Page 57 of The High Priestess

“Aim at the front door, and the instant more than one person comes out while I’m busy patting them down, you open fire,” he orders me.

“Okay.” I train the barrel of my machine gun on the porch, praying to all that’s holy that I won’t have to shoot one of my people today.

Once all the weapons are lying in the dirt beside the porch, Michail comes out of the house with his arms raised.

That only leaves Arthur as the one who could’ve betrayed my family.

Knight signals for Michail to come closer, then he indicates for him to stop. He pats him down, then says, “Move to the side.”

He repeats the process with every single person, and I watch with bated breath as Cole, Nico, Luke, and Jonas are searched. They’re soldiers who guarded the warehouses.

Tobias, one of the men who guarded my family, comes out next, and I tilt my head.

Could the traitor be a guard?

“How did you make it out alive, Tobias?” I shout while training my weapon on him.

“I took two bullets. When I woke up, I was with an Italian man who brought me here.”

I stare at Tobias, not sure whether I can trust what he’s saying.

“Cassia,” Savvas says. “Why are you treating us like this?”

“Someone betrayed me,” I call out.

“We need to take this inside,” Knight mutters. “We’re starting to draw attention.”

Tobias moves slowly and pulls up his shirt so I can see one of the bullet wounds near his hip and gives me a pleading look. “I was shot, Cassia. I’d never betray your family.”

God, what choice do I have but to cautiously trust them until the traitor reveals himself?

The thought terrifies me, but I lower my gun and order, “Everyone back into the house.”

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.

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