Chapter 33 Calli
CALLI
The ocean stretches before me in shades of impossible blue, waves rippling under the afternoon sun.
White-capped crests chase each other to shore, where they break against the rocks below our hotel balcony.
I've been standing here for almost an hour, watching boats ferry the staff to the island; seeing Keira and Declan leave as my plans unfold in real time.
Tonight, I become someone who can end a life.
The gala is tonight. In six hours, I'll be standing in a room full of people, smiling and playing the part of Niko's devoted girlfriend while I plan to murder his father.
I wish I could talk to Keira one last time, but truth is, there's nothing left to say.
We've gone over the plan a dozen times since arriving in Kosta two days ago. Declan and Keira checked into a room a floor below me, posing as event staff who needed accommodations. My brothers think I’m off with Keira on a girls trip with her security team, so I don’t have to worry about them.
And Niko arrived late last night, exhausted from handling last-minute business in Athens.
With him arriving however came a complication none of us anticipated.
In passing, Niko told me that guests are searched at the docks. No weapons, no bags, no exceptions. Which means the vial can't be on me when I arrive. Declan will have to pass it to me on the inside.
Speaking of the vial, I saw it yesterday when Declan showed it to me and Keira in their room. It's smaller than I expected. A clear glass, no bigger than a toothpick, filled with a colorless liquid that looks like water. He said I'd only need a drop or two in Stavros's drink.
What he forgot to mention until he showed it to me was how brutal the death would be. Rapid paralysis, full-body pain, total awareness, and then the heart stops. The victim feels everything but can't move, can't scream, can't fight back.
I suppose it's fitting. A man like Stavros should leave this world knowing exactly what's happening to him, and powerless to stop it. The same way my father probably felt in his final moments.
But even without this new speed bump from Niko, I know everything has to go perfectly. One mistake, one moment of suspicion, and we're all dead.
A creak behind me breaks the stillness. I turn as Niko steps into the room, his dark hair damp from the shower. He's shirtless, the lines of muscle on his torso shift as he walks toward me and wraps his arms around my waist from behind, resting his chin on my shoulder.
"You okay?" Niko asks. "You've been quiet lately."
I force a smile and lean back into him, trying to memorize the feeling of his arms around me. After tonight, everything changes. Either I succeed and we have a future together, or I fail and destroy us both.
"Just nerves about meeting your dad, pretending not to know what I know, the baby, the fact my brothers are plotting against him." I shrug. "Pick one."
His arms tighten around me, and I feel him nod. "I get it. This whole situation is fucked."
We stand there for a moment, watching the boats in the harbor below. A group of people laughs as they board a water taxi, their voices carrying on the wind.
"Come sit down on the bed with me," he says, taking my hand. "I want to talk to you about something. I was going to wait until after the event, but..."
We walk to the edge of the bed, and I sit beside him, our thighs touching.
Something's on his mind. I can tell by the way his hands are together and the look in his eyes.
"I've been thinking about everything, obviously," he says, looking down at his hands. "Everything that's happened."
My chest tightens.
"Maybe, maybe I should be the one to handle him."
"Who?" I ask, though I already know.
"My father." He exhales slowly, like he's been carrying the thought around for days. "I know a blood debt's coming. There's no way out. I saw it in Ares's eyes, and maybe he's right. After what he did, my father doesn't deserve to make it out of this war."
I freeze, a million thoughts racing through my mind.
This isn't happening. He can't be suggesting what I think he is.
If Niko kills Stavros, his soul will carry that forever, and it shouldn't, not when I'm prepared to do what needs to be done.
And if he's caught? My brothers would never protect him.
They'd probably see it as some confirmation of his guilt.
I can't let him risk everything. It would destroy him.
"We can talk about it after the gala," I say gently, placing my hand on his knee.
"Sure, but Calli, your brothers will come in guns blazing. One of them might not make it out." He takes my hand in his. "Me, on the other hand—"
"Please." I interrupt, my voice sharper than I intended. "I don't want to talk about you risking your life right now."
But he's not listening. There's a determination in his voice.
"No," Niko says firmly. "I have unfiltered access to him, and if your brothers wage this war, it'll only complicate things for us, for our baby.
" His voice softens. "I care for you more than I ever could that piece of shit father of mine.
You show me more love than he ever has. Shit, he's never even told me he does.
Just beat me until I was bigger than he was and then tried to control me through intimidation. "
I stare at him, shock stealing my words. My heart aches for him, for the boy who grew up under that monster's roof. And now he wants to sacrifice himself?
I can't let that happen.
I won't.
But I can't tell him my plans either, because I know he'll try to stop me. And if he does, my brothers will continue with their assault, which will likely get one of them killed. Or all of them. Or Niko.
But me? I'm the last person they'd ever suspect. Sweet little Calli who needs protection, who's never hurt anyone in her life. They'd never imagine I'm capable of murder.
The silence stretches between us, and I can feel Niko watching my face, waiting for me to say something. But what can I say? That I want him to destroy himself for my family's vengeance?
Or that I love him too much to let him do it?
My silence becomes his answer. He kisses my forehead.
"You're right," he says. "After the event. Let's get ready."
As he stands to head toward the bathroom, I reach for his hand. "Niko," I say, my voice catching. There's so much I want to tell him.
But I just smile. At least now I know for sure he'll forgive me. Because if he's willing to kill his own father for me, for us, for our future, then surely he'll understand why I had to do it first.
"Yes, Cal."
I smile. "I love you."
He squeezes my hand. "I love you, too, orea mou."
He walks out of the room and I hear a buzzing noise. I walk over to my nightstand and open it.
It's a burner phone. Declan got them for us.
It's a text from Keira:
Dec's in position. Kitchen staff briefing in an hour. You good?
I type back.
Ready.
But I'm not ready. I don't think anyone is ever ready to become a killer. I think you just decide that some things are worth fighting for, even if that means doing it will change you forever.