Page 6 of The High Priestess

I suppress the urge to shake some sense into my father, who’s dead set on starting a war with the bratva.

Stand your ground, Cassia. If you can’t win a simple argument, you have no place being the head of the Greek mafia.

“There has been no sign of the bratva since we took down Pavlov and his men during the attack at Dominik’s factory. It’s been over six months. You’re flogging a dead horse.”

“Enough!” Dad slams his fist on the table again, causing the wine glass to topple over.

Mom darts up, and muttering something under her breath, she hurries to grab some paper towels so she can wipe up the spilled wine.

Fear trickles into my chest, but I shove the emotion down and lean a little forward as I level my father with a dark look of my own.

“You wanting to attack the bratva is absolute madness. They’ll wipe us out. I’m not willing to risk our entire family and organization because you’re bloodthirsty and short-tempered, so calm the fuck down.”

Dad’s eyes narrow even more as he also leans in closer and his tone is a low rumble as he growls, “What did you just say to me?”

Even though I’m shaking in my boots, I school my expression into an icy look and lift my chin. “Calm. The fuck. Down.”

He stares at me, and for a nerve-racking moment, I’m not sure whether he’s going to slap me or listen to me.

My sisters and mom are so quiet you could hear a pin drop in the kitchen as tense seconds tick by.

Suddenly, Dad’s arm shoots out, and my body reacts instinctively. I jerk backward, and his fist narrowly misses my face. As shock vibrates through every cell in my body, I instinctively lunge forward. With my fingers wrapping around his throat, I shove him back while using my foot to swipe his chair to the side.

Dad hits the floor with a loud thud, and I hear my sisters and mom gasp.

Crouching over Dad, my breaths explode from me as I bite the words out through clenched teeth. “It’s time for you to retire before you burn everything to the ground. I want what’s best for the family and that includes you,Mpampà. Don’t make me fight you.”

Unfortunately, Dad recovers from the shock of my attack, and with one hard punch to my side, I’m sent staggering backward while inhaling sharply.

“Ilias!” Mom screams. “Stop this madness.”

Knowing there’s no way I can back down now and that my family’s future depends on who wins, I do my best to ignore the sharp pain as I brace for the fight.

My body’s trembling, and my mind races a mile a minute. I’m torn between being scared of what this will mean for our relationship and needing to prove that I’m able to fight for myself and those I care about.

God. Is this really happening?

As I face off with my father, my heart breaks as I remember being a child and sitting on his lap while watching cartoons. Memories of going sailing with him and how proud he was to introduce me as his daughter flit through my mind.

For a second, my chin quivers, and tears threaten to overwhelm me, but by the grace of God, I’m able to steel myself again.

With my eyes locked on his, I say, “I love you,Mpampà, but so help me God, I will fight you on this matter every step of the way. The bratva will annihilate us.”

He takes a threatening step closer to me, and with rage tightening his features, he growls, “If you’re not with me, you’re against me.”

Dread pours through my veins as I shake my head. “Don’t do this.”

“Ilias,” Mom whimpers, her eyes darting between us.

His furious gaze holds mine prisoner as he demands, “Are you with me or against me, Cassia?”

God. If I agree, I might as well sign a declaration of war against the bratva, but if I go against my father, I’ll be cast out.

Or killed.

My eyes flick to my sisters, who both have scared expressions on their faces. When my gaze settles on Mom, she gives me a pleading look.

My eyes return to my father, and knowing every man in the organization will remain loyal to him, I have no choice but to say, “I’m with you.”

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