The Enforcer (Vengeful Empire #3)

Chapter 18

CHAPTER 18

V alencia

“This is absolutely exquisite. The house. The lighting. The location,” I told him as we walked along the water’s edge. I hadn’t known what to expect when going shopping. Other than a dress for the wedding, I’d been stymied what to purchase. Thank God, an incredible store clerk had told me about Corfu and what the weather would be like. I’d purchased and packed accordingly.

“My parents immediately fell in love with the place over forty years ago. They’ve done so much with it, adding the guest cottages and renovating the main house. There’s even a dance studio over one of the private garages. We used to come here for every holiday.” Christos was more at ease than he’d been even inside his villa. This was his parents’ home and his entire immediate family was here with him.

It was good to see him relaxed. I hadn’t believed that was possible.

“Your mother is amazing. She’s tough just like you said, but only wants the best for her family.”

“She is feisty. She truly runs the house and my father. She had a hand in his business as well. Never believe that men are truly in charge, she once told me.”

“Smart lady.”

“You have no idea. She’s been the rock for years. I only saw her falter once when my brother was murdered. I truly thought she’d lost her spirit. Wait until you meet the babies. I don’t know how my brothers survived changing diapers and the lack of sleep. But they love every minute of being fathers.”

“Babies. Jesus. I can’t even imagine.”

“I don’t think either one of my brothers did either, but they dote on the little boys. It’s been interesting.”

“Where’s your dad? I’ve just seen fleeting glances of him.”

“He’ll be around. Don’t worry. You’ll need to get used to him as well. He’s still handling far too much of the business as far as we are concerned, but it keeps him young.”

We continued walking. In one hand I had my high heels, in the other a glass of wine. The sun was just beginning to set and the water was calm, lapping over our feet as we walked.

“I’m curious. Why did you change your mind? I’m glad you did; letting you go was very difficult.”

“You had me followed. Didn’t you?”

“I guess my men aren’t as good at their jobs as I believed. But yes. I was nervous something would happen to you. I still am.”

I thought about his question. “I’ve told you before. I’m a big girl and can take care of myself. However, to answer your questions. I thought about what you said for hours. I haven’t really been living. Don’t get me wrong. I love my job. There’s nothing like the feeling of helping, saving people. Especially when you get to tell a loved one their father, mother, wife, husband, or even their child will be fine. It’s the best feeling in the world. Maybe I wanted to escape my life for just a little while.”

“Then why haven’t you been living?”

“I think because when my sister and I were kids, our father was very overprotective. After he received a death threat, he hired guards to protect us. That meant we were driven to school and trips even out to the mall were discouraged or we were forced to have the bodyguard following us. It was suffocating. I thought it was cool at the time, but as I got older, I found ways of escaping the house. I felt freedom. And for some reason, being with you offered that same sense of myself I haven’t felt in a long time.”

“Because you’re so disciplined,” he said quietly. I would have never thought the man could be such a good listener.

I was wrong about a lot of things with him. “Yes. I was always that way in school and it followed me through my life.”

“And men?”

Laughter bubbled to the surface. “I’ve dated. I was involved seriously once, but the guy couldn’t handle my tough schedule when I entered the residency program. He tried to make me choose between him and my profession. I weighed the pros and cons of both and tossed him out.”

“Ouch.” His laughter sent a little thrill right through me.

“He wasn’t worth the argument or my time. Not that the horrible things he said to me didn’t hurt. Trust me, I was devastated for a couple months. Then I found respite in working with animals when I could, which isn’t often enough. My mother thrives in caring about animals. I think that’s why she hasn’t killed my father yet.”

“My father finally realized that keeping my mother happy was in his best interest.”

“Good idea.”

“I’m glad you came. As I said, letting you go was one of the most difficult decisions I’ve made.”

I wanted to grill him as to why, but this wasn’t the right time.

“It was a crazy decision. I hope it’s one I won’t regret.”

He stopped us from continuing on, shifting so he could face me. “I don’t want you to have any regrets, Valencia. My suggestion is we simply enjoy the weekend. Neither one of us can promise the other anything we don’t have control over.”

“Wise words, Mr. Nomikos.”

He rubbed his hand down my arm, crowding closer. Just as his lips touched mine, we heard a shrill whistle.

We both instantly jerked away as if we’d been caught doing something like teenagers in a closet. I laughed as I felt a rush of heat.

He chuckled. “Well, I guess the priest has arrived. This should be interesting. Come on.”

As he escorted me up the line of stairs leading to the house, I had a sudden feeling that bothered me. I even stopped and turned, staring out at the ocean.

“What’s wrong?”

“I don’t know,” I whispered.

He was instantly on edge and watching him reach for a weapon was a stark, horrible reminder that I wasn’t just playing with fire. I was already inside a burning building.

“I feel like someone is watching me.”

“Do you see the tall structure to the right, the one to the left?” He stepped down one tread, scanning the shoreline.

“Yes.” I hadn’t noticed before, but they appeared like stone lighthouses.

“Those are manned lookout points where our soldiers can see anyone attempting to come close to the island either by boat or even with scuba gear. They have infrared goggles and enough firepower to light up Greece in its entirety. In addition, we have soldiers protecting the perimeter. More will be here tomorrow since we’ll have dignitaries, celebrities, and members of the Sicilian mafia.”

“Is that supposed to make me feel any better?” He rattled off the guest list as if I wouldn’t be bothered with it at all.

“A small group, Valencia. Stop worrying.”

“Wait. This is your life, not mine. I’m not certain I can mingle with an Italian Don.”

“Don Coppola is quite the character and we owe him a significant debt of gratitude. He is an honored guest and not attending to cause any issues.”

“Are there other mafia people coming?”

“We’re not all that friendly with most crime syndicates. It’s possible the Armenian leader will attend, but I haven’t heard.”

“So there will be weapons at the event.”

He kept us walking and soon we were on the grounds leading to the house. I noticed several people had already taken their places. “Yes, at all times. Why?”

“Are you expecting violence?”

“Not at all.”

“Oh, so this is just a typical business day.”

His laugh was strangled, but he brushed hair from my face as if the wind wouldn’t keep blowing it. “I never lied to you about who I was.”

“No, but you also didn’t provide me with many details. I don’t know what I was expecting, but to know you’re forced to keep guards surrounding your property while two people you care about are getting married, and there are kids here, well, that’s a little tough to swallow.”

He turned his head. “I don’t know how to make this any easier for you. We are a regular family. We enjoy celebrations and birthdays, cookouts and movie nights. We were normal kids playing soccer and arguing about curfew. We argue today but we’re very close. You saw how my mother was. She wants this wedding perfect.”

“I just don’t know if I’m cut out for this.”

“Just stay and enjoy dinner, Valencia. You’ll see that there’s nothing to worry about. If you’re still upset, I’ll take you to the private airport and put you in my jet and send you home. I don’t want to do that, but I made you a promise that I intend to keep. I will also protect you if anything happens but the chances of that are negligible. Okay?”

“In other words, take a leap of faith.”

He smiled. “Something like that. Now, before my father has a heart attack, let’s get through this.”

“By the way. You never told me what your role is in the wedding.”

“I’m the best man and you’re my very best gal.”

“Oh, great. Now I also find out you have other girlfriends.”

He laughed and wrapped his arm around my shoulder like a high school kid would do, keeping me close as we walked toward the group.

“My son’s girlfriend. I thought this day would never arrive.” The older man was a dead ringer for his three sons. Only his slightly paunchy belly and gray hair gave it away that he was older. His eyes were exactly the same as Christos’, twinkling as if he was the happiest man in the world.

Christos had been right. His father was overwhelming, his aura screaming of power.

He pulled me into a tight hug just like Cora, Christos’ mother had done, although she really wanted me to call her Mama Nomikos like Kara and Willow always did. I had to admit that while I adored the friendliness, the warm welcome, I wasn’t quite ready to consider myself a part of the family.

When he pulled away, he smiled. “I’m Apollo. Hopefully, at some point you’ll call me Dad. No offense to your own father.”

I glanced at Christos and could feel eyes from everyone else watching me. “Thank you, Apollo.”

“Alright, everyone. The priest has other families to unite,” Apollo shouted. “Places.”

There was a beautiful trellis set up overlooking the ocean. I moved to where Willow was standing, uncertain where I should be. “Where are the babies?”

“Oh, you’ll see them later. The last thing you want are two one-year-olds screaming during the rehearsal. Kara is a nervous wreck as it is,” she told me.

“She looks much calmer than I would be. All this is nerve-racking.”

She nodded. “You’ll get used to the family and their ways.”

“It’s not that.”

“Ah, the mafia thing. I had a tough time with it when I found out Dimitrios wasn’t just a part of a big, happy family. But you’ll see they are just like everyone else.”

“Just with dangerous jobs.”

“As I was reminded when I first fell hard for Dimitrios, people die all the time. You know that from being a surgeon. You can cross the street when you think there’s no traffic and your life is lost. You can’t worry about what you can’t control. That is unless you have plans on being with Christos.”

I noticed while he was standing next to his brother Havros, he constantly looked back in my direction. Maybe he thought I would change my mind again, racing away as fast as possible. “I don’t think what we’re sharing is anything long term.”

“I disagree. From what I know about Christos, you being here is a first. I would take that as a compliment.”

“Okay, everyone. We’re about to begin.” Apollo was all over this portion of the wedding, Cora allowing him to take control. It was fascinating to witness their dynamic, the obvious love after all the years they’d been together. I’d never seen such adoration in my parents.

I took a step back as Willow joined Kara, obviously her only bridesmaid. I wondered how any of them could live with the constant worry of threats and violence. But I had to admit that Willow was right. Even those considered health-conscious men and women who never drank or smoked and regularly exercised could have a heart attack from an unknown heart condition; some I’d been unable to save.

Life was precious no matter who you were or what you did as a profession.

Family was everything. Now I was suddenly missing mine, including my beautiful pup.

The ache was hard, but the thought of not being here was even worse.

I did care about Christos and no amount of trying to convince myself otherwise was going to work.

“No, you were ten when that happened,” Havros insisted as he piled on another spoonful of pasta salad their mother had made.

“Do not tell stories on me,” Christos warned. “I will get you back and you know how many secrets I own about you. I do not care it’s the night before your wedding. Kara deserves to know what an asshole you were as a child.”

“Language!” Cora piped in.

I was watching the interaction among the family, jealous of how much they loved each other. Dinner with my parents had never been so lively.

“Wait. I want to hear this. I think I need to know who I’m getting involved with,” Kara complained.

“It’s a little late, babe,” Havros growled. Did all the men growl?

Laughing and enjoying myself was entirely too easy around them. They had a way of making everything seem normal. If that was possible. The rehearsal had actually made me teary-eyed. Seeing Havros and Kara together had been special. When I’d met their little boy, Philip, I’d seen even more love bursting from the two of them.

I hoped one day to be that much in love.

“What about Christos? I think I need to hear his story myself,” I interjected.

“Our guest has spoken,” Dimitrios said, laughing. “Tell it, Havros.”

“I think I will. You see that man over there?” He pointed toward Christos using his fork.

“Oh, yes. I see him,” I purred and Christos squeezed my leg under the table.

“When he was ten, he wanted to run away from home. We were staying at the house in Athens. He managed to take my father’s car and was halfway to Albania before the police caught up with him.”

“Why does that not surprise me,” I said and bumped my elbow into Christos’ side.

Christos groaned. “I was maintaining the speed limit and I would have made it until the police started chasing me.”

“Yeah, and he wrecked our father’s favorite sports car.” Dimitrios lifted his glass of wine as if toasting what his brother had done.

Apollo exhaled, the sound exaggerated.

“I’m curious. Was he punished?” I turned my head toward his parents.

Cora could light up a room with her smile. “I was the one who punished him. His father was going to forgive him.”

“And?” I pushed, nudging Christos again.

“Let’s just say he couldn’t sit down for a solid week,” Havros interjected.

“I hate all of you,” Christos said emphatically. “No more talking about me. You’ll scare Valencia off more than my current lifestyle already does.”

“I’m not that scared,” I told him. Although the jury was still out.

“Then I’m not doing my job.” Christos made a funny face at me and I couldn’t have been more shocked that a man of his power and presence was allowing himself to just enjoy the moment. “We need to have a toast to the happy couple.”

“Yes.” I raised my glass.

“To my brother. A true pain in the ass with a big mouth and to his lovely bride, a woman so beautiful and enticing that she could do much better with any other man.”

“Oh, you pig!” Havros moaned.

“There better be a better speech tomorrow, son. I mean it.”

Apollo gave Christos a stern look and everyone laughed.

And I couldn’t help but wonder what it would be like to be considered family.