Chapter 15
Fifteen
L AYANA
The dull, persistent ache where Niko had bitten me the day before pulsed with each step as I navigated the narrow stone passage of the cellar.
I couldn’t stop thinking about watching him disappear down the driveway on his little golf cart, the one he used to zip swiftly between the vineyards, with his security team trailing behind.
Instead of concentrating on the detailed layout plans for the new training studio, waves of irritation and annoyance bombarded me, leaving me no choice but to pace back and forth like a trapped animal.
Yesterday’s events still simmered within me. He’d stirred me up so much, and I now realized with bitter clarity that I hadn’t come down to resolve or confront anything.
My husband’s cluelessness only aggravated my irritation. He had no idea I had overheard his private conversations that afternoon.
I remembered every detail of what Niko discussed with Pavlos. Then, there was the quiet plotting about how to keep the syndicate meeting a secret from me.
Elias seemed to be winning the battle of wits. As he confidently planned to reveal the secret later, my dear husband was foolishly chatting on that sunny terrace, not even bothering to check if anyone nearby could overhear.
I recalled the moment after a grueling training session with Cali when I had positioned myself just far enough away to catch every syllable ringing out clear as a bell.
One word echoed in my mind: traitor.
The urge to confront him was overwhelming at that moment.
However, I chose not to, reasoning that if he was going to keep secrets, I could do the same.
I intended to take action later that evening once I had developed a clear plan. Yet, the memory of our heated confrontation, his sharp intensity, and his unexpected probing of my emotions made me doubt myself.
This morning, I awoke with my body still aching from yesterday’s turmoil, but my mind was clear and resolute. With him now wandering the meticulously maintained grounds, it was the perfect opportunity to make my calls.
I reached for my phone.
First on my mental list was Avra, then Vik.
I had a solid strategy for our next steps, but needed to discuss it with the team first. We were united, and betrayal wasn’t an option.
I suspected that Vik, who managed operations on the front lines and oversaw one of our main territories, might already be aware of the assassination plot against us. His role kept him closely connected with current intelligence. Reflecting on our progress, I was amazed at how far we had come.
With Avra and Elias overthrowing his father, we had seamlessly united three territories, and my marriage to Niko had added three more to our empire.
Cali’s upcoming marriage would further bolster our power. With six regions under the Vitalis name, each was prepared to defend our interests without hesitation.
Even if our rivals protested, it was merely their fear of losing the power they desperately clung to.
We weren’t about to back down. We would reclaim what was rightfully ours, and our determination wouldn’t waver until we achieved victory.
I pressed the phone to my ear and dialed Avra’s number, my heart dancing between excitement and fear. Her voice was clear and confident, with a musical quality that made each word seem perfectly timed.
“Laya, hello,” she answered in her usual cheerful way, but I sensed an edge to her greeting that worried me.
And unfortunately, I would be adding to whatever was bothering her.
“I need to tell you something.”
“Same to you. But I planned to wait until later this evening for our chat.”
“Well then, let me begin.”
Over the next five minutes, I recounted the overheard conversation in detail.
The details spilled out, barely keeping pace with the torrent of emotions inside me. Avra sighed, a slow breath that seemed to carry the weight of shared secrets.
“Yes, I heard about it this morning from Elias,” she replied.
In that moment, my heart skipped a beat, a mixture of shock and betrayal.
Elias had told Avra, and to my disbelief, my husband had chosen to withhold this crucial information from me.
Anger and jealousy surged through me, leaving me entangled in a blur of emotions I couldn’t untangle.
“This is what I planned to discuss in our call,” Avra continued.
“I’m shocked Elias went to you,” I managed to say with the churning emotions raging inside me.
“Why?” she asked, genuine curiosity woven in her question. “We promised not to keep secrets from each other.”
Her reminder struck me like a blow, and another sharp pang of envy stung me. Here was a relationship based on total honesty.
While Niko and I felt adrift, our connection had dwindled to fleeting physical sparks and unspoken arrangements. He managed his company with an iron fist, leaving little room for me to share the intricacies of his world.
Perhaps he kept me in the dark, believing I couldn’t handle his secrets. That thought was infuriating, a raw mix of betrayal and confusion.
Still, amid all the turmoil, I found comfort in Avra’s steadiness, recalling how she had once entered a marriage for revenge, only to discover that a true, unwavering love was meant just for her.
“I believe we should go to that meeting ourselves, Avra,” I stated, a sense of determination filling my entire body.
I knew it was the right decision to the core of my soul.
“I think that’s a wise choice,” she responded with conviction. “What about Cali?”
“No, she has endured enough hardship,” I replied. “We can handle this without her.”
Her agreement provided a small relief.
“I’m calling Vik now to discuss the details,” I said, adopting a professional mindset despite the personal hurt I felt beneath the surface.
“Okay, let me know what you find out. I love you, Laya,” she said.
I exhaled, a sound heavy with pent-up emotions and unexpressed thoughts about Niko that I couldn’t yet disclose.
“Love you too. I’ll be in touch soon.”
After I hung up, I paced the corridor. Frustration swirled in my thoughts, each heartbeat amplifying the sting of betrayal.
Reluctantly, I set aside my feelings for Niko and called Vik’s number.
“Ah, I was expecting your call.” His greeting was instantly recognizable and oddly comforting in its straightforwardness.
“Of course you were,” I responded dryly. “You have spies everywhere, across every syndicate, feeding you all the rumors. Care to tell me who’s watching me right now?”
“I’d never divulge my sources.” Vik chuckled.
“Killjoy,” I replied, our shared banter lightening the mood for a moment.
Vik always had a way of bringing calm amidst the chaos.
“Let me get right to it,” I said. “I’m livid.”
“That’s clear. I don’t need anyone to tell me. I can hear it in your voice. Continue so I can confirm the reason.”
“Oh, I’m certain you’re aware.”
“Just verify it for me.”
I gritted my teeth. “My husband is secretly organizing a covert meeting with the syndicates without my knowledge.”
“Laya, not everything is so black and white,” he said in his firm, parental, chiding way.
I couldn’t suppress the agitation that rushed up. The last thing I wanted was a lecture about trust and secrets.
“But keeping secrets from your wife is as black and white as it gets,” I shot back.
“You’ve got much to learn if you believe Niko isn’t hiding things from you, sweetheart,” Vik warned. “Some things are best left undisclosed.”
I sighed, the sound weighed down by mixed emotions.
“I’m not someone who needs protection from the dangers or consequences of our world. I’ve dealt with it myself my entire life.”
“Remember, Niko has lost every woman he ever loved, including his mother and sister. It makes sense that he’s overly protective of you, worried that the past might repeat itself. He doesn’t want another tragedy to occur, and I can’t blame him for that. He underestimates your strength.”
My emotions burned in my throat as Vik’s remark about Niko losing every woman he loved stung.
Niko hadn’t admitted he loved me in the way I yearned for. It was a truth that always felt just out of reach. I had known his rules from the beginning, as if each step were preordained.
No, this was purely business. Yet, the raw, intense nature of the sex was a major component, so physical and bewildering that I often questioned how such passion could exist without affection.
As I planned my next move, guilt tightened around my chest. Keeping secrets from Niko felt like a betrayal, but his silence left me no choice. The difference between shielding him and deceiving him seemed increasingly blurry.
I cursed myself for sending that foolish text and revealing my vulnerability.
What had I been thinking?
I had left myself wide open to being hurt, and now I felt like nothing more than a puppet tangled in his game.
The memory of him pausing mid-act—a sudden need for reassurance about my emotions—made me shudder. With his longing only half-fulfilled, what was I supposed to say?
I shook my head, trying to clear the chaos in my thoughts. Just because Vik said something didn’t make it the ultimate truth. Wouldn’t Niko make that clear if he truly cared for and loved me?
Maybe I was mistaken in thinking I understood him.
“Anyway,” Vik interjected with a hint of compassion, “take it easy on him, Laya. You're both just trying to find your way through this labyrinth. From what I gather, the meeting is slated for sometime next week. The specifics are still emerging, but I’ll keep you posted as soon as I have more information.”
“Thank you, Vik,” I replied, my mouth curving with a hint of bitterness. “That saves me from having to pry every secret out of my husband’s mind.”
“That sounds particularly unpleasant. Yeah, wait for my call,” he responded.
“Fine, though I’m tempted,” I admitted, my irritation mingling with a wry grin.
“Calm down, Athena, Goddess of War,” he teased, easing the tension between us.
“I’d rather be Athena, Goddess of Information,” I retorted, weariness seeping into my body. “Now hurry up with that call.”
“Are you going to tell Niko you plan to attend this soirée?” Vik asked, already knowing my answer.
“My husband seems to love surprises,” I mused as a tingling of wicked excitement filled me, easing some of my annoyance with my spouse. “I can always surprise him, too.”