trained on them. I have to search through the house.”
I lift my machine gun and nod.
The second Knight leaves the living room, Michail asks, “Who is that man?”
“My bodyguard.”
The frown on Michail’s face deepens. “Where did you meet him?”
“Through the alliance,” I reply.
I glance at everyone in the room, seeing Savvas’ daughters, Ophelia and Lydia, are also here.
There’s a man and woman I’ve never met, but before I can ask her who they are, Michail’s expression darkens even more, and he snaps, “So you’re listening to a man you met recently and treating us, the people you’ve known all your life, like the enemy?”
I narrow my eyes at my father’s right-hand man. “Knight saved my life, and any of you could be responsible for the attack.”
“That’s absurd,” Savvas gasps.
“You don’t think it’s a little too convenient that we’re suddenly attacked, and this man you hardly know shows up to save you?” Michail asks.
Slowly I tilt my head as I frown at Michail. “Convenient?” Anger pours hot into my chest. “Is that what you call having my entire family slaughtered and taking four bullets?” My tone drops low until my words sound like a threat. “None of you were anywhere to be found, so I called on my alliance. They were there within the hour to have my back while you all scurried into a hiding place.”
In the midst of my anger, I don’t realize I’ve lowered my weapon.
Michail stalks closer to me, rage cutting deep lines into his face. “We were all attacked!” he practically spits at me. “Because your father kept fucking taunting the bratva and decided to make you, a woman, the next in line.”
Chills spread over my body, and I become aware of the fact that Knight hasn’t returned yet.
How long has it been since he started searching the house?
Should I call out to him?
I raise my weapon again and order, “Back up, Michail.”
He remains standing close to me, his hands opening and closing into fists.
“You come in here and accuse us of betraying you,” Michail growls while taking another step closer to me. “Who’s to say you’re not the one who betrayed us? Everyone knows you were fighting with Ilias. You didn’t like the way we ran the organization and wanted to change things.”
As I stare at the man who’s been a constant throughout my life, the sense of betrayal that shudders through me fractures everything I ever knew.
My voice is a mere whisper as I ask, “Was it you, Michail?”
Disappointment fills his eyes, and he shakes his head at me. “That kind of thinking will get people killed, Cassia. The organization will turn its back on you if you choose to treat us like the enemy.”
I stare at Michail, thinking how much my family loved him.
I loved him.
My anger turns into rage as I shout, “Was it you?”
He lifts his chin and moves another step closer. The next second, his arm darts out, and he grabs hold of the barrel of my machine gun in an attempt to disarm me.
My lips part to tell him to stop, but the words turn into a gasp when a shot rings through the air, and Michail’s body drops to the floor.
Jesus.
Intense shock seizes me in a death grip, and I can barely breathe as I watch the pool of blood forming beneath my father’s right-hand-man.
It all happens in a matter of a second.
No.
I shake my head slowly as the horror of what just happened sinks in.
NoNoNo!
In absolute disbelief, I turn my head to where Knight is standing with the smoking gun in his hand, then I look back at Michail’s body.
He killed Michail before I could get my answer.
“What?” Savvas breathes in horror. “What have you done?”
My chest rises and falls with heavy breaths as my mind races to catch up to what just happened.
“Michail would never betray your father,” Savvas cries as he sinks to his knees beside Michail. “ Gamóto.”
Jesus.
I blink and look at Knight again before turning my eyes back to Michail and Savvas.
I take a step backward while realizing this is really bad.
I wasn’t sure that Michail was the traitor.
God. What did Knight do?
I didn’t give the order.
What if Michail is innocent?
“This is madness, Cassia,” Savvas says, his tone trembling with emotion. “None of us would be here if we betrayed you.”
He’s right. Why would the traitor be hiding here when he could be in Athens taking over the organization?
Oh fuck.
A sickening feeling washes over me as I look at Michail’s body again.
Michail was always at my father’s side. He was at every birthday party. Every Christmas, and every barbeque.
If he didn’t betray us, which I’m starting to doubt he did, it means I just lost my most trusted man.
Turning around, I walk out of the living room and down a hallway. I enter the first bedroom I find and drop the machine gun on the bed.
My breaths burst over my lips and I place my hand on my stomach. My mind keeps racing, my emotions violently alternating between anger, disbelief, uncertainty, and grief.
When Knight comes to stand in the doorway, I can only stare at him and shake my head.
He doesn’t even bother to explain his actions, and it has my anger winning.
“I didn’t approve the kill,” I hiss. “You had no fucking right to kill Michail!”
Knight looks way too calm as he mutters, “He grabbed your weapon and was a threat. I didn’t need your approval.”
Jesus.
I shake my head again while giving him an incredulous look. “Michail was my father’s right-hand man! I’ve known him all my life, and I’m pretty sure he’s not the traitor.”
“He grabbed your weapon,” Knight mutters again.
Rage hits me so hard it blinds me, and I lunge at Knight. Before I can even swing my fist at him, he grabs hold of me, and in a flash, I hit the carpet. A growl escapes, and when I try to dart up, Knight restrains my arms with one of his hands while his other grips my jaw.
He forces me to look at him and calmly says, “It’s my fucking job to protect you. I don’t care who the person is. If they threaten your life, they’re dead. I’m not going to wait around for anyone to hurt you before I pull the trigger. Got it?”
I’m so angry and heartbroken a soft sob bursts from me, which only stokes my anger more.
Knight leans closer. “Take a deep breath, Cassia. You can’t break down now.”
I suck in desperate breaths and focus on calming myself so I can think clearly.
“You killed one of my people,” I hiss.
“I fucking protected you and made a statement that if anyone touches you, they die. They will all think twice about disobeying you from now on. Now get your shit together because they’re waiting in the living room.”
Along with Michail’s body.
Realizing this is not the time or place to fight with Knight, I order, “Get away from me.”
When he frees my wrists and moves off me, I quickly climb to my feet and walk to the bed. Grabbing the machine gun, I turn around and shove it against his chest. “We’ll talk about this later.”
I leave the bedroom, and when I enter the living room, everyone freezes. Some look at me with fear, and others have angry expressions they don’t bother masking.
To avoid any further bloodshed, I say, “If you attack me, Knight will kill you. If you go against me in any way, shape, or form, Knight will kill you.”
“Cassia,” Savvas exclaims while gesturing at Michail’s body. “You’ve known us all your life. We should be banding together, but instead, you threaten us…kill us?”
If I show any sign of weakness, I’ll lose the war right here and now.
My mind races and the only thing I can think of saying sounds cold and wrong in my mind, but the words still leave my lips. “The instant Michail grabbed my weapon, he became a threat to my life. Knight has been ordered to kill anyone who tries to hurt me.” I lift my chin, and even though I don’t believe it, I add, “I asked Michail twice if he was the traitor, and he refused to answer. If he had nothing to hide, he would’ve set my mind at ease instead of attacking.”
Tobias surprises me by stepping forward and saying, “Cassia is right.” He locks eyes with me. “I might have failed you during the attack, but I swear I’ll stand by your side and protect you with my last breath as we fight the bratva.” He takes a deep breath. “I lost brothers during the attack and want the chance to avenge their deaths.”
I stare at him while his words make me feel a little stronger.
“Thank you, Tobias.” I walk to Knight, and taking the spare machine gun from him, I give it to Tobias as I sign of faith. “You report only to me.”
Tobias nods, his mouth setting into a grim line while pride shines from his eyes. “Yes, boss.”
I glance around the room at the other people and repeat the words Dad said to me two weeks ago, “Are you with me or against me?”
“What if we choose to leave?” Savvas asks. “My daughters have never been a part of the organization.” He gestures at the man and woman. “Neither have Arthur’s children.”
They’re Arthur’s family?
My eyes settle on them as I demand, “What are your names, and where’s your father?”
The man who can’t be much older than twenty-one steps forward. “My name is Andrew, and this is my sister, Alexa. Our father stayed behind. He said he was going to infiltrate the enemy to bring them down from the inside. I haven’t heard from him since he got us out of Athens.” Even though Andrew looks scared and unsure, he says, “I don’t have much training, but I can handle a gun. I’ll fight with you if Alexa can stay here. I don’t want her anywhere near Greece until the war is over.”
When I consider Andrew’s request, Savvas gives his opinion by saying, “We can use the extra man.”
“Okay.” I nod at Andrew. “Alexa can remain here.” My eyes flick to Savvas’ daughters. The twins are the same age as Kiki was, and I know they’ve been raised as socialites, so I say, “Along with Ophelia and Lydia. But we can’t spare any men to guard them.”
“I’ll give Alexa a quick lesson on how to handle a gun.”
Right after Andrew’s words, Cole steps forward. “I’m with you. So are Nico, Luke, and Jonas.”
The three men nod in agreement.
That gives me five men.
My eyes flick to Savvas, and his features tighten with emotion. “Of course, I’m with you, Cassia. You’re like a daughter to me.”
My throat strains, and I have to suppress the urge to dart forward and hug him.
Sucking in a deep breath, I look at the younger men and order, “You all report to Savvas. I have arrangements to make before we can return to Greece so lay low for the next couple of days.”
“How do we stay in contact with you?” Savvas asks.
My mind races, and remembering the burner phone in my bag, I say, “I’ll give you a phone you can use to contact me.”
I glance down at Michail’s body. I can’t leave him here, but I have to arrange a private jet and meet with the mercenaries before we can leave.
“I’ll take care of Michail,” Savvas says, his tone sad.
I meet Savvas eyes, wanting to apologize on behalf of Knight’s rash actions that cost us a valuable friend and asset but that will show a rift between me and my guard in front of everyone.
Instead, I just murmur, “Thank you, Savvas.” As I start to walk to the front door, I say, “Come get the phone.”
Tobias and Knight follow me and Savvas out of the house. I lean into Savvas, lowering my voice so only he will hear, “I’m sorry about Michail. Knight perceived him as a threat.”
“Still, Cassia. You need to control the man. He can’t just kill at will,” Savvas whispers. Giving me a worried look, he asks, “Can you really trust the man? You haven’t known him for long.”
I might be angry with Knight, but I know he won’t hurt me. I’m alive today because of him.
“I trust him,” I assure Savvas. “He has saved my life more than once.”
When we reach the SUV, I open the backdoor and dig the burner from my bag. As I hand it to him, I say, “Knight, give Savvas your phone number.”
Knight recites the digits, then tells Savvas, “Give me a missed call so I can get your number.”
I glance at Tobias and think to ask, “How do you feel? Have you fully recovered?”
He nods. “I’m good to go, boss.”
Knowing he was at the house, I hope he can give me some information. I step closer to him and ask, “Did you see what happened to my mother?”
His features tighten as he nods. “She came out to water the garden like she does every afternoon. She was one of the first who was shot. I managed to kill her shooter, but I was gunned down while trying to get to her.” He lowers his head, regret tightening his features even more. “I’m sorry, Cassia.”
My voice is no more than a whisper as I ask, “Did it look like she died instantly?”
He nods. “I don’t think she suffered.”
His words offer me some comfort because I’d hate for my mother to have bled out slowly in the garden she loved so much.
“We need to go,” Knight mutters, drawing my attention to him.
I turn my head to Savvas, his features drawn with grief and worry, then he asks, “Can I get a hug?”
Oh God.
I nod and quickly close the distance between us. When he wraps me up in a bear hug, a sob almost escapes, but I keep it imprisoned behind clenched teeth.
“I’m so sorry about what happened, Cassia,” he groans.
“Me too,” I whisper before pulling back. My eyes lock with his. “We’ll get through this.”
He only nods and watches as I climb into the passenger seat.
When Knight starts the engine, I glance out the side window at Savvas, who watches as we drive away.
My thoughts turn to Michail and his pointless death, and anger swirls in my chest. With Tobias in the backseat, I keep quiet. I’ll deal with Knight once we’re alone.