Chapter 14
Fourteen
N IKOLAS
You’re the best, Niko. I love you.
Laya’s simple declaration echoed in my mind, repeating each syllable like a soothing melody.
I kept repeating them to myself: I love you.
Was it real? Had I misinterpreted her confession due to her habit of texting her sisters throughout the day, a potential impulsive mistake?
It seemed so simple, right?
Love was a dangerous, off-limits territory I had tried to avoid, yet her message awakened something that was an exhilarating mix of excitement and deep-seated terror within me.
Three little words, but they carried overwhelming power.
I found myself rereading her text over and over. Each glance at the glowing screen was a desperate attempt to convince myself that my heart wasn’t just deceiving me.
But it blared back like a bright neon sign every time, impossible to ignore.
Laya was an unstoppable force in bed, full of passion and wild energy. Yet, we had never allowed anything so emotional to slip into the air between us during our heated physical moments. I exhaled slowly and took a calming breath, attempting to navigate the whirlwind of emotions within me.
Some part of me wanted her to truly mean it.
I wanted her love.
What did that reveal about me?
Was I exposing a weakness—a need for love that undermined the tough persona I’d constructed?
The haunting memory of losing Mama and Cora surged forward, cruelly reminding me of the cost of love. Love meant loss, and the thought of losing Layana was an agony I wasn’t ready to face again.
How might my position in the world shift if I desired something more from her than mere physical satisfaction? And did I even love her in return? If I did, it might signal the beginning of my downfall.
Being in love left me exposed, especially around my enemies. Even my brothers might see it as a flaw. Love, with its inherent tenderness and fragility, made me vulnerable to losing something I cherished or having it used against me.
Previously, I’d thrived on the harsh freedom of having nothing precious to lose. That fierce independence was my greatest advantage, a barrier against adversaries who could never inflict as much pain as someone I loved deeply could. Now, that threat loomed over me like a shadow.
I ran my hand through my hair, feeling its rough strands as I read her message again:
I love you. I love you. I love you…
If there was already love between us, I would be at a disadvantage. That thought terrified me.
Was I ready to give up even a little of my hard-earned control? I had clawed my way through hardship and sacrifice, and everything I had built was now at risk. Moreover, opening myself up to love felt like inviting heartbreak.
If Laya ever left, the pain would be unbearable. I was just starting to heal from the devastating losses of my mother and sister. How could I face another blow of such magnitude?
I reclined on a worn chair on the sunlit terrace, the cool evening breeze brushing against me. Disappointment churned within me as I heard deliberate footsteps approaching.
I turned to see Pavlos Tripi coming over. He was my second-in-command, someone I trusted with my life, and I viewed him more as a brother than those related by blood.
“Pavlos,” I called out, noticing the agitation on his face. “Is there an issue?”
“You could say that,” he replied, urgency clear in his voice.
Pavlos was a large, imposing man, sharp and strong. With a mix of educated insight and street smarts, he had stood by my side for years, his loyalty unwavering.
“Sit down and tell me about it.” I gestured to the empty space on the worn lounge chair beside me.
Taking the chair across from me, he leaned forward. “I’ve received some troubling news from Leon Boscos’s people.”
I raised an eyebrow, intrigued.
As the head of an allied syndicate family, Boscos kept his eyes and ears open for threats. If he reached out, things were about to take a turn for the worse.
“There’s a plan in motion against the Vitalis family,” Pavlos said.
“A plan?” I echoed, letting it hang in the air like a dark warning. “You mean a hit.”
Pavlos nodded, a crease forming between his brows.
My stomach twisted as a cold dread wrapped around me. I had expected treachery, but not so soon—and not so close to our wedding.
“All three sisters, even Avra’s husband, Elias, are marked for assassination. The justification is revenge for the recent murders,” Pavlos continued.
“Why am I not surprised?” I murmured, sinking farther into the chair with a deep, despairing sigh.
Avra and Elias had exacted their revenge on the three men who caused her father’s death. They acted swiftly after the sisters returned, making it clear who was responsible. I believed that retaliation was inevitable, a brutal cycle that affected everyone.
But now, this mess was mine to manage. By marrying into the Vitalis family, I had intertwined my fate with theirs, just as Laya’s had become entangled with the Galanis family. Their battles were now part of my life, and in turn, my struggles were their struggles too.
The news didn’t come as a complete surprise, but it added to an already long and deadly list of rivals. Our enemies were ruthless, and the families of those targeted, connected to the brutal acts committed by Avra and Elias, were equally unforgiving. They would stop at nothing to seek revenge.
In that instant, as the sun’s last rays vanished beyond the horizon and shadows began to gather, I felt the profound weight of our intertwined destinies, a journey shaped by love, power, and the steep cost of vulnerability.
“Do you know any more details?” I asked, maintaining my composure despite the underlying tension.
“Nothing solid yet, but I’ve heard rumors that the other family heads are calling for a meeting. It seems our plan has leaked beyond our circle and into other syndicates. None of them appears pleased about the Vitalis sisters returning.”
“Of course, they aren’t,” I murmured, my thoughts racing. “Claiming territory that never rightfully belonged to them and then having the true owners return complicates matters for these families. The presence of the Vitalis sisters undermines the legitimacy of fifteen years of control.”
“Exactly,” Pavlos agreed, nodding gravely. “The disruption is spreading. Plenty of men are out there simmering with anger, ready to act at any moment.”
“Looks like it’s time for me to take charge. I will contact Elias and set things in motion to protect our women.”
“Is there anything you need me to do?” Pavlos asked, his eyes scanning the darkening terrace as if expecting the shadows to speak.
“Yes, arrange the meeting,” I said firmly. “Stay alert. If you notice any unusual movement, let me know right away.”
“Will do,” he promised, then rose and disappeared into the twilight, leaving me alone with my thoughts. I reached for my phone, its screen casting a faint glow in the deepening dusk, and dialed Elias.
On the second ring, he answered, “This is Xenos.”
“Elias, it’s Niko,” I began.
“I expected to hear from you soon,” he replied.
“Yeah, I received some unsettling news,” I confessed, subduing my pitch.
“I’ve heard some whispers, too.” His clipped response revealed a simmering anger beneath the surface.
I understood him completely.
I felt the slow-burning rage bubbling within me, mirroring Elias’s emotions at that moment. Neither of us would ever allow any harm to our brides or their sister. We were committed to protecting them as fiercely as the ancient trees rooted around us, just as Vik had promised.
“There’s going to be a meeting between the family heads,” I informed him. “My man is organizing it.”
“I’ll be there,” Elias affirmed without hesitation. “Just let me know when and where.”
“I’ll send you the details as soon as everything is finalized.”
After a brief pause, he inquired, “What about Avra and Laya?”
I hesitated before asking. “What do you mean?”
“Are you going to invite them to the meeting?” he pressed.
I drew a firm line. “No—I want to keep the women out of it, at least for now. Their presence would only fan the flames of the already high tensions. I hope to ease the concerns of the other family heads about the Vitalis sisters. If the women are there, they likely won’t be able to hold back their emotions, and the last thing we need is another disaster within our ranks. ”
“I agree, but they certainly have a talent for discovering things,” Elias acknowledged. “It won’t be long before they hear about this, and once they do, convincing them to stay away will be a struggle.”
“I understand,” I replied. “But I’m prepared to do whatever it takes to ensure everyone's safety.”
“Got it,” Elias responded. “I’ll remain vigilant and await your update.”
“Thanks, Elias,” I said. “I truly appreciate your assistance.”
“We’re family now,” he asserted. “Protect my wife, and I’ll safeguard yours. That’s how we do things.”
“Rest assured, no one is getting close to them,” I promised with quiet resolve.
“I feel the same way.”
After hanging up, I stayed on the terrace, watching the tall trees as their shadows swayed in the evening breeze.
For a long hour, my mind was consumed with strategies and the weighty responsibility of facing the approaching storm. Each idea was as tangled as the roots below the ground.
Later that night, I sat at the long, polished dining table across from Laya as we savored a lavish meal of tender lamb and fragrant rice. Each time her silverware clinked against the ceramic plate, the sound felt too sharp, piercing through the heavy, tense air between us.
I couldn’t shake the memory of her text.
I love you.
Now, she seemed to withdraw even from sharing the same space at the table.
What was truly happening with her?
I kept wondering if she had somehow caught wind of the dark plot swirling around her and her sisters. But if she had heard anything, I was sure she would have mentioned it. If she had discovered the secret meeting, I would definitely be in trouble.