Page 89 of The High Priestess

It’s a big win and half the battle won. Now to take care of Savvas, and then I have to shuffle things around so the right people fill the crucial positions in the organization.

Chapter 27

KNIGHT

Cassia has been quiet since the call with Nikitin. I know she’s processing the fact that Savvas betrayed them and thinking about how she’s going to handle it, so I’m giving her some space.

When I steer the SUV up the driveway, my eyes flick to her face. Her eyebrows draw together, and the sad expression returns as she looks at her family home.

“It looks the same as always,” she murmurs. “I half expected bodies lying everywhere.”

I bring the SUV to a stop, and when I get out, Davies comes out onto the porch.

“It’s about damn time,” he says. “Why the fuck did you send that shithead here. Tobias is as dumb as a rock.”

The corner of my mouth lifts. “That’s why I sent him to you. You have more patience than me.”

“You did it to get back at me for punching you, didn’t you?” Davies chuckles as he walks closer to us.

I take hold of Cassia’s hand and tug her closer to me.

“Hi, Davies,” she greets him. “Thank you for taking care of everything here.”

“Just doing my job, ma’am. I have men stationed all around the property. The security is tighter than a Nun’s –”

“Davies!” I snap before he can say pussy.

He lets out a chuckle.

“Give me thirty minutes, then meet me in the office so we can talk,” Cassia says. “Bring the other two as well.”

“Other two?” Davies asks.

“Miller and Saunders,” I tell him.

Cassia pulls her hand from mine and walks to the rosebed that runs along the front wall of the house. When she tries to pick one, I pull the knife from my boot and step closer.

“I’ve got it,” I say before cutting the stem and handing her the rose.

“Another one, please.”

I cut a second one off for her, and as she takes it from me, she says, “Thanks.”

Then she places one down on the lawn right where we’re standing. She walks around the side of the house, and I follow her like a shadow. Only when we reach the back wall and she places the other rose on the ground, do I realize it’s the two spots where her mother and sister were gunned down.

As we walk toward the backdoor, she glances at the men stationed in the yard, then asks, “Are they as good as you?”

“Yes.”

“Do you think they’re open to working here on a permanent basis?”

I think for a moment. “I’m not sure. Some of them should be okay with it as long as they get time off to go home to visit their families.”

She nods as we enter the kitchen.

“Will you be okay living here?” she asks, her tone too emotionless for my liking, but I understand she’s putting on a brave face in front of the others.

“Yes,” I reply.

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