Page 88 of Unexpectedly In Love

I look at the phone and then I make my way to Sage’s room. I stop at the door. I don’t need my sisters to see I am upset.

As I push the door open, I brighten and say, “Eryx sends his love and he is sorry I couldn’t be here.”

I walk to Cassia’s side and lean my head on her shoulders.

“Brat?”

“Can Kai and I stay with you tonight?” I ask.

Cassia kisses the top of my head and hugs me to the side. “You can stay as long as you like.”

* * *

ERYX

When Anise says the words, “I love you,” I instantly hang up the phone. I press the cold glass of rum and coke against my forehead. With a sigh I sink my body into the living room sofa. My uncle is dead. I should feel something, but all I could think about is how helpless I felt when I heard Anise scream over the phone.

There was nothing that I could have done. That is what love does, it disarms you, it takes away your sense of self and control. I like my power and my control, and I can’t-

The click clacking of shoes breaks my train of thought.

Khaos walks into the living room with a sober look on his face. His shoulders are lowered, he sighs and places a hand on his hip.

“What is it?” I ask, taking a final sip of my drink and placing it on the table beside me.

Khaos swallows, his are dull. “Uncle Lucas is gone. I’m sorry Eryx,”

The weight of my father’s death sits heavy on my shoulders. I cover my face with my hands briefly before I pull them away. Breathing in I try to center myself, holding my grief at bay.

“Get the jet ready. You and I will fly over to Greece tonight,” my voice flooded with pain.

“I will have Kyros stay here and Cid with Anise and Kai,” Khaos already takes out his phone and begins to tap away.

“I guess now we are both orphans, men without parents.” A sad smirk pulls the side of my lips.

“True. But unlike our parents we will treat our children better,” Khaos states.

I nod in agreement.

“Nikos already sent his condolences via email, and all are hailing you as the new Don.”

Don, I almost forgot about that. In the face of all this grief, I attain unimaginable power. It amazes me how I could be so powerful and still feel so empty.

* * *

ANISE

Cassia’s apartment is a perfect blend of boho chic and maximalism. My son is in love with an emerald toned couch with big poofy pink pillows. Her walls display a diverse art collection. The large jewel tone abstract painting of three women carrying water jugs is a striking contrast to the paint of The Klimt print called ‘The Kiss’.

Earlier I had to wrangle Kai’s fingers from her long-beaded curtains. My sister’s apartment has always been my haven.

“Have you heard from him? It’s been three days,” Cassia asks as she spritz her ferns with water.

I help Kai build his blocks on the ground on my sister’s Persian rug. “No.”

I don’t want to tell her that he is pushing me away. Cid told Cassia that Eryx’s father was dead. Admittedly it hurts that he didn’t even call to say that his dad died. He said nothing to me, just radio silence. I think about the pain that he must be going through. I wish he had told me so I could be at his side, maybe for a second be a shoulder for him to lean on.

“So, let me get this straight, twenty-four hours by twenty-four by twenty-four. How much is that, seventy-two? Seventy-two hours and that man has not contacted you?” Cassia pulls down the dead leaves off of her plants.

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