Chapter 31
KNIGHT
“Why do you want to stop at Santiago’s compound?” Cassia asks as I steer the SUV toward his place.
“There’s something there I want to show you,” I reply vaguely.
When Santiago first brought me home with him, I thought the compound was insanely overstated. The huge property looks more like a resort, and he has more than a hundred people living in cottages that surround the villa.
When we drive through the heavily guarded gates, I give the guards a nod of my head.
“Do you know why Santiago has all these people living here?” Cassia asks.
“They’re all people he saved who had nowhere else to go,” I answer. “Every week, he comes home with someone new.”
“God,” she gasps. “That’s incredible but a lot of responsibility for one man.”
I nod in agreement. “It makes him happy, which is all that matters.”
I stop the car near the front door, and after we get out, I take Cassia’s hand and lead her inside.
When I spot Pedro, who’s in charge of security, I ask, “Is he home?”
Pedro nods. “Outside in his usual spot.”
I head out to the large pool that’s surrounded by lounge chairs and plants and see Santiago sitting in his favorite chair, staring out over the hill at the sunrise.
He seems to be deep in thought while twirling the diamond ring on his pointer finger.
The day a fortune teller told him he’s moving closer toward meeting the love of his life, he got the ring.
He turns his head, and when he sees us, he climbs to his feet.
“Morning,” I say. “Planning how you’re going to take over the world?”
He lets out a chuckle. “Always. My kingdom grew with four more people during my last raid.”
“Hi, Santiago,” Cassia murmurs. “I don’t think I mentioned it the last time I was here, but you have a beautiful home.”
“Thank you.” His eyes drift over her, then he asks, “How are you feeling?”
He gestures at the chairs, and as we all sit down, she replies, “I’m good as new, and I’m happy to report that business is back on track.”
“That’s great news.” He glances between us. “Hmm… I see love is in the air.”
Cassia lets out a chuckle. “He wore me down.”
I nod, the corner of my mouth lifting. “I didn’t give her a choice.”
Santiago shakes his head. “No, brother. You’re the one who didn’t have a choice in the matter.”
Cassia lets out a burst of laughter, which has Santiago smiling at her. “I’m happy to see you’re doing so much better.”
I climb to my feet again, tugging Cassia up with me. “I’m just going to show her the hill then we can visit.”
“Sure. I’ll be here.”
I lead Cassia past the pool and up a path that leads to the hill.
At the top, there’s a tree, and stopping beneath the branches, I glance down at the green grass before looking at Cassia.
She stares out over Santiago’s compound and says, “It’s beautiful from up here. Everything seems so peaceful.”
I let go of her hand, and it has her turning her attention to me.
I flatten my palm against the trunk of the tree and say, “Ronnie’s buried here.”
Cassia’s lips part while she looks at the tree and the grass we’re standing on, then she places her hand beside mine. “Hi, Ronnie.”
I keep quiet for a while, and I swear I can feel Ronnie’s energy wrap around me.
I’ve brought someone very special to meet you. Her name is Cassia, and I think you would’ve liked her.
Removing my hand from the tree, I pull the box out of my pocket and say, “This is where my life ended.” I look at Cassia while opening the lid so she can see the ring before I go down on one knee. “Until I met you, and you breathed new life into me. You’re my every breath, Cassia. My heart belongs only to you.”
Tears start to trickle down her cheeks, then she lowers herself until she’s kneeling in front of me, as well. “You have the power to destroy me.” Her lips curve up. “But I know you won’t. You’re my protector, my love, my life.”
I hold out my hand, and as she lays her palm in mine, I say, “You only kneel before me.”
She nods as I help her back to her feet while rising to my full height. I lock eyes with her as I ask, “Will you marry me, Cassia Dimitrou? Will you allow me to guard you with my life? To protect and cherish you until my final breath?”
“Yes. Yes, and yes,” she replies, a happy smile spreading over her face while her tears keep falling.
I remove the ring from the velvet bed, and as I slip it onto her finger, I let out a breath of relief when it fits.
“Thank fuck,” I mutter, which has Cassia letting out a burst of laughter.
Then she throws her arms around my neck and proceeds to kiss the ever-loving shit out of me.
I engulf her against my chest and return the kiss with every ounce of my obsessed love for her.
I worship her mouth until we’re both breathless before I end the kiss and pull her down to sit on the grass.
I lean back against the tree, and I wrap my arm around her shoulders so she can lie against my chest.
She holds up her left hand and admires the ring, then says, “I love it.”
It’s a plain rose gold band with the biggest princess-cut diamond I could find.
I press a kiss to her hair while rubbing my palm over her shoulder and bicep. “I’m glad you like it.” I lift my other hand and take hold of hers. My thumb brushes over the ring as I say, “Don’t ever take it off.”
“I won’t.”
We sit in silence for a little while, then she says, “Tell me something good about Ronnie.”
I think for a moment, then the corner of my mouth lifts. “We didn’t have much growing up, but she had big dreams. She wanted to become an engineer, so I joined the Navy so I could put her through school. The day I told her she could enroll…” I pause when I see Ronnie’s happy face in my mind, “she was beside herself with happiness. The pride I felt being able to provide for her was incredible.”
Cassia presses a kiss to my neck then snuggles back into my side. “Tell me another happy memory.”
I spend the next hour telling her about Ronnie. By the time I pull Cassia to her feet so we can head back to the villa, the darkness in my soul isn’t as thick.
It doesn’t escape my attention that I was able to talk about Ronnie without having a flashback.
For the first time in over two years, I’m able to picture her smiling face clearly and hear an echo of her laughter.
Maybe with time, the good memories will outweigh the bad ones.
When we reach the pool, Santiago stands up from his chair with a massive smile on his face. “Please tell me you didn’t just propose to Knight.”
“What makes you think I proposed?” Cassia asks as we stop by him.
He gestures at the view of the hill he has from his chair. “I saw you kneeling.”
She lets out a chuckle while shaking her head. “No, I didn’t propose, but…” she lifts her hand so he can see the ring, “Knight proposed to me, and I said yes.”
Santiago grabs hold of my shoulder, and I’m yanked into a hug as he exclaims, “Fuck, yes! I’m so happy for you.” He pushes me backward, and his eyes are filled with emotion as he looks at me. “No one deserves it more than you.”
He pats my cheek like a proud father before giving Cassia a quick hug. “Congratulations.”
“Champagne,” he calls out.
While he picks up a two-way radio, I say, “It’s eight o’clock in the morning.”
He presses the button, then orders, “Bring champagne and orange juice to the pool with a platter of sliced fruits.”
“Yes, Santiago,” Astrid, his housekeeper who’s been in his service for over fifteen years, replies over the radio. “Give me ten minutes.”
He takes a seat which has us sitting down as well, then he asks, “When is the wedding?”
“Soon,” Cassia answers.
“In Athens?”
She shakes her head. “We’re going to have something small on the island.”
“Fuck no,” he snaps. “We’ll have a big celebration here where you’re close to Ronnie.”
Cassia grabs hold of my arm while she replies, “Oh my God. Yes.” She gives him a questioning look. “You won’t mind?”
“Not at all. I have a whole village to get everything ready by…when?”
She looks at me. “Do we even have time?”
Fuck that. I’ll make time.
Knowing how quickly everyone on the compound can get ready for a party, I say, “We can stop here on the way back from the island after you’ve visited your aunt. That way, she can attend before heading home.”
Her eyes widen. “You want to have the wedding in three days?”
“Sounds good to me,” Santiago sides with me.
She shakes her head while a stunned chuckle escapes her. “Well, I suppose we’re getting married on Thursday.”
“Too soon for you?” I ask.
“No.” She leans against my side, and I press a kiss to her temple.
Astrid comes out with a cart containing champagne, orange juice, and a fruit platter.
“Thank you,” Santiago says as he climbs to his feet. He gestures at the fruit. “Help yourself.”
While Cassia takes a strawberry, he prepares our drinks.
I watch as her lips close over the red fruit and instantly start to get hard.
I’m definitely feeding her strawberries and cream next time we’re alone.
Not giving a shit that Santiago is here, I pick up a grape and bring it to her mouth. Her eyes flick to mine as she takes the fruit from me.
The moment is disrupted when Santiago brings two mimosas to us.
“Thank you,” Cassia says.
Santiago takes a seat again and says, “Here’s to a lifetime of happiness and success for you.”
We all take a sip, but it’s way too early for me, so I set my glass aside.
Santiago meets Cassia’s eyes. “Let’s talk decorations.”
She chuckles. “I haven’t thought that far.” She thinks for a moment, then says, “Black and red colors.”
“Pedro!” When Pedro appears, Santiago orders, “Take the men and buy every red flower you can find. I want truckloads.”
Pedro gives Santiago a what-the-fuck look but doesn’t argue and hurries off to get the job done.
“Let me have the invoice so I can reimburse you,” Cassia says.
Santiago waves his hand through the air. “Nonsense. It’s my gift to you.”
“Thank you,” she replies while giving him a warm smile.
I reach across and shake his hand. “We have to get going. Marina is expecting us.”
He nods and gets up to walk us to the SUV. “I’ll see you on the island for the meeting.” Placing his hand on Cassia’s shoulder, he adds, “Let me know if I can help with the wedding dress. A few of the women here are quite talented.”
She pauses, then says, “I have a dress. Thank you, though.”
We climb into the SUV, and as I steer the vehicle down the road, I ask, “You have a dress?”
She nods. “My mother knew my father was going to arrange a marriage for me, so we had her dress taken out of storage. I just need to get it to Peru.”
“Davies and the team can bring it through. I’d like them to be at the wedding.”
She lets out a breath of relief. “That solves one of the problems.” She digs her phone out of her pocket and dials a number. “Christakis, I need a huge favor. I’ll pay whatever it takes if you can have a formal suit for Knight ready by tomorrow. We’re getting married in three days…I know…It’s unexpected…I’d appreciate it so much.” She listens for a bit, then says, “Thank you. Let me know when it’s ready, and I’ll send someone to collect it.”
When she ends the call, I lift an eyebrow at her. “All sorted?”
“Yes.” She grins at me. “God, we’re getting married in three days.”
“I’d marry you right now if I could,” I admit.
“Yeah?”
She places her hand on my thigh as I murmur, “Yeah.”