Chapter 2
Two
N IKOLAS
A primal instinct overwhelmed me when Layana exited the car, powerful yet strangely familiar.
Weeks prior, during the tumultuous rescue of my sister Calista, my initial encounter with Layana had left me feeling unsettled. I thought it stemmed from a peculiar reaction to an enchanting woman with witch like green eyes that seemed to hide mysteries.
But now?
The feeling surged back, stronger than before. It was a scorching heat, an inferno raging inside me, wrapping me in its firm, constricting grasp.
This moment wasn’t overshadowed by stress, at least not in the same way as the high-stakes rescue of the youngest Vitalis sister.
Yet, I couldn’t ignore the intense thirst that coursed through me the instant Layana raised her captivating emerald eyes, and our gazes met.
Something primal inside me snapped—hers, mine, inevitable.
She was stunning in her white silk sheath, the fabric accentuating every curve and highlighting her radiant emerald eyes.
Her chestnut hair was loosely pinned up, showcasing the elegant length of her slender neck, while long tendrils danced lightly around her captivating face.
She was breathtaking, a true embodiment of beauty and grace. Very soon, she would be my wife.
From this perspective, I absorbed every detail, realizing that life was on the verge of irreversible change.
Eventually, I’d uncover the truths of her past. However, what I felt now was unlike anything I’d experienced before.
It was both primal and all-consuming, as though the mere fact of Layana’s status as my future bride brought out something in me that I never knew existed.
Fuck. What the hell was happening to me?
It should’ve been a business move. But the way I watched her?
That wasn’t strategy—it was hunger. I recall the day I accepted her proposal as if it were yesterday.
After just one day of reflection, I took a daring and reassuring step.
My friends frequently teased me about my years of being single, but I learned that living solo didn’t fit my vision for the future.
I sought to present a picture of stability, with a partner alongside me to face the challenges of the business world.
Some might have scoffed at the idea of arranged marriages in this age, yet in my circles, it was a common occurrence.
I felt the weight of my family's expectations; every choice had implications that rippled through our wealth and influence.
As I pondered over the union, I understood the unspoken truth: for the men in the syndicates, securing the right wife often meant safeguarding family legacies.
In that moment of clarity, I realized that selecting a partner was not solely about love. It was a calculated decision in a game where reputation and alliances were more significant than romance.
This situation was no exception.
However, there were additional side benefits.
It freed me from relentless matchmaking attempts by ambitious debutantes and their eager mothers.
Spending time with a woman, or to be blunt, fucking her, wasn’t the same as wanting to marry her. Often, this difference in views placed me in the challenging position of having to extricate myself from awkward situations.
An arranged marriage provided the advantage of avoiding the typical emotional challenges associated with intimate relationships. Emotions wouldn't factor in if it were just a business contractual arrangement. I’d witnessed the devastation caused by loving deeply and losing it all.
My father had never recovered from losing my mother, Amara, and my sister, Cora.
Five years ago, they died tragically in a car bombing meant for my father and me. Instead of us, they became the unintended victims of a territorial war they had no part in.
Then I lost my father to a heart attack just three years later. Yet his spirit had already faded with Mama and Cora in that car. Without them, he became a mere shadow of his former self, the brightness in his once-vibrant blue eyes extinguished.
Following his passing, I promised myself to never let another woman into my heart. A cold, arranged marriage was exactly what I needed.
Then there was the ultimate reason for marrying Layana Vitalis.
The future of the Galanis legacy.
The Vitalis family name represented power in Greece and was synonymous with respect and legacy.
The Vitalis family presided over the most crucial regions of the nation, earning respect through their actions and character.
Tales of their lineage were whispered in shadowy taverns and around firesides, stories passed down through the ages for countless centuries.
Marrying a Vitalis sister meant joining a lineage akin to royalty, bringing numerous advantages. From the moment of their births, the three remaining sisters were regarded as matrimonial prizes. Rejecting the proposal extended to me would have been sheer stupidity.
They didn’t choose me by chance—I’d outplayed every contender.
But why had Layana chosen me above all others?
I had a nagging suspicion that the decision wasn’t solely hers to make. Everyone was aware of the deep bond she shared with her sisters, and it stood to reason that their guardian, Vik, would have played a significant role in whatever choice was made.
Could it be that he had influenced her decision?
Vik was well acquainted with my father, and as Juno Vitalis’s second, he spent considerable time on the estate.
Soon enough, I would uncover the truth behind her choice.
As I headed downstairs, my phone buzzed, interrupting my thoughts. With a sigh of impatience, I pulled it out and answered, “Galanis.”
“I have news about your brothers,” one of my lieutenants announced, stirring familiar tension within me.
I struggled to suppress the impulse to clench my jaw. It felt like I couldn’t get through even an hour without confronting some problem related to my self-involved younger siblings, Stefano and Markos.
“Speak up,” I ordered, my patience running thin.
“Our team is watching them. They’re on the family yacht near Cyprus.” His reply deepened my frustration.
“Why are they there? Who authorized their use of the yacht?” I pressed.
My brothers spent more time vacationing than contributing—utterly useless.
“We are waiting for details from our people mixed in with their men,” the soldier replied, a calm contrast to my growing annoyance.
“Report once you receive the details. They’re up to something. The last thing we need is for one of them to jeopardize our deals,” I instructed, the gravity of the situation weighing on my mind.
“Yes, sir,” he affirmed before the line went silent. After hanging up, I tucked my phone back into my pocket and went downstairs. I halted at the bottom, captivated by Layana stepping into the grand foyer.
Her gaze locked onto mine with an intensity that suggested she had anticipated my presence at that exact spot.
What was it about her that drew me so irresistibly?
I had always been drawn to women with fiery spirits, and Layana undoubtedly possessed that quality in abundance. She was no pushover. She exuded focus, determination, and an undeniable aura of fearlessness that was hard to overlook.
I approached her, eager to see how the evening would unfold.
Tearing my gaze from Layana, I briefly greeted Avra, Elias, and Vik before returning to her. I wanted to make her wait, to gauge her reaction.
“It’s good to see you,” I said, holding her gaze and bringing her hand to my lips.
“You too,” she replied as her gaze swept over me.
I couldn’t help but comment, “Every time I see you, Layana, you look even more mesmerizing.”
Her cheeks flushed, and her sparkling green eyes held me captivated. An intriguing hint of innocence lingered in her coy smile, subtle yet inviting.
I recalled the fierce warrior I had previously encountered, steadfast in her mission to rescue her sister, and admired her metamorphosis into an embodiment of pure sensuality and femininity.
“You’ve changed,” I murmured. “What’s behind this transformation?”
“I embody many things and reveal them only when the moment is right.”
Her reply surprised me, and I couldn’t help but say, “I look forward to unwrapping every single one, Layana.” Then, I turned to the group and said, “I’m delighted you’re all here. Shall we tour the estate?”
“We’d love that,” Vik agreed, adding, “Your estate is truly remarkable, Nikolas.”
“Thank you,” I replied. “My family has been building this estate for generations. Right now, it’s just me here.”
I turned to Layana briefly, then diverted my gaze, noticing her lips parting as if hinting at the possibilities of our future.
Soon, she would roam the grand hallways with me, freely reigning over my sprawling estate.
The idea of someone else living here with me wasn’t unpleasant.
As I guided the four of them through the intricately designed tour, I was acutely aware of how it might appear from Layana’s perspective, experiencing it all for the first time and knowing that this would be her home as my wife.
“What about your brothers?” Avra asked.
Suppressing my displeasure at their disregard for the land that provided them with their wealth, I responded, “They prefer city life. The estate doesn’t suit them.”
“It’s stunning,” Avra said, awe shining in her eyes. “The vineyards stretch endlessly behind the grand house, like a sea of green waves.”
“It does feel that way,” I agreed, nodding. “The olive groves on the other side have the same timeless charm. I would lose myself in them for hours as a child, wandering among the ancient trees.”
“It must have been amazing to grow up here,” Elias remarked, eyes scanning the landscape. “I read that your vineyard produces a significant amount of mavroudi wine.”
“It’s true,” I replied with a hint of pride. “My father had a particular fondness for it, often joking that it was the wine that?—”
“—that Odysseus used to get Polyphemus drunk!” Layana interjected with amusement.