Page 2 of Legacy

“What proof?” Vik asked, still maintaining his calm and collected demeanor.

He rarely showed any emotion, always trying to teach us how to keep our vulnerabilities in check.

Suppressing the anger that boiled within me whenever Ithought of Theia Cloe and her use of Vik’s methods, I continued with my mission.

“My sources have uncovered that dear Theia Cloe was sleeping with Ozias Xenos.” I couldn’t help but raise an eyebrow at Vik’s barely noticeable reaction, a slight tightening of his lips.

“It’s interesting how the man who murdered my mother was also heavily involved in my father’s assassination.”

“What evidence do you have? Multiple people shot your father in the middle of the city,” he reminded me, not arguing but simply stating the facts.

I nodded. “The money trail. It all leads back to Ozias. He orchestrated it all. And my sources have also revealed that others were involved in this plot—those responsible for dividing up my family’s territory. Their soldiers carried out the hit on my father.”

Vik remained quiet, taking in my words. I knew he had heard every word—he never missed a beat.

After a few moments of contemplation, he leaned forward in his seat and placed his hands firmly on the table. Once again, he scanned our surroundings, asking, “Where did you get this information?”

“From my sources in America,” I replied confidently.

I didn’t need to remind him that the Vitalis family had cousins worldwide, including in Boston.

Our distant relatives held tight to values of honor and family loyalty, especially regarding Papa, my sisters, and me.

They never accepted the official story surrounding our father’s death or our sudden disappearance from Greece.Over the last ten years, they had discreetly conducted their own investigations, determined to uncover the truth.

In addition, they kept a lock on all things financially tied tothe family, making sure to keep it out of the hands of those who’d stolen the Vitalis territory.

When I had reached out to them for help, they welcomed me and my sisters back into the fold with open arms and generously shared all the information they had gathered.

There were no malicious intentions in keeping this from Vik. However, I knew that regaining control of my life meant making my own decisions.

Nothing would stop me from taking my seat as the head of the region and destroying my enemies.

Vik hummed a slight noise, shook his head, picked up the coffee set in front of him, and leaned back in his chair.

As Papa’s trusted second for years, Vik was well aware of the inner workings of Papa’s empire, including the many Vitalis sources worldwide. He knew that most of them were family in one way or another. He would narrow down those working with me based on the clue I’d given him about Boston.

As he sipped his coffee and contemplated the information I had shared with him, I could see his mind working through the facts. He had undoubtedly considered reaching out to our relatives over the past decade but had prioritized keeping my sisters and me safe above all else.

He sighed heavily and gave me a serious look. “Your plans…” he began.

I lifted my chin, daring him to disagree with me. Heknew my desire to return home and take back what was rightfully ours.

“I worry about them,” he confessed. “I am concerned for your safety.”

As you’ve always been.I exhaled and smiled softly. Vik made it his life mission to ensure the safety of my sisters and me. With lectures and lessons about strategizing. Through countless hours of defense and fighting training. And during all the meetings about starting a new financial security system here, away from Greece. Safety was Vik’s goal, and I respected him for it.

Nothing would fill the hole in my heart from losing my parents. No one could ever replace my father, but I hoped Vik would always know how much he meant to me and my sisters.

He was a friend, a hero, an uncle, and a surrogate parent when we needed someone to look after us. He wanted to protect me and my sisters. It was his nature, having filled that role for so long, but he was no longer in charge of me in that way. He had to step back from father figure to adviser.

At the time of our parents’ deaths, he was only in his late thirties and at the height of his career and wealth. But he willingly gave it all up to protect us. In the blink of an eye, he sacrificed everything to smuggle us out of Greece and create new lives for us with new identities.

Without Vik’s bravery and sacrifice, we would not have survived. He truly was our savior, and I hoped he knew how much we appreciated everything he had done for us.

We had escaped to Prague, our lives now shrouded insecrecy and deceit. It was Vik who orchestrated our disappearance, allowing the world to believe that all four of us had perished during the chaos following Papa’s assassination. Thanks to the new identities and lifestyles that Vik meticulously designed, Layana, Calista, and I were able to begin afresh.

But despite his efforts, Vik carried a heavy burden of guilt for not being there when we needed him most. He grieved the loss of our parents, and it pained him to see us struggle without them. Yet, it wasn’t his fault. He was our protector and provider.

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