Page 1 of Legacy

One

Avra

No more waiting…

I longed to return to the land of my birth, the home my sisters and I had fled like thieves in the night. It was time to reclaim our rightful place at the seat of our family’s power, and none of those who had wronged us would see it coming.

The mere thought of setting foot on Greek soil once again filled me with a rush of emotions, from anticipation and excitement to nervousness. But I couldn’t afford to let impatience rule me. The only way to achieve our ultimate goal was to plan and execute each and every step carefully.

Despite the numerous tasks on my agenda, I knew that now was the time to set things in motion for the future wedeserved. I had waited and watched for fifteen years, biding my time to finally serve justice to all who had betrayed us.

And now, as the last grains of sand trickled through the hourglass, I knew that the Vitalis family was ready for revenge.

But first, I needed to meet with the man who had sacrificed everything to keep us alive. I wanted to keep him in the loop about our plans out of respect for his unwavering loyalty and protection.

As I approached a busy intersection near Prague’s old town, I brushed a stray hair from my forehead and paused to observe the bustling morning traffic. After waiting for a break in the cars, I crossed the street and headed toward one of my favorite cafes. I selected a table with a strategic view of anyone who approached the establishment. The server greeted me with a nod and served me my preferred morning brew without asking.

I had ten minutes until my formidable companion arrived. Inhaling deep, I relaxed and took in the sights around me. As pedestrians bustled by on their daily tasks, they would never suspect that the woman sitting in front of them was an impostor—someone who had learned their language at a young age and seamlessly blended into their society.

But it was all for my sisters, for the legacy that deserved better. I would do anything for them, even if it meant becoming a master of deception and shedding blood to bring justice for everything the bastards took from us on that fateful night.

As the server set my coffee down on the table, I welcomed the warmthspreading through my fingers. In my youth, revenge had consumed my thoughts and clouded my judgment. But with time, I learned that rash actions only led to more chaos. And so, I waited patiently for the right moment to strike. Finally, it was upon us.

A surge of power and determination flowed through my veins. I had the means to retaliate against those who had ruthlessly ruined my life and my family. As I sat in the quaint section of the bustling café, sipping on freshly refilled coffee, I saw Vik Remes walk confidently down the sidewalk. Seeing him only solidified my resolve and the path I knew I must take.

As he drew closer, a sinking feeling settled in my gut. Speaking with him was the first step in executing my plan, and his support would make things significantly easier. However, I wasn’t seeking his approval or validation. No one was the boss of me, and no one ever would be.

Despite this fact, out of respect for our history together, I felt it necessary to consult with Vik before making any major decisions that would impact our lives. A small smile tugged at my lips as he approached my table with his signature powerful stride.

Heads turned to catch a glimpse of the tall and distinguished man passing by. Younger women peered over their sunglasses while older ladies did double-takes, admiring his confidence and commanding presence. Vik wasn’t flashy, but he exuded an aura of strength and cunning that was hard to ignore. It was a lesson he had drilled into me from the very beginning: true power didn’t need to beflaunted or announced. It was something that spoke for itself through subtle gestures and mannerisms.

Under the warm sun, Vik’s tan skin seemed to glow under the warm sun as he homed in on my face and sat across from me at the bistro table. The slight tightening of his jaw indicated that he hadn’t anticipated my early arrival. He preferred others to feel as if they were the ones to arrive late in order to maintain an upper hand in any situation.

Vik prided himself on knowing me inside and out, but little did he know I held secrets just like him. It was yet another lesson he had taught me—never reveal your full hand and always keep a few cards hidden up your sleeve.

As he casually smoothed back his thick salt-and-pepper hair, his piercing gray eyes narrowed ever so slightly.

He sensed something was up, but he couldn’t quite put his finger on it. After all, this was our usual meeting spot, and my request for a meeting wasn’t unusual. Nevertheless, he remained vigilant as he settled into his seat across from me.

“Morning, Avra,” he greeted in his no-nonsense manner. “What’s this about?”

Straight to the point, as always. Vik had little tolerance for beating around the bush, and impatience was a defining aspect of his personality.

I hesitated before speaking, knowing Vik wouldn’t like what I said. He scanned our surroundings again, even though I had already done so myself.

But considering who we were and what we were hiding from, being cautious was second nature to us—our time inPrague with fake identities provided by Vik had been about staying safe.

But now I was done hiding. The fire inside me burned too bright for that. It was time for justice and taking back what was rightfully ours.

And so, without further hesitation, I began the conversation with a punch: “I’ve found evidence that my parents’ deaths were not accidental but a planned assassination.”

“This isn’t news,” Vik replied calmly. “We’ve suspected this since we came here.”

“But now I have proof.”

While living in Prague with my sisters and Vik for years, this desire to learn the truth had burned within me. The memories of that night never faded—the chaos, panic, and fear still haunted me to this day.

At fifteen years old, I’d seen through the deception of adults and remembered how our aunt, Theia Cloe, had forced us out of our home that night. She claimed it was for our protection, but something didn’t add up. Why hadn’t she come with us if she truly wanted us to be safe? How had she known we were in danger? It wasn’t until I asked her these questions that she slapped me and told me to do as she said. That was when I knew she was involved and vowed to one day see her downfall.

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