Chapter 25 Niko
NIKO
The Petrou estate comes into view like a black hole, swallowing what little patience I've got left. The driver slows at the gates, and the iron bars creak open on command.
I've told myself all the way here to play it cool. Make this look like a routine check-in, not an interrogation. If my father knows nothing about why Calli left Rome, I walk out. If he knows something, I'll get it out of him.
But the moment the car pulls up, I know this isn't going to be a casual visit.
There are more guards than usual. Three at the front steps alone, all armed, eyes tracking me as I climb out of the car. The air smells like rain on asphalt, and that oppressive energy this place has always had presses down on me.
I walk inside, and a maid scurries across my path, eyes down, shoulders hunched. She doesn't acknowledge me. None of them do unless directly addressed. My father's training.
I follow the familiar path to his study, my mind clear on the mission. I can't help but notice the house feels different today. I count four guards in the house when there would normally be two. Fewer staff visible, too.
I walk into his office in my usual no-knocking way.
He's sitting behind the desk, a cigar resting in an ashtray beside him, smoke curling up. His eyes are on a tablet.
We play the usual games. I sit. He doesn't acknowledge me for a moment, just the constant endless fucking power play games.
"Rome," he says finally, still looking at the screen. "How was your little getaway?"
I freeze, tensing up. "Rome?" I ask, trying to hide my surprise. I hadn't told him I was going to Rome, but maybe deep down I already knew this. His words only confirm my suspicions.
Now he looks at me, his eyes cold, assessing. The corner of his mouth lifts in a smirk that's all teeth. "Back early, no?"
I don't say anything.
"Come on," he says, locking the tablet and putting it down on the desk. "You think I don't keep track of where my son goes?"
He reaches for his cigar and puffs out a large cloud of smoke.
I keep my face neutral. "I don't know what you're talking about. I'm just stopping by to check in. You called yesterday."
"Did I?" He asks, tapping his cigar on the ashtray. "Must have slipped my mind."
It didn't. I lied. He only calls me with orders.
"You know what I was looking at right before you walked in?" Stavros reaches for his iPad again, unlocks it with a flick of his thumb. He turns it toward me. "This."
On the screen is a photo of Calli and me leaving our hotel in Rome. Her hand is in mine, her face turned up toward me, laughing at something I'd said.
He swipes the screen. Another photo appears. Calli and I at a café, she's leaning forward mid-sip of her cappuccino.
"This is a good one," he says, tapping the image. "You can really see the tits on her. I get it now."
My hand curls into a fist. A red haze creeps in at the edges of my vision, the familiar warning sign that I'm about to lose control.
My father can see it and laughs, nodding. "What? She's off-limits?"
“Shut your fucking mou—" I stop.
Suddenly, the study door swings open. Two men enter, taking positions at opposite corners of the room. They're not the usual security. They're enforcers. Muscle.
"What's this?" I ask, my voice tighter than I want it to be.
"Insurance," he says, standing. "Because I know you, Niko. You get terrible ideas in your head."
Stavros moves to his bar cart and pours himself a drink. "So you're still fucking the Kastaris whore." He says it so casually, not even looking at me. "Throwing away everything I've built, allowing that bitch to use you. Probably to get to me."
"Don't fucking talk about her like that." The words come out low and dangerous.
My father whirls around, his glass flying from his hand to shatter against the wall. In three strides, he's in front of me, face contorted with rage.
"You ungrateful piece of shit." His hand whips across my face, the ring splitting my lip and drawing blood.
Something in me snaps. I lunge forward, hands reaching for his throat, but I don't make it. Strong arms grab me from behind. One of the men has me in a hold while the other drives his fist into my ribs. Pain explodes in my side.
A second blow lands on my jaw, snapping my head back. I taste more blood, my mouth metallic. I twist and struggle against them, nearly breaking free. It takes both of them to hold me down, until Stavros pulls a gun and presses it directly into my cheek.
The safety clicks off, and Stavros leans in so close I can feel his breath.
"Don't fuck with me." He pushes the gun harder against my face.
"If you see the daughter of the man who thought he could challenge me one more time, I'll end your fucking life.
But not before I make you watch me end hers. Do you understand me?"
He doesn't wait for an answer, just nods to his men. They drag me backwards, toward the door, my heels scraping against the marble. Pain radiates from my ribs with each breath.
"You touch her, you die." I say and spit blood on his floor.
Stavros throws his head back, laughing, his poisonous smile spreading across his face.
"End it, or I'll end her for you. On second thought…
" He pauses, tilting his head like he's considering all his options.
"Maybe I shouldn't wait and just bury her to make sure we don't have these discussions anymore. "
The men drag me through the door and down the hall, their grips bruising my arms. When we reach the foyer, I make my move. I drive my elbow hard into the man on my right. He doubles over, gasping. I twist free from the other's grip and deliver a crushing blow to his throat.
He drops to his knees, choking. I don't wait to see if more are coming. I turn and walk to my car, holding my hand out to tell my driver to stay put.
I open my door and get in.
"Go," I snap, slamming the door shut.
The estate falls away behind us, but the burn in my chest doesn't fade. I grip my phone until my knuckles ache.
If Stavros is threatening to go after her, I need to get to her first.
I unlock my phone, scrolling to the airline app. Fuck taking our jet, he'll have it locked down by now.
I'm going to Chicago.
She's mine. And no one takes her from me.
Not my father.
Not her brothers.
Not while I'm breathing.
And if I have to put a bullet in someone if they get in the way, so be it.
But I am fucking coming for her.