Page 39 of Legacy

“In other words, it has caused some friction between you.”

That was an understatement. It got me fucked every time it came up.

Instead of answering his statement, I said, “After considering things, I agree with his assessment. Confronting thethree at the wedding may have brought attention to Laya and Cali.”

“Perhaps, but I watched everyone after you left. Ozias garners loyalty only so far. It is one of circumstance and protection, not a true bond of brothers.”

“Getting Laya and Cali into the right families is key. We need ones with power and affluence. They will protect them and become allies.”

“Laya is next,” Vik said, “and I’ve identified three major players who are interested in a match with her. I think only one of them is worth the time.”

“You work fast.”

He nodded, tapping his fingers on the tabletop. “He has enormous power here and connections with the northern Italians.”

Perfect,I immediately decided.

“He’s the one.”

Marrying someone tied to the Italian mafia would be a game-changer, bringing another level of allies and influence. The northern Italians disliked many Greek syndicate heads and questioned their stance on loyalty, especially after what had happened to Papa.

“Your distant cousin Milla married into one of the families,” he reminded me. “She married the syndicate boss of a large territory with significant power. The candidate I have in mind for Laya is a close relative of that husband.”

“What’s his name?”

Vik didn’t hesitate, prepared as ever. “Nikolas Galanis.”

Knowing Laya wouldn’t question my decision, I said, “Consider it done.”

Laya, Cali, and I had made a pact to do this: to marry, use our name and influence to connect ourselves with suitable families, and take back what was ours.

I’d taken the first step by marrying Eli.

A pang of sadness filled me. All we’d had for fifteen years was each other, and now marriage would change it, separate us. We’d create lives with others.

We would survive it. Our bond was too strong.

I shut down those thoughts, accepting this as our future reality. We would sort out the rest once we’d rightfully reclaimed everything those bastards had stolen from us.

Eleven

Elias

I set a box down in the room I planned to convert into my study and stretched my arms above my head. I couldn’t express my relief at finding a suitable property for Avra and me. The fact the purchase went smoothly was a bonus.

We had to move the remainder of Avra’s things from Prague, which she had tucked away in a storage facility, and some of my furniture from Ozias’s estate.

That first night in the penthouse had made it abundantly clear that it wasn’t acceptable for my wife, no matter what Avra said. In her eyes, it was ten times the luxury of the apartment she’d shared with her sisters in Prague.

However, we had no privacy. It wasn’t possible to rage-fuck my wife in a building full of people. That woman knew the exact words to say to set me off.

And the very idea of bringing Avra back “home” to the estate was out of the question. Outside of not wanting her anywhere near Ozias, the cruelty of pushing her into memories of her loss wasn’t something I’d ever entertain.

The mere idea of anyone causing her hurt or distress set off a primal part of me to maim and kill.

I ran a hand through my hair and gripped the back of my neck.

It was maddening to feel so possessive and protective over a woman.

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