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“She’s worthless now,” I said through clenched teeth, fury pulsing through my veins. “But his pride is bruised because she rejected him, so he wants her? Make it make sense, Iason.”
“I don’t think that’s possible,” he replied, shaking his head in disbelief. “I can’t wrap my head around that kind of thinking. I’m glad Calista saw through his facade.”
“Me too,” I said, the tension easing. “But what do we do about him? I’m not opposed to eliminating him, to be honest.”
“That’s going to cause a lot of ripples throughout our community,” Iason warned as he met my gaze with a knowing look, understanding the weight of the decision.
I refused to be disrespected or seen as weak. I turned away from the window, the weight of the decision heavy on my shoulders.
“I can’t ignore this,” I finally said.
“Understood. Want me to handle it?”
“No,” I said. “I need to find a way to make this happen without drawing too much attention to ourselves. The last thing we need is to cause other issues to deal with. Give me some time to think about it.”
He placed a reassuring hand on my shoulder, his expression filled with unwavering loyalty. “I’m here when you need me. You know that.”
I managed a tired but grateful smile, appreciating his steadfast support. “I appreciate your loyalty, brother.”
“Always,” he promised.
Switching gears, I asked, “Did you find Xenos?”
I had tasked him with tracking down Ozias Xenos, the elusiveman whose presence was crucial for securing my bride’s wedding present.
“Not exactly,” Iason admitted, “but my men have narrowed down his location to a small village in Crete. We believe he’s hiding there, protected by a tight-knit group of soldiers.”
“I see,” I said, acknowledging the progress with a nod. “Good work. That’s enough for us to move forward with our plan.”
“Just say the word,” Iason responded, ready to act at a moment’s notice.
“Let’s give it a little more time.” I leaned against my desk and glanced at the clock. “I need to consult with Elias and Avra first. The last thing I want to do is alienate my new family right off the bat. They have an interest in Xenos’s death, just as I do.”
“That’s probably a good idea.” Iason glanced at his watch, its face gleaming under the fluorescent lights. “Anything else we need to talk about? I have a meeting with the contractors in a bit.”
“No, thank you, Iason.” I offered him a grateful smile. “I couldn’t do this without you.”
“Sure, you could.” He hummed. “You just wouldn’t be so wildly successful.”
“Yeah, yeah.” I chuckled along with him as he waved and strolled out of my office, the door clicking shut behind him. I sank back into the plush leather chair with a huge sigh, rubbing my temples.
The preparations for my upcoming nuptials were causinga whirlwind of issues, but I wouldn’t have traded it for the world. The mere thought of Cali made my heart race and my cock twitch. I couldn’t wait to get her alone again, to kiss her, to taste her, to sink into her…
But all of that would have to wait. There was too much important business to attend to right now.
I reached for my phone, the chill of its metallic casing pressing against my palm, and dialed Elias’s number. He picked up on the first ring, his voice a calm anchor amidst the surrounding chaos.
“Hello, soon-to-be brother-in-law,” he greeted.
“Elias, hello,” I replied, a sense of relief washing over me. “Thanks for taking my call.”
“We’re practically family now, Leon,” he said with a chuckle.
“I hope you still feel that way after this conversation,” I said as the nervous tension grew in the pit of my stomach. “Do you have a few minutes to talk? Are you alone?”
“Yes, I’m in my office by myself. What’s going on?” he asked.
“I want to talk to you about your father, actually,” I said, hesitating.