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Seven

C ALISTA

Watching Laya cradle her son sometimes felt like watching the sunrise for the first time. Little Constantine’s stubby fingers curled around hers, his tiny hiccup breaking the quiet. I’d expected him to light up our family, but the real marvel lay in Laya herself.

She had once navigated the world with a surgeon’s precision, every emotion sealed away behind steel. Now, she slumped in the wooden chair, her face as soft as fresh dough, humming low as she rocked him.

When his eyelids fluttered shut, she pressed her lips to his forehead and whispered, “Sleep tight,” as though the words could banish every fear he might ever meet .

I was beyond grateful I could watch her love bloom day after day.

“He actually slept through the night.” Laya mopped milk from Constantine’s chin with the edge of her napkin.

Avra leaned forward, one hand resting on the swell of her belly, the other curling around her latte mug. “That must feel like a victory,” she said, her voice soft as sifting flour.

Sunlight poured through the café’s front window, warming the checkered tablecloth and tinting every fork and knife gold. The scents of fresh basil and garlic curled around us.

I stared at Laya’s contented grin and Avra’s bright eyes. “I still can’t believe you two are mothers.” My thumb traced lazy patterns on the table’s scarred wood. “It was just yesterday we were wandering cobblestones in Prague.”

“Prague seems like another lifetime,” Avra said, her smile wistful.

Laya tucked a loose strand of hair behind her ear and smiled down at Constantine. “And these changes—it all happened so fast. But look at this little guy.”

“He’s perfect,” Avra breathed. Then she leaned in, watching me over the rim of her glass. “What about you, Cali? Have you settled on your own big decision yet?”

My chest tightened. I pressed my fingers to my temples. “Not yet,” I said, letting my breath fall away. “I guess I’m still…undecided.”

The lie landed on the table between us.

My knuckles tingled as if they wanted to tap out a confession. Something inside me, deep under ribs and bone, was screaming the opposite: that I already knew which door I had to open, even if every part of me trembled at the thought.

All I could think of was Leon.

Even my subconscious seemed to be working against me.

Last night, I had my first sexual dream in years.

Of course, Leon was front and center. His voice was low and gentle, his hands exploring every part of me I’d shut off for so long. In the dream, our bodies seamlessly aligned. A warmth surged through every nerve ending, creating a pleasurable ache in my chest.

I’d been blissfully slumbering throughout the night, kissing Leon, touching Leon…letting him touch me. We’d done everything, and he’d made me orgasm over and over.

When morning came, I woke to tangled sheets and a damp stain seeping through my pajamas.

My skin felt hot, every nerve ending raw with yearning.

I lay there, heart hammering, with frustration that what I’d held so vividly in sleep had slipped away at dawn.

And in that moment, I knew I wasn’t ready to hide from what my heart was demanding.

In Prague, my fascination with the opposite sex had soared to new heights.

Under the guise of a new identity, I granted myself the liberty to delve into the vast landscape of sexual experiences, engaging with a variety of lovers.

It was there that I came into my own, shedding layers of inhibition and shyness, embracing a newfound curiosity and desire.

Each encounter felt like a revelation, a celebration of my sexual awakening.

Though my adventures might have seemed promiscuous, I approached each encounter with discernment, carefully selecting my partners and ensuring that I remained vigilant about safety, taking numerous precautions.

Most of these escapades were kept hidden from my sisters, aware that their perception of me as their timid little sister who required constant protection would clash with the reality of my newfound freedom.

To them, I remained a fragile figure in need of safeguarding, but I saw myself as a vibrant woman at the pinnacle of her awakening sexuality.

However, the assault shattered that world completely. The sense of security I once felt, even within the confines of my own being, vanished, leaving me resigned to the belief that true safety in a man’s embrace was an impossibility.

The mere thought of such intimacy turned my stomach, filling me with unease and discomfort…

Until Leon entered my life.

The dream I had about Leon stirred something within me. Maybe my earlier conviction that I would never again feel attraction was misplaced. All it took was the right person to enter my life.

The fact that thoughts of him occupied my mind even in sleep suggested a shift. Since waking from that dream, my thoughts had been a whirlwind of curiosity about what being with Leon might truly entail.

Would he be the type to linger in bed, savoring the exploration of each other’s bodies with leisurely patience?

Or would he approach intimacy with a sense of urgency and efficiency?

Every fiber of my being hoped for the former. His warmth and genuine nature hinted at someone who relished long, unhurried days entwined in the sheets.

The prospect was both exhilarating and soothing, offering a sense of comfort that I had long yearned for. The idea of resting in his arms, enveloped in the safety he seemed to exude, was deeply appealing, sparking a sense of longing and anticipation within me.

“I’m not rushing you, of course,” she said, her voice calm. “But I saw how you reacted to Dominic when you first met.”

My heart thudded. I pressed both hands to the edge of my chair to steady myself. “And?”

Her words pulled at the knot in my stomach. Dominic. I’d have to tell him soon that he was out of the running—an awkward conversation I couldn’t stop dreading.

Avra folded her arms and leaned forward. “I did some more digging on my own.”

“Did you?” My eyebrow shot up.

Laya closed her book and set it on the side table. “What did you find out?”

Avra exhaled, the sunlight catching in her dark hair. “I’ll say it straight: I don’t think Dominic is a good choice. He has a reputation for mistreating lovers—misogynistic remarks, power games. Nothing about him feels right for you, Cali.”

Heat crept up my neck.

“I did some digging too.” Laya came to stand beside Avra. “A few years ago, there was a rumor he was engaged. His fiancée vanished in the night. They say she ran off to escape him, then got quietly engaged to someone else so Dominic would give up the chase. ”

I pressed my palms together. “She must’ve been terrified.”

Laya nodded. “Her family kept her whereabouts secret for months. She was very young. Their engagement never went public, so they hushed the whole thing.”

I let out the breath I’d been holding. “That tracks with some of the things he said when we met.”

“Like what?” Avra straightened.

I folded my hands in my lap and remembered our first conversation: the grand hall, pillars carved with dancing nymphs, chandeliers dripping with crystals. Dominic had smiled as if he owned everything in the room.

“He said he wanted a wife mainly to host his gatherings and to project an image—wife, child, perfect family tableau. He talked about us like we’d be props on his stage.”

“That’s fucked up.” Avra’s lips curved into a grim smile.

“I know,” I agreed. “Then he started grilling me about the kidnapping. In a creepy way, to tell you the truth. I left feeling awful and dreading seeing him again.”

Avra stood and shook her head. “Enough. Dominic Lucianos is off the list. You deserve someone who sees you as a person, not an accessory.”

My chest loosened. I glanced at Laya, whose grin lit her face. “Really?”

“Absolutely.” Laya held up both hands.

I sank back into the plush armchair, sunbeams pooling across my shoulders like liquid warmth, and for a moment, every tight coil of worry unwound. Relief spread through my chest until I could think of nothing else .

“That lifts a mountain from my shoulders,” I said, letting the words tumble free. “With so few names left on that list, I felt I owed him at least one chance.”

Avra leaned forward, elbows on the mahogany table, her gaze steady. “Remember, Cali, this choice belongs to you. Not to us, not to anyone else. You’re choosing the person you’ll spend your life beside. Choose with care.”

I tucked a strand of hair behind my ear.

“I like Leon Boscos,” I confessed, the corners of my mouth lifting despite my nerves. “He’s on my mind from sunrise to sunset.”

Laya’s face brightened. “You’re serious? That’s fantastic!”

“I heard you laughing while you were on our phone call last night.” Avra tapped a finger against her lips. “He had you spellbound.”

I shrugged, heat creeping up my neck. “The old Cali wouldn’t have felt guilty for skipping someone who didn’t spark her interest. I don’t know why I held on to that guilt now.”

Laya slid her hand across the table and squeezed mine. “Maybe call on that old Cali when you need her. She knew how to guard her heart.”

I drew in the scent of chardonnay from my glass. When I opened my eyes, the tension in my shoulders felt gone. “Thank you. I feel lighter already.”

We burst into laughter, chasing the last threads of anxiety from the room.

“So then,” Avra said, voice warm as candlelight, “it’s Leon Boscos. You two will make a remarkable pair. ”

My pulse jumped. “I’ll wait until after the charity gala to tell everyone.”

In a few days, we’d host a children’s benefit at the Greek National Opera located at Stavros Niarchos Foundation Cultural Center in Athens, our stage for unveiling the Vitalis sisters’ return to power.

We selected this location due to its central position among many key regional players, making travel convenient.

Moreover, its proximity to Patras reminded the syndicate families that I aimed to prevent any engagement rumors from overshadowing the fact that my sisters and I were among their equals at the table.

Avra hummed in approval. “Smart move. With two more families pledging fealty, half the territories answer to our banner.”

“We’ve come so far in a turbulent but relatively short time.” A joyful gleam lit Laya’s eyes. “I’m proud of us.”

“Mom and Dad would be proud too. We did it.” I reached across the table and clasped their hands. “It feels odd how everything is falling into place.”

Laya frowned. “Odd how?”

I rested my chin on folded hands. “What if this is an act? What if they’re waiting to turn on us once we lower our guard?”

Avra closed her eyes for a moment. When she opened them, her calm felt like steel.

“You make a fair point. We should design a test to measure their loyalty. Until then, we watch every move. ”

“I’m with you,” Laya said. “No one earns full trust until they prove themselves.”

I drew my glass closer. “Thanks for not calling me paranoid. I used to hand out trust like candy. Not anymore.”

Avra set her glass down and shook her head. “Trust is a badge you award only to those who earn it.”

Laya raised her glass in a toast. “To the Vitalis sisters: sharp-minded and unbreakable.”

Avra and I lifted our glasses against hers.

“Sharp-minded and unbreakable,” we echoed, sealing our vow in clinking crystal.