Page 105 of The High Priestess

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 wasbeside 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.”

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