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Fourteen

L EON

Iason perched on the edge of the worn leather couch in my office, his shoulders tense, jaw tight, and fingers tapping a quick beat against the armrest. The afternoon sun filtered through the blinds, casting stark stripes of light over his angry face.

Outside, fluffy white clouds drifted across a steel-blue sky, completely oblivious to the turmoil brewing within these walls.

“We can’t let this go on,” he ground out.

“Fuck no, we can’t.” I stood, shoving my palms flat against the cluttered desk. “This is the fourth restaurant in a month that’s been destroyed! I thought I’d made my point clear with Polus and Manolis.”

Iason exhaled, shoulders sagging. “Honestly, boss, I thought you did too. They looked like they’d been chewed up and spit out. I was sure they’d keep their distance?—”

“Do I need to fucking kill them?” I slammed a fist against the desk. A pencil rolled off, clattering to the floor. “Why do they keep pushing me?”

He lifted a brow and leaned forward. “Have you considered it might not be them?”

“Who else is stupid enough to fuck with me like this?” I whirled around, pacing in circles.

“Maybe it only takes arrogance,” he said with a shrug.

I stopped pacing. “What are you thinking?”

He didn’t answer at first. He just folded his arms and watched me, the afternoon sun gilding the edge of his jaw.

Then, he suggested, “Lucianos, maybe?”

A cold twist gripped my gut.

“Fuck.”

Dominic Lucianos was arrogant. He also leaned toward stupidity. Everyone knew this. That was why his brother was the one truly in charge of his family’s empire. It was widely known that if Dominic was calling the shots, they would have lost their fortune years ago.

“I don’t know.” I ran a hand through my hair and stared out the window. Below, a jagged cargo ship lumbered across the harbor, its rusted hull cutting slow arcs through the water. “What does he have to gain by ransacking my restaurants?”

“Think about it.” Iason stood and crossed to the window beside me. “You humiliated Dominic at that charity gala. Humiliation’s his kryptonite. Then Calista snubbed him in front of half the city. Pride like that? It doesn’t heal on its own.”

I put this back in--I like the metaphor. If you do want to delete it, I noted the continuation of the metaphor below.

I hadn’t considered that getting engaged to Calista would upset more than just our personal lives. Like that ship, our announcement had carved a new wake—one that rocked the underworld balance in ways I hadn’t foreseen.

I had been thinking of protecting Calista. I’d been contemplating revenge on the man who’d harmed her. But I hadn’t for a second thought about the problems our marriage would cause for my business.

What Iason was suggesting made sense. I’d pissed off a lot of people in my day, but most of that was in the past or had been resolved. There had been a bit of a truce between me and my enemies of late.

“We might have a fresh enemy,” I murmured, my chest tightening, adrenaline pumping hot and violent. “All this time, I thought Polus and Manolis were the only ones left with a grudge.”

“I heard some rumors.” Iason leaned against the worn leather couch and scanned the room as if ensuring no one else could hear.

“After the charity event, Dominic was in a local bar, swaggering like a peacock and mouthing off loudly about Calista. He was insulting your name too, for getting involved with her. I won’t repeat the vile words he used to describe her, but I’m sure you can imagine. ”

“That prick,” I muttered, my hands curling into fists at my sides, the knuckles turning white.

“He’s trying to strike back at me. I sure wish he hadn’t targeted my most profitable restaurants.

They’ll be shut down for weeks, and we were getting the first mess cleaned up. The timing couldn’t be worse.”

“Yeah, it’s gonna hurt,” he replied with a resigned sigh.

“It’s so fucking stupid,” I spat, pacing the room. “There are plenty of other families with daughters ready for marriage. Cali might be smarter than most, but some less discerning women would jump at a chance to marry into the Lucianos family. It’s not like she’s his only option.”

“He’s simply a sore loser.” Iason crossed his arms as he leaned back. “He’s not used to getting rejected. I wouldn’t worry too much about his words, though. Most people see right through his narcissistic bullshit.”

“Maybe.” I shrugged, though my mind was racing with the possibilities. “I can imagine what he was saying about Calista, though. There are a lot of pricks out there who would agree with him and his archaic beliefs about women.”

“A few were agreeing with him,” he admitted. “Said Calista was probably asking for the rapes. He said she was worthless now, and they all chimed in like a pack of hyenas. I wasn’t there, but I would have torn them all new assholes if I had been.”

“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 elusive man 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 causing a 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.

“Is that so?” he replied.

“I’ve been searching for him, and I believe I’ve pinpointed his location,” I added, a blend of anxiety and anticipation coursing through me.

“I’ve been trying to locate him myself,” Elias admitted. “So far, I’ve been unsuccessful. I’m surprised you made more progress than me. ”

“Don’t be,” I said. “I have a network scattered throughout Europe, each member adept at tracking down those who prefer to remain hidden. Their loyalty is unwavering, and they share a deep commitment to ensuring our family thrives.”

“Your family, huh?” Eli asked, probing. “Is this about protection, or is it about getting vengeance for Calista?”

I ran a hand through my hair and stared at the polished surface of my desk. “For me, those goals are intertwined. Calista is all that matters. I’m prepared to do whatever it takes to keep her safe.”

There was a pause, a moment heavy with unspoken thoughts, before Elias exhaled deeply. “I’m glad she chose you, Leon,” he said. “But there’s another issue, and it isn’t my father.”

My heart thudded heavily against my ribs, a drumbeat of anxiety. “What now?”

“Your rival for Calista’s affection is stirring up trouble.”

I frowned, my eyes shifting toward the window where the city skyline stretched out under a dimming sky.

“Oh, absolutely,” I replied, as the realization set in. “Yes, I know he’s been talking a lot. I believe he’s behind the recent break-ins at my restaurants.”

“He’s been bothering both Nikolas and me, as though we can influence Calista’s decision. Honestly, it’s frustrating.”

The rage that had simmered beneath the surface flared up once more, hot and urgent. Perhaps it would be wise to instruct Iason to address this problem without delay .

“That fucker,” I said. “I don’t understand why he can’t just let it go. He’s your friend, though, right? Eli, I need you to know that if you don’t handle him soon, I will.”

“I’m not sure I’d call him my friend, to be honest. Maybe at one time. But friendships shift over time as people get older. In truth, I’m closer to Dominic’s older brother. Perhaps I can have a conversation with him and ask him to step in.”

“I’m not sure that will do any good,” I replied. “Dominic doesn’t seem like the type to do what anyone else says. I’m not opposed to eliminating him, Elias.”

“Let’s not go that far just yet,” he said. “I don’t understand why he’s doing this either. Do you two have a history I don’t know about? Could this be more than just the man’s ego getting bruised by Calista’s rejection?”

“Maybe,” I said. “I don’t know him well at all. I’d never met him until the charity event the other night. I only knew who he was because…”

My words faded away as a memory flashed vividly in my mind.

“Wait a minute. When I was younger, my second-oldest brother, Haris, and his wife, my sister-in-law Sophia, had quite the scandal surrounding their wedding.” I paused, my brow furrowing as I tried to recall the details.

“Yes, I remember now. My mother was heartbroken because they’d eloped.

They claimed the only reason for their abrupt decision was that Sophie was trying to escape a marriage her family had arranged with one of the Lucianos brothers.

Do you think it could have been Dominic? ”

“I think it may have been,” Eli said. “And if so, then Dominic must be losing his mind after being rejected twice, and both times losing to a Boscos.”

“Fuck,” I groaned, running a hand through my hair in frustration. “That’s it. That’s what’s happening. It has to be.”

“I think you’re right,” Eli agreed. “And knowing Dominic, he’ll stop at nothing until he feels avenged.”

“What a fucking prick,” I said, clenching my fists. “He has no idea he’s playing with fire.”

“Look, Leon, do what you need to do,” Eli said. “I won’t stand in your way. But might I make a gentle suggestion? I think it’s important to increase security around Cali now. She won’t like it. She’ll hate it. But I think it’s necessary.”

“Shit,” I muttered, feeling the weight of the situation pressing down on me. “You’re right.”

I knew my actions would make Cali feel even more trapped, like a wild animal in a cage. She had confided in me about her frustrations about the relentless protection imposed by her family, by Vik in Prague, and the ever-present security detail shadowing her every move.

All I could do was hope she’d understand my intentions and not hold it against me for trying to keep her safe. Because there was no way I was going to ignore this threat.

Dominic Lucianos needed to be dealt with, but in the meantime, I was going to do everything in my power to protect what was mine.