Page 59 of Malicious Claim (Dark Inheritance #1)

Bound for Him

LEILA'S POV

I woke up, my hand automatically reaching out to the other side of the bed just to be greeted with an empty space beside me.

It wasn't really surprising, though. Makros most of the time was always active before I even opened my eyes.

For a woman who was forced into marriage by her family's assassin, I think I sleep too soundly.

I wonder why. Maybe it was because, time and time again, Makros had demonstrated that he would never harm me—well, not unless, that is, it was part of his sex punishments for something which I had or hadn't done.

A wry smile played on my lips at memories of his punishment, threatening me like a dirty little whore, just the way I liked to be punished.

I sat up slowly, allowing the silence to fill around me. I gazed at his side of the bed and picked up his pillow burying my face in it, inhaling his smell.

"Makros." I called the name twice. I waited to hear a reply, but nothing.

I pushed the covers to one side and padded over to the bathroom, but it was empty there too. There was no lingering warmth from the shower. I felt the towel and it wasn't damp. He didn't even shower, at least not in here.

That was that, then. I no longer felt any urge to go seek him out. Instead, I walked over and settled back in the bed with a flump and allowed myself to settle into thoughts I had been avoiding since he'd told me what my family had done to his.

Once upon a time my revenge plan had been simple. Play along, do what was required to kill and destroy the man who killed my family. Kill him and all the Cretes like he killed the Crawfords.

But now nothing was straightforward anymore. Not that it ever had been truly easy, but at least before, I could pretend there was clarity.

My family had killed his own family and so he acted in a very natural way as it was within our world, to seek out his revenge. I had been puzzled for so long as to why he took my family from me, but now that I understood, how could I possibly even think I needed my revenge?

Makros' question lingered in my mind. Why do you want me dead? Revenge? Justice?

If the roles had been reversed... if one day I had gone home to find my lover and child killed, wouldn't I have done the same?

But I would not have married their murderer's son. Wouldn't have slept with him. Wouldn't have engaged in this sick, twisted game.

Makros disoriented me in ways I hated to acknowledge.

The door creaked open, shattering my thoughts.

I gazed up, expecting him to come in with his typical brooding face, but it was not Makros.

Estele entered, lugging in a tray loaded with food. "Morning, my lady."

I released my breath, the knot in my bones easing a little. "Estele."

She put the tray on the bed, the plates set out with effortless precision. "Makros instructed me to let you know that he'll be out for most of the day. He saw to it you'd be very well taken care of."

I took that information in with not a hint of thanks in my mind. He was always fussing over me, in gestures that felt more like a great possession than protection.

"Sit down," I told her, indicating the chair next to me because the bed was occupied by the morning breakfast. "And congratulations on being promoted as head maid."

Estele's eyes widened. "Thank you. It was... surprising."

Estele finished setting out the breakfast and sat in the vacant chair. I gazed at the spread of food in front of me: fresh bread, figs, soft cheese, and a light omelet which was perfumed with herbs and butter before turning to her.

"Would you like to join me?" I asked, gesturing to the food which was clearly too much for an individual.

Estele gave me a smile, a courteous one that barely touched her eyes. "I've already eaten, senora."

I stood there, waiting for any sign she would reconsider.

There was something stiffly awkward about the way she sat, as if she was afraid of intruding on me, lingering too long in my space.

I had seen it before, the way the staff here made an effort to avoid intruding on my space.

Was it out of respect or fear? But then when I actually considered it, respect was actually very funny. I had yet to earn their respect.

I shrugged, picking up a piece of bread which I broke. "Your loss." I put the bread in the cheese and let it soak for a moment before eating it. The rich, cheesy flavor melted on my tongue, but I barely even tasted it. My mind went instead to the things I had been wanting to ask.

"Estele, how long have you worked for the Cretes?"

A flicker of something inscrutable passed over her face. "A long time," she answered cautiously.

I lifted my brow. "How long?"

She paused, as if weighing her words. "Fourteen years now. I was brought in as a child."

"So you were there when Makros lost his family," I prodded, watching for her reaction.

She stiffened imperceptibly. A fraction, maybe, but I caught it. "Yes."

"How many years ago was that?"

Estele took a deep breath. "Four, no... five years now."

Five years? Five years since he lost the woman he loved, the child he adored. Five years since he burned whatever part of him was ever able to be tender and became the man that he now was. I took a slow sip of my juice, concealing the racing of my heart.

"Did you know them?" I inquired softly now. "His wife and child? You said that they were residing in Greece."

Something flickered on Estele's face—pain, possibly, or sorrow. "I was not part of the inner household," she answered warily.

Liar.

I glared at her, recalling something about the period when the Don had promoted her. The Don had said that she knew things most didn't. If this was so, then why was she playing as if she did not now?

I tilted forward slightly, resting my elbow on the tray. "But when the Don promoted you, he told you that you had knowledge most didn't. So for you to say you weren't part of the inner household..." I let the words hang in the air, watching her reaction.

Estele inhaled sharply, her side eyed glances seeming to calculate her options. Then, softly sighing, she surrendered. "Argh, okay, you win. I knew them well enough."

I set my fork down completely now, all focus on her. "Enough to tell me what they were like?"

She hesitated again, and this time her eyes grew soft as she gazed toward the floor, as if she were seeing something only she could see. "His wife. She was gentle. Quiet but with an edge. She wasn't born into this life. She was different. She was a softness he clung to."

Something tightened in my chest at that. A softness he clung to.

"She despised violence," Estele continued, now speaking softly. "And... and..."

"And what, Estele?" My voice was more forceful than I meant it to be.

Estele slowly exhaled before finally replying. "And she always stood up for the staff. She pleaded for us when we incurred Makros' anger."

I stiffened. "And he listened to her?"

Estele nodded. "Of course, senora. Makros had tremendous respect for his wife. She was, at the time, his sole weakness."

At the time? What was Estele suggesting at the time?

I swallowed, trying to sound steady. "What do you mean?"

Estele massaged her cheeks with her hands. "Well, now there is you. Makros' wife had been perfect for him. But he had a single complaint about her."

Now, where are you? Did she think I was his weakness? Such flattery!

My heartbeat was on a steady rise with each secret Estele revealed. "What complaint?"

Estele's lips shaped into a pout. "Well, we all knew that she was too kind for her own good. Makros thought so too."

I should have let it be. Should have stopped asking, stopped digging. But something in me, something bitter and jealous, could not leave it be.

"And when she died?"

Estele's face dropped just slightly, a sheen of unshed tears filming her eyes. "He blamed himself for her death," she whispered. "And then he blamed her for being weak."

Something sharp and awful turned inside me.

Estele blinked a few times, fighting her emotions, then sniffed, offering me an apologetic look. "Sorry, senora. Talking about her stirs up bitter feelings." She swallowed noticeably. "She was more than a boss to me. We were true friends. And to this day, I still despise her killer."

I winced at her words and the action shook the balance of the tray. Part of the juice spilled.

"Right," I muttered, forcing myself to breathe. "I'm sure you would."

I picked up my glass, taking a sip just to buy myself a moment. My brain was spinning while questions ripped through my head, but I shoved them aside.

Instead, I cleared my throat and changed the subject. "What about his kid?" I asked, aiming for casualness, but the words weighed on my tongue.

Estele's expression did not change, but her tone lost its edge. "He was only four. Poor boy. Had his mother's eyes, but Makros' fire."

I swallowed, suddenly feeling the weight of my own presence press down on me. "I'm sure he loved them very much."

"He would have burned the world for them." Estele's gaze met mine. "And in a way, he did."

I looked down at my plate, my appetite was lost. "Did he ever speak of them? After?"

"He couldn't stop talking about them." Her answer was almost immediate as if she had been expecting the question. "I mean well not until after he met you."

Something tightened in my throat. I pushed my plate away and leaned back, absorbing her words. Makros had carried their ghosts in solitude, buried them beneath all that rage. And now I was here, tangled in a past neither of us could remake.

I met Estele's gaze again. "What do you think he sees when he looks at me?"

She studied me for a while before answering. "You are strong. And I think that is why he chose to marry you." Estele rose to her feet and inclined her head slightly. "I have to attend to the Don now."

"Thank you Estele."

I returned to my room, surprised that Nicolai was not following me. The peaceful feeling continued until I shut my door closed behind me and I turned to find Stefanos lurking behind the shadows.

"Fuck, you startled me," I said, placing a palm over my chest. "What do you want?"

"To confront you," he answered in a matter-of-fact tone.

"To confront me?" I echoed.

"You're playing a dangerous game," he said in a low voice. "Lying to Makros about us. Playing on his smartness. You think he won't catch on?"

I decided to play ball. "And exactly what am I lying about?"

"That I assisted you in your escape plans. That I warned the spy and therefore was compensated by Vincenzo. Leila, after all that which I have struggled to do for you, you took my key card and sought to frame me."

I arched an eyebrow. "Frame you?"

His teeth gritted with rage as he moved closer, intruding into my space, but I didn't budge. I raised my chin, looking him straight in the eye with all the defiance that I could muster.

"Don't you dare pretend you don't know what's going on," he snarled.

"If you don't leave me alone," I informed in a low and threatening voice, "I'll scream. Tell them you tried to rape me. Let's see how far you get then."

His expression shifted to shock, then to rage. His fists clenched by his side, but before he could react, the door opened.

Nicolai stood in the doorway. "Something wrong, senora?"

"That depends on him," I answered. "Is something wrong Stefanos?"

Stefanos tensed and retreated.

"Uh, Stefanos, weren't you told not to go near Makros's wife? Please, leave before he finds out about this." Nicolai gestured to the door.

Stefanos hesitated, and then left in a huff.

"Makros is keeping an eye on the two of you," Nicolai said as he shut the door.

I folded my arms. "Is that supposed to frighten me?"

"No." He studied me from head to toe. "But I know what you've been up to. How you're framing Stefanos. Covering your tracks. Don't deny it."

I stared into his eyes, preparing for a battle. "It's odd Stefanos came to me with the same charges. But I didn't frame him. Dimitri confirmed that it was Stefanos that tipped him off during the raid."

"You're fortunate I took care of Dimitri before he could expose you."

I stood there still, shocked.

"What did you do?" I asked at last.

"I saved your skin, Leila. Dragon was going to interrogate Dmitri until he gave up your name but I just couldn't let that happen. Listen, I'm looking for revenge because Makros had my brother killed. And I'm going to make him pay. Just like you're planning to."

Distrust twisted in my belly. "Oh, sure. Makros sent you after me."

Nicolai's lips creased in a spasm of humor. "If you're that stupid, then you are dumber than I believed."

I schooled my face. "I don't know what you think you know, but I'm just a prisoner here. I have no power, no friends. Nothing."

"Think it over," he said shortly.

He became businesslike in the next seconds, his tone cold and impassive. "Makros said you may go out of the house today. Under my watchful eye."

My fingers trembled at the words. Watchful eye.

"Help me, and I can allow you to make whatever arrangements you desire," Nicolai offered. "I know you desire revenge. I know you desire to break out of here. I can provide for that."

I demurred. "Oh very enticing, but I'm not going to take the bait."

"You think this is an ambush? I know that you met with the man and I know what mission he sent you on." He paused. "Why did you think I killed Dimitri? He would have complicated our mission."

I swallowed hard, holding the blank expression even as my thoughts were a mess. "Our mission?" I repeated in an effortlessly detached tone.

Nicolai tilted his head to one side, looking at me like a cat looking at a cornered mouse. "Don't pretend you don't know what I'm talking about, Leila. You want Makros to crash. I want Makros to crash. That makes us even. Vincenzo has the resources we don't."

"You don't know what I want," I retorted.

"Don't I?" He smiled, then laughed scornfully.

I shivered up my spine. "And what if I say no?"

Nicolai exhaled, his smile wavering for only a moment.

"Then you're a liability. Makros would have you killed for betraying him and so would Vincenzo.

There's no turning back now, no in betweens.

So, riddle me this Leila, where does your loyalty lie?

I'm giving you something concrete, Leila. Don't be stupid."

I glared at him. "And if I don't want to be stupid?"

He smiled begrudgingly. "Then we kill Makros together."