Page 44

NEW YORK

“Congratulations! You are indeed pregnant, Mrs. Lykaios.”

Although I already suspected it, I feel an immense emotional impact when I have the confirmation.

I look at the doctor and then around the room.

A few months ago, it would have been unthinkable for me to take the initiative of coming alone for the test. It isn't just my life that’s changed—I’ve changed.

I can say that I’ve grown more emotionally during this time that I’ve lived in the United States than during my entire existence.

I don't demand too much from myself anymore. Odin's love has taught me how to love myself, too.

Of course, even after all the sessions with the psychologist, I'm still afraid of a lot of things, but now I realize that the way I was raised is responsible for most of my insecurities. My father convinced me from a young age that I was useless, and I believed him. Mom preferred to hide behind the love she felt for Leandros instead of stepping forward and defending her children from his madness .

We were all at the mercy of his evil.

Now, I can clearly see the damage that growing up in that house did to me.

My relationship with Odin, my friendship with Zoe, as well as having my brother back in my life, has helped me build, brick by brick, a new Elina.

I never thought about getting married in the past, perhaps because the example I had before me wouldn't make anyone want a marriage. What woman could stand to be treated like my father treated my mother? I wanted a love story that, as far as I knew, wasn't possible in real life. A man whom I wasn't afraid of and whom I could admire not just because he was my husband, but because of his qualities. And I found one.

In the most unlikely place in the world.

In the arms of the one my entire family considers an enemy, I found the love and shelter I’d dreamed of.

“I don't know if you will continue to see me, but if that is the case, I will order some tests to check that your health is in order, and I will also prescribe some vitamins for pregnancy.”

Pregnancy.

Every time he repeats the word, my heart races.

There's a life inside of me now. A little piece of my love with Odin developing within my body.

What will he think when I tell him that I'm pregnant?

I still feel a little unsure about his reaction, even though Zoe said that men sometimes take a while to get used to the idea.

Is it the fear of not being a good father that kept him silent that time I brought it up? Or was it the fact that our child will have Leandros's blood running through his veins?

No, it can't be that. Zoe is probably right. I'm just worried.

How could he not want the fruit of our love?

"Mrs. Argyros?”

“Yes?”

“Is everything alright?”

“Yes, it is. Pardon me. Could you please repeat what you said?”

Odin

NEW YORK

“He's on the island.”

“Why am I only hearing about this now?”

“Because we too were taken by surprise. One of our men has just reported that they managed to capture him and take him back to Greece. Apparently the bastard got careless. In fact, I caused his carelessness. I stopped following him so closely. Our men began to act discreetly, and he began to feel confident.” Grigory laughs. “Or maybe the money just ran out. Elina's father isn't exactly the type to deprive himself of anything, and that coupled with the fact that he's had to hire men to protect him must have drained his reserves.”

“Prepare the plane. I'm flying to Greece today.”

“Odin, I could solve this easily and in a way that doesn't involve you.”

“I know, but I've been waiting for this reckoning for a long time. It's time for our final showdown.”

“I have to go away for a little while.”

"So tonight will be a farewell night? How many days will you be gone?” she jokes, but there's something in her voice that makes me doubt. Elina sounds anxious.

I stayed on the plane for a while, building up the courage to call her. I don't think I've ever felt so divided in my life. Even though I've been sure this day would come, it feels wrong to talk to her knowing what I'm about to do .

“No, I won't have time to stop by the house. I'm already on the plane.”

“Where are you going?”

“Greece.”

“Oh . . . I . . . would like to know when you'll be back.”Again, the hesitation in her voice baffles me.

“I'm not sure. Maybe in two, three days. Now I need to go.”

“Right.”

“Elina, I love you.” I just hope that when this is all over, you can still love me back —but that last part I keep to myself.

Elina

“Zoe, I really am pregnant.”

“Congratulations, Mom! Are you happy?"

“Yeah.”

“Elina, what's going on? You don't need to hide anything from me."

“Odin is in Greece. I think he went after my father."

I was frustrated when he told me about the trip yesterday, and I barely slept. I wanted to tell him about the pregnancy, and now I'll have to wait for his return.

He hasn't called me again, even though Grigori came to check on me earlier today and also called in the afternoon.

Odin's right-hand man is treating me differently now. I no longer feel like he hates me. Gradually, I'm relaxing when I see him.

“What do you mean ‘after your father?’”

“I’m not sure. I think Odin wants to hand him over to the authorities. I'm scared to death, Zoe. My father owes him a lot of money, and there’s the murder of Odin's cousin to make matters worse.”

“What are you afraid of?”

“That Leandros might do something to hurt him. ”

“Oh my God! I'm going to talk to Christos. I don't think he knows that Odin has left the country."

“I don't want to involve your husband in this. You are also pregnant."

“Stop it right now. Christos is very close to his family and would be mad if he knew that his cousin was at risk but nobody warned him. Now, promise me you'll try to relax. You need to think about your child."

“The doctor prescribed some vitamins.”

“Have you bought them already?”

“Yeah. I will start taking them today."

“Elina, don't worry. Try to rest. I'll talk to Christos, and as soon as he gives me an answer, I'll let you know."

Two days later

I need to get my head straight, and organizing things always works for me. I'm in our suite's closet, tidying up some boxes, when one in particular catches my eye. It’s at the very back of one of the shelves, and it was hidden at first glance.

When I pull it down, I notice that it's a little smaller than a shoebox, covered in brown leather, and while there's a clasp like trunks usually have, it isn't locked.

I sit on the floor and place it in front of me.

I know it must be Odin's, and it looks like it's ancient too. I don't usually go through his stuff, but something tells me I should open it. I'm tired of so many secrets, and maybe, inside of it, I'll find the answers to some of them.

Before I can even think about changing my mind, I release the clasp.

There are brown paper envelopes inside. I open one of them and see that it contains photographs. I don't need to look very closely to realize that they’re of Odin. Even in the ones that show him as a baby, I can still see my husband's eyes there. As I go through the photos, I realize that they are from different stages of his life. In all of them there is a smiling little boy with a mischievous face, and I wonder if our son will have that same impressive strength as his father.

The energy inside Odin was already visible from childhood onwards.

Fascinated and wanting to know more, I open the second envelope. The first photo I find inside is of a beautiful blonde woman. I think it must be my mother-in-law. The woman my husband said was a traitor. She doesn't look like a traitor. Instead, her gaze is honest, and her face is so sweet that I feel an immediate connection.

There are several photographs of her, mainly from her childhood and adolescence. Then I find photos of who I believe to be the rest of her family. I see one of a couple, perhaps her parents, and it's clear to me that Odin mostly inherited his father's physical traits. Few would actually believe that this fragile-looking blonde woman could have given birth to such a large, dark man.

And then I find a photograph of his entire family.

What surprises me is the little girl in his father's arms. If it's a family photo, then that could only be my husband's sister. He has never talked about her.

Why?

I look at the four Lykaios members and feel my throat constrict at the thought of what he's told me.

My father is responsible for destroying Odin’s entire past, and now, knowing there was a little girl involved, his actions seem even worse, if that's possible.

I open the last envelope and see that there is a letter inside. I can read a lot better now, but the words there don't make any sense to me, and I realize they're written in a language which I don't know.

I set it aside, and underneath it there are more photographs. This time of an older Odin, a teenager already very tall and strong. In one of them, he looks the same as when he lived on our island, but there, in his gaze, there is no longer any warmth. The mischievous air is gone, and all I can see on his face is defiance .

It is no longer the face of a child. He looks like a mini-adult carrying secrets.

These photos hold my attention more than the previous ones because, in them, I can see Odin’s transformation. Before and after. And only now can I understand the extent of the damage my father has done to him.

At the same time, the certainty hits me that he hasn't gone to Greece to arrest Leandros.

All the pieces of the puzzle begin to fall into place.

I remember how he has never answered me directly about what he would do with my father, and now I know it's because he couldn't give me an answer without me having to make a decision.

A man like Odin could never forgive the death of his family, and that tells me there's only one explanation for this unexpected trip.

He is going to kill Leandros.