ANDRONIKOS

My office at the pharmaceutical company—a front for our illegal business—overlooked the city of New York. Ironic, really, considering I’m also involved in illegal drugs. Through the window, I watched the city, waiting patiently for Georgios to come to me. I’d had time to think about what happened at the trafficking ring and had finally concluded that it was him. But first, I was going to get it out of him.

A knock at the door, interrupted my thoughts.

“Come in,” I called out, my hands in my pockets as I continued to stare out the window.

“Hello, Nikos,” a voice said from behind me.

Turning around swiftly, I realized it was none other than Nefeli.

How the fuck did she get in here?

She moved toward me, assuming what she probably thought was a seductive gait. I really don’t know what I ever saw in her.

“Don’t worry. Your staff let me in,” she purred. “Obviously, only you seemed to have forgotten how good we were together before you met that whore. But I’ll let it slide.”

Before she utter another word, I grabbed her by the throat and pinned her to the nearby wall.

“You ever talk that way about my little flame again, and I’ll make sure the only thing sliding is your blood across this carpet—oozing from every orifice you own—until there’s nothing left of you but an empty bag of bones.”

She clawed at my hands, struggling to get me to release her, but I wasn’t done.

“What? Cat got your tongue,” My grip around her throat tightened, a menacing grin overtaking my features.

It would be so easy to kill her right now—snap her neck and forget about it—but I only had one person in mind to kill today. And it wasn’t her.

I dropped her roughly to the ground, and turned back to the window, my back to her.

“Leave. Now. Before I finish what I started.”

Her pained gasps were my only consolation for not ending her miserable existence right there and then.

“Let’s see how you like it when your ‘little flame’ discovers your true intentions,” she said, her voice dripping with venom.

She slammed the door as she stormed out.

Finally, some peace. I rolled my eyes. My goodness, I guess Adira’s habit has finally rubbed off on me.

Picking up the landline, I called the receptionist and warned him to never let anyone in without my explicit permission.

As I dropped the phone, another knock came at the door.

Irritated, I grabbed the gun from under my desk, ready to blow Nefeli’s head. I guess I didn’t scare her enough.

But instead, it was Iason.

“He’s here Nónos.”

Behind him strolled a smirking Georgios. Only God knew what was running through that bloated head of his, but today, I was going to show him that family doesn’t stop me from eliminating my enemies.

His gaze flickered to the gun in my hand, and his smirk faltered.

“Sit Georgios,” I said, dropping the gun on the desk while gesturing toward the chair in front of me.

Warily, he took a seat. Like a shark scenting blood, I could practically smell his fear from where I stood. He knows. He knows he’s done something to elicit my wrath.

“I heard your little boy, just celebrated his fifth birthday last week. Omorfo agori, don’t you think Iason?”

My second-in-command smiled at my not-so-subtle jab.

(Handsome boy.)

“What do you want?” Georgios asked, straightening up, trying to put on a brave face.

Ha. I’ve always found it funny when my prey does that.

“Nothing much,” I said, twirling the gun in my hand. “I just want to know how much Luciano paid you to betray me.”

I swear I heard him stop breathing.

He must really be stupid if he thought I was never going to discover his pathetic—albeit successful—attempt at ruining my plan that night.

“Yes, dumbass,” I said, rolling my eyes. Again. Definitely a new habit now.

I stood moved around the table toward him.

“Tell me, cousin. Do you think me stupid enough not to have realized you plan? Apantise mou, ilithie.”

(Answer me, idiot.)

He began to tremble, obviously afraid—rightfully so as he knows how messy I can get with my victims, especially ones who try to fool me.

“Please, Andronikos, I didn’t want to, but he threatened my little boy. I had no choice.”

His last statement enraged me further.

“No choice, Georgios?” I let out a bitter laugh, pressing the nozzle of the gun against my temple, as if to massage the growing ache. “Had you come to me, you of all people know I’d have protected you and your family, but what did you do?”

I scoffed.

“You went ahead and trusted a conniving bastard who was going to kill your son anyway.”

His face went pale. His entire body stiffened as shock, painted itself across his features.

“What?” he whispered.

“Yes. Your wife and son are dead. Obviously, I didn’t kill them. That’s all on you. All that could’ve been avoided if you’d just come to me.”

He collapsed to his knees at that, his eyes glistening with unshed tears. But I wasn’t moved. I had already decided his punishment.

“I know right now, death would be the best escape for you,” I said, circling him like a predator. “But that would be too easy.”

Iason opened the door, ushering in our mafia’s lawyer.

“You’re going to sign a document offering your whole life to me. Death will never be an option for you—unless God wills it.”

The lawyer began placing the documents on my desk.

“You will work everyday among women and children. Not too close that you can communicate with them, but not too far that you can’t see a constant reminder of all you’ve lost.”

His tears fell harder as he stared at the papers before him.

“You better dry those tears,” I said, sitting back down again and crossing my legs. “You’re really going to need them in the upcoming days of your miserable life.”

He lifted his gaze to mine, his eyes a reflection of the sorrow that would now be his only companion.

I smiled back.

This is going to be fun.