Page 26 of Legacy

I was the Vitalis.

Fuck him to think to use his size to frighten me.

I lifted my chin to him. “I never threatened you once. I never raised my voice and only relayed a message. You are the one taking a threatening stance as weak men do against women they can’t control.”

He stepped back as he realized his behavior had garnered attention from those around us.

Cursing under his breath, he shook his head and turned to Pello. “This brat comes back only to start trouble.”

“You created the trouble when you betrayed my parents.” I paused to look each of them in the eyes. “And it is something that I will never let you forget.”

“You better watch what?—”

I lifted my hand in Pello’s face, cutting off his retort. “For over one hundred and fifty years, the Vitalis has been in power. And that won’t change anytime soon.”

Cristo scoffed, smirking. “Your family isn’t in power anymore. They haven’t been for years.”

“What you’ve done is nothing more than a minor hiccup in our history. Being in charge is relative.”

“Relative?” Pello snarled, chuckling with malice. “Being in charge is something you’ll never know about, girl.”

Oh, he wanted to force a reaction from me. “Keep believing whatever you want. Just know this little girl has no fear of you. I see you. I see all of you. Remember, your landlord is coming.”

“Being Ozias’s daughter-in-law gives you no power. Don’t think otherwise,” Morisi stated and then laughed. “He’s the one you should warn. You are no match for us.”

One by one, they gave in to laughter, mocking me with their chuckles and sneers.

“Go ahead and underestimate me, gentlemen.” I gave them a smile meant to taunt. “Just know, in the end, only one of us will remain, and it’s the one with ovaries.”

Eight

Elias

I drank down a hefty swallow of whiskey after finishing another conversation with a well-wisher at the reception and moved to the periphery of the room. This entire day was nothing but an excuse for Ozias to flaunt his wealth, our rivals and friends to mingle and keep track of each other, and the elite of society to find new gossip.

It was a production, a finely tuned machine made of many cogs and wheels working together to give the impression that Avra and I were the quintessential couple heading into a life of matrimony with all the well-wishes and congratulations we could ever want.

It couldn’t end fast enough so Avra and I could escape.

Barely a second after I’d kissed Avra on the altar, I’d fought the urge to lay my mouth on her plump lips again and devour her. That brief taste had set to life a craving I needed to satisfy.

And for me to accomplish any of my carnal goals, it required privacy, something unavailable to me until this whole charade ended.

I planned to take my time with Avra, on her mouth with her sharp, clever tongue. I had a fascinating need to explore and taste every part of her. Sex with one woman for the rest of my life never appealed before, but I had a feeling it might with Avra.

There was no chance of doing anything with this joke of a reception, where I stood around receiving nonstop praise and congratulations.

The dinner and the couple’s dance exacerbated my annoyance at this display of excess. Having her in my arms and watching the flush creep up her skin sparked a caveman desire to throw her over my shoulder, take her to my suite of rooms, and consummate this marriage.

Instead, we avoided any conversation and made as much eye contact as possible.

Now, here I lingered, ready for another tumbler of whiskey to maintain the pretense the Xenos family ruled this section of Greece.

But I knew better, as did everyone else.

With Avra’s return, with her sisters here in the room, the tide prepared to change.

The shock of seeing them healthy, strong, and very muchalive rippled throughout not only the attendees of the wedding but also the entire territory, if not Greece.

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