The High Priestess (Mafia Empire #2)

by Michelle Heard

“I wish I had the ability to protect you from the pain,” I whisper as I start to caress her caramel-colored hair. “But I can make sure no one else sees you like this.”

He’s broken beyond repair, and it’s the most beautiful thing I’ve ever seen.

“You’re goddamn near perfect, Cassia. The only thing wrong with you is that you don’t believe in yourself enough. You need to stop that.”

“I don’t know what I’d do without you, Lincoln.” That’s all it takes. I swear my heart swells to twice its normal size, and it fills with an insane need to protect her and the urge to possess her. It becomes pure fucking obsession. I suck in a sharp breath as the mustard seed of affection breaks through the crack in my soul, the first living thing since everything in me died with Ronnie. My arms tighten even more around Cassia, and I practically squash her to me as I growl, “You’ll never have to find out. I’m with you until the end.” She turns her head and rests her cheek against my chest. “This war could take months or even years. That’s a long time to commit to.” “I’m with you until I die,” I spell it out to her. Her head snaps back, and she looks up at me with parted lips. “Until you die?” “Yes, because there’s no way you’ll die as long as I’m alive.”

“And I will never let you go.” I lean into her, my tone murderous as I hiss, “You’ll have to kill me to get rid of me.”