Chapter 19
Nineteen
N erine
Finally, the day was here.
Andraius’s funeral.
I’d wanted it. I’d waited for it.
Now here I stood with an umbrella over my head in the pouring rain under a giant tent that did little to protect us from the leaking canopy above us.
The weather seemed fitting, considering the cloud of suspicion surrounding the guest of honor was going into the ground.
Why the hell had Andraius written that he wanted an outdoor liturgy? I’d never understand. Still, here I was, dutiful wife and giving him his last wishes.
Maybe he’d thought I’d give him a big send-off in the spacious Angelos cemetery where my family members were laid to rest.
Yeah, that was never going to happen.
Hell would freeze over before I’d bestow such an honor on him.
Instead, I’d purchased a large section of the cemetery belonging to his home church and had it designated for him. No matter how I felt about him, he was still considered the head of a powerful family and deserved a proper burial in a blessed area.
It just wouldn’t be one sacred to my family.
If anyone thought my actions were questionable, they were all idiots and possessed selective memories of what occurred only a few years ago.
From the moment I’d opened my eyes this morning, I’d known that I had to harden myself for the day ahead, which meant implementing many of the lessons the squad taught me. Principal among them was to show no weakness in front of anyone who slighted me.
I’d survived so much and had grown stronger.
I had to remember society admired men who were ruthless, and when women behaved the same way, they were bitches.
Blessings to all the bitches in the world.
I inhaled deep and then steadied my breath.
All eyes are on you, Nerine. Perform your duties, and don’t let even one of them see you sweat.
Representatives of thirty or so families had arrived from around the country to pay their condolences. Even Andraius’s brothers and nephews showed up, which surprised all of us.
My gut told me they planned to determine their chances of filling Andraius’s position. They’d hated him with a passion for betraying them. They sought every advantage to muscle their way into the Angelos territory.
Then again, many of the other families here today would do the same thing.
They wanted to see whether the Angeloses were even more vulnerable to a hostile takeover now that I sat at the head of the table.
Assholes, all of them.
I stared into the distance wearing my standard expressionless facade. However, with my sunglasses perched on my nose, no one would know I wasn’t paying attention to Father Christianos going through the divine liturgy.
Thankfully, all the kneeling was out because of the nonstop rain.
The wind picked up as the weather eased from a heavy pour to a drizzle.
Being here without Mama and the girls standing by my side felt strange. Their presence would have eased some of my tension and given me the extra boost to build my confidence in this sea of vultures. But as luck had it, being with me wasn’t in the cards for them. There had been delays with closing the house, and then unexpected volcanic activity on an island off the coast of Italy had grounded all flights in and out of that part of Europe.
Xander and Theo stood behind me, officially taking on the roles as my seconds-in-command. They kept our public interactions businesslike to keep anyone from suspecting the depth of what we shared.
Today, I needed them more than I wanted to admit. A slight touch from them would soothe the turmoil churning inside me.
They were my lovers, my protectors, and the only men I trusted. They comforted me on a level I hadn’t known I needed. They were my safe place.
But some part of me worried I couldn’t give them what they needed, what they wanted from me. Maybe it was the fact things weren’t the same level of intimacy as we had before. Xander and Theo wanted each other. I saw it when we were together, I felt it, but they wouldn’t act on it. Something held them back. And now it made me wonder whether I would be enough for them.
No, that was my fear rearing its ugly head. I wanted what they offered, and if I took it and something came and stole it away like last time, I’d survive.
I was a survivor.
I shook the thoughts back and refocused on the priest.
It was time to harden up and play the role of the Angelos widow and the new head of Angelos Shipping and Syndicate.
Besides Stefano, who held my umbrella, my row remained empty. And it was probably a good thing.
This position helped me fight back against the figurehead role I knew I’d have to battle. No matter what Xander and Theo believed, no one would respect my position until I met with the local heads and established my presence. Saying I was the Angelos meant nothing when Xander and Theo had run the organization under Andraius’s reign.
“Let us pray for Andraius’s soul, that he may?—”
I tuned Father Christianos out again, not wanting to hear any of his false, loving words and the long-winded sermon about the devil he cared for so much.
Fucking bastard. He was one of the reasons I’d nearly lost all faith in God.
He was Andraius’s priest, and his church was not the Greek Orthodox Church of my family.
This man despised me for the woman I was to the core, mainly because I refused to follow what he believed was God’s decree to let my husband lead our faith. Which for him meant his church with his rules and principles. What he truly wanted was the Angelos tithing, a lucrative windfall he couldn’t get unless I claimed his sanctuary as my church home. That wouldn’t happen since I attended regular service with Father Michael at the church down the street from my house.
I avoided being in Father Christianos’s presence whenever possible, and the only other religious service I’d attended where he presided was the day he allowed Andraius to force me to marry him. He’d stood there as if everything was wonderful, that I was a willing bride, that he wasn’t part of the conspiracy leading to the deaths of so many people.
He’d watched when Andraius took his marital rights, supervising, as he worded it, to ensure consummation. Then he’d held me down when the demon in the casket carved whore onto my stomach. He’d approved it and considered it a fitting punishment for my sins.
I would love to carve hypocrite and liar all over his face.
“Would you like to say anything, Nerine?” Father Christianos asked, shaking me from my brooding.
I stared at him, trying to comprehend his words.
As they clicked in my head, outrage engulfed my body.
Was he kidding me? This jackass who thought a woman’s only place in the world was below men actually wanted me to speak about my dead husband.
The challenge in his dark gaze said all I needed to know. He wanted to push me, put me in my place, make me little in the eyes of all the families attending the funeral.
I sensed Theo and Xander shifting behind me, picking up on my irritation. I slightly shook the hand I held at my side to indicate I’d handle it.
If this was the first battle I faced, so be it.
As a man of God, he wore a cloak of protection, keeping him from retaliation for his part in the coup. But his time in a position of power ticked by just like the grains of sand poured through an hourglass.
During a conversation with Mama, I’d decided he wouldn’t die by an order from me or means of any Angelos connections. Instead, we would send information about his dealings to the church’s higher-ups and allow them to handle things. Disgrace among his peers was the best punishment for someone like him. To live out his life exiled and shunned was the perfect revenge.
The Angeloses were significant donors to the archdioceses in Boston and throughout Greece. The last thing the church wanted was to look the other way when evidence showed one of their own waded in piles of corruption.
Holding Father Christianos’s gaze, I asked, “Are you sure it is appropriate? Aren’t you a proponent of a particular mindset on women’s participation in religious services?”
He smiled and spoke loud enough for those in attendance to hear. “It is only fitting for Andraius’s widow to address all those who came to pay him respects.”
Oh, he was diabolical.
He couldn’t possibly expect me to wax poetic about the man who killed my father and brother and then raped me for years.
This idiot had no idea what havoc Andraius’s widow could drop on his head. But he was about to find out.
I nodded. “I believe you’re correct.”
Glancing over my shoulder, I scanned the faces of the group behind me.
Concern and worry radiated out from Xander and Theo while the rest of the crowd waited to see what I’d do.
Were they expecting me to fall apart or show them the bitch Andraius labeled me to the world?
I’d do neither.
Stepping forward, I narrowed my focus on the priest and held out my hand. He set the earpiece mic in my palm. Attaching it to my ear, I turned to the crowd and positioned myself in front of Andraius’s casket.
Father Christianos remained near me as if he wanted to maintain the position of authority over this situation he’d created.
It was time to shift his paradigm.
I remained quiet until an uncomfortable silence descended around us.
“You can begin,” the priest ordered.
I covered the mic and looked directly at him. With my height and heels, I stood at eye level with him.
This fucker couldn’t intimidate me, and when it finally registered, a creased formed between his brows.
Maybe it was accepting my change in circumstances or finally feeling that Andraius was no longer a haunting presence in my life. Or perhaps it was my new relationship with Theo and Xander. But I’d never let another man take away my power again.
Plus, using one’s height or body mass as a weapon against a woman was pathetic.
It screamed insecure male with little-dick syndrome.
After meeting Devani, I knew size meant nothing when it came to being lethal. She was the deadliest person I’d ever met and barely reached five-foot-two.
In a low tone meant for his ears, I said, “Not until you step to the side. I am Andraius’s widow and the only one who can speak on his behalf. You wanted this. Now deal with the consequences.”
The look the priest shot me screamed that he’d kill me right on the spot, given a chance. I half expected an argument from him, but to my surprise, he walked away and took a position along the podium’s edge.
I focused on the people before me and started, “Everyone knows my courtship with Andraius was extremely unconventional.”
I paused, holding gazes with all of the heads of families who could have helped me when everything happened. Some glanced away. Others remained impassive. I hoped they understood that I had a long memory.
Peter Angelos hadn’t raised a chump.
“If any of you are waiting for me to say I will miss my spouse, don’t hold your breath. It will never happen in this lifetime or any lifetime. I am happy he is gone.”
A slight gasp came from a few people, followed by a bit of chatter, but they all quieted as soon as I cleared my throat.
“He destroyed my family, then tried to tear down the legacy created over generations due to sheer ego and ignorance, and then his stupidity caused his untimely death. Frankly, I’m surprised it didn’t happen sooner. I am thankful to the person who committed this act of service. They saved me years of my life. Now I will take the seat Papa intended as my birthright.”
My gaze passed over the crowd again.
“Do not assume I am anything like my predecessor. Andraius called me cold-hearted and many other things that aren’t appropriate to repeat now. Men who are intimidated by strong women use name-calling and oppression to cover their insecurities. Hopefully, no one thinks to make similar mistakes.”
My attention shifted to Nyx, who stood next to Simon. She smiled at me from under her umbrella and nodded her approval.
“A few last things. I will not mourn the man behind me. I do not need condolences outside of the ones for the many years my mother, sisters, and I lost because of him. I wish him well wherever he is, whether heaven or hell. All I care about is that he is out of my life. Thank you for taking the time to show your support for the Angelos Family.”
I took off the ear mic and passed it to Stefano, who handed it to the flabbergasted priest.
The next time I attended a church service, it would be with my sisters and Mama.
Now for a strong cup of coffee to keep me going through the rest of the day.
* * *
“That was some speech.”
I lifted my attention from my phone, where I was reading the latest updates from my sisters, to find Tobias Stratos moving in my direction.
Andraius’s nephew possessed the confidence most of the firstborn sons in the syndicate world seemed to have been born with. They knew they were the heir apparent and wielded the power that went with the role.
In Tobias’s case, he already ran his family’s empire. His father and uncles only sat in their positions as advisers, but he was the force that made all the decisions.
Setting my phone next to me, I gave Tobias my complete focus. “I only spoke the truth.”
“Then I have another truth to ask you.” He sat next to me, not asking permission to take the seat, something I noticed annoyed Stefano, who watched us with a keen eye.
“Ask.”
“Since you aren’t going to mourn your deceased husband, does that mean you plan to move on from him sooner rather than later?”
“Are you applying for consideration?”
He grinned. “Absolutely.”
I cocked my head to the side, taking Tobias in. He was around thirty and handsome, with amber eyes and jet-black hair. Height-wise, he wouldn’t tower over me, but he wasn’t short, and his body tended toward the lean runner type. He held a ladies’ man reputation with an array of broken-hearted women who could never keep him long enough to settle down. Or those were the rumors circulating about him.
I’d learned all about him through Andraius’s rantings and even more during private discussions with Mama.
I hadn’t expected to find out that his family had offered to align our families through a marriage contract for all of us girls with the sons of the Stratos family. I was chosen specifically for Tobias. Papa had rejected it, saying he wanted to give his daughters the freedom to pick their own spouses.
Though to keep relationships on the friendly side, Papa kept the possibility of things open by saying he would allow the Stratos boy to court his daughter when they came of age.
Court us? Were we in the stone ages?
However, in reality, Papa never wanted me or my sisters with the Stratoses. Their family only focused on power and territory and wouldn’t think twice about double-crossing an ally.
“Marriage and relationships are the last things on my list of priorities at the moment. I may not even tackle them at all.”
“You can’t be serious.” Surprise and concern crossed his features. “You have to produce an heir. You and your sisters are the last of your bloodline.”
Oh, I had to shut this down immediately.
“This isn’t a topic you need to worry about. I’ll handle it when the time comes. I’m the Angelos, and my energy and focus are on the management of Angelos Shipping.”
“Does that mean you plan to ignore the rumors circulating about you?” A calculating glint entered his eyes, reminding me of his uncle and giving me the urge to punch him.
I stared at him. This attitude had to be a family trait. Studying his face, I hadn’t realized how much he resembled Andraius.
Now it made sense.
“Why don’t you clarify this information?” I frowned. “I don’t work in gossip. I’m a facts person.”
I gave him my cool, “Are you really wasting my time with this?” tone, which had his posture straightening and making him realize the flirty, friendly approach wasn’t working.
“Some say you killed Andraius.” He paused, taking in my reaction, but I gave him none. “And others believe you arranged for others to carry out the act for you.”
“This is the only time I will ever address rumors. And this is because Andraius was your family.”
Tobias waited, watching me.
“When bringing rumors to someone, ask yourself these questions.” I gestured to myself. “Do I look like I have the body mass to eliminate Andraius in the location where they found him and then make it home to create a solid alibi?”
“No.”
“Now to the second rumor—if I planned to eliminate Andraius, why would I wait all these years for someone to carry it out? And lastly, do you honestly think I’d let him destroy my family’s business positioning before acting?”
He shook his head and grinned. “No, you aren’t a suspect in my eyes. That is the reason I discounted everything as fanciful talk in society.”
“Then why bring it up?”
“To see your reaction.”
I gave him no response.
“And to pass on things you need to keep knowledge about, even if it is hearsay.”
Oh, he was being friendly, passing on information like we were long-lost pals.
“I appreciate the advice.”
A smile touched his lips. “Who do you believe killed him?”
“My men will deal with that situation.”
“Are you referring to Onassis and Nephus?”
“Among others.”
“I’d watch them. They have the ear of your people. You wouldn’t want them to stage another coup under your nose. Don’t let childhood friendship blind you to their ambition. You may find yourself as a figurehead only.”
I resisted the urge to grit my teeth.
“I hold their ear. They follow my commands. Their loyalty is multigenerational to the Angelos family. They would never betray me.”
“Are you so sure?”
“Absolutely.”
He rubbed his jaw as if scrutinizing me. “Will you punish the assailants who committed Andraius’s murder or commend them?”
He was mistaken if he thought I hadn’t picked up on how he kept changing topics. He wanted to keep me on my toes. Very smart.
“You believe there were multiple killers?”
“I do.”
“The way I conduct the Angelos business is not your concern.”
“He is family, so I have a right to retribution.”
“No, you don’t. Andraius renounced his Stratos ties.”
Tobias rose from his seat. “You need allies in this world you’ve joined, Nerine. You’re playing with predators. Don’t ever believe you’re safe.”
“Is that a threat? Are you telling me the Stratoses plan to position themselves outside Chicago and move into Boston?”
“I’m saying the Angeloses’ Boston holdings are weak, and unless they don’t want a takeover, they better accept help when offered.”
“Duly noted. However, sometimes the deadliest creatures are the ones that look harmless.” I rose as I caught sight of Nyx and Simon coming in our direction. “Tobias, I’m sure you know Nyx and Simon Drakos.”
As they approached, Tobias’s gaze hardened and relaxed as if I’d said something amusing. This was an act I’d witnessed more times than I could count with the man I’d buried today. Interesting, not only did Tobias share a familial resemblance to Andraius, but mannerisms, too.
“You see, I have the Drakoses and Mykoses as allies. Papa made bonds that supersede the grave.”
“My offer still stands. Think about it.”
I pushed down the irritation. I hadn’t heard any offer, more veiled threats. The power jockeying was in full swing, and I hadn’t even left the funeral.