Page 91 of Unexpectedly In Love

“May remain steadfast and firm in the face of adversity.” Nikos pours into the chalice.

Khaos comes and stands next to me, stoic and still.

“Repeat after me, Khaos,” Georgios says.

Khaos nods. “I am.”

“I, Khaos Demopoulos, do solemnly swear to become the shield and protector…”

I feel like I am having an out of body experience as I watch Khaos say words that have been passed from families from generation to generation. He is given the chalice; he mutters over it and drinks.

“Your turn Eryx. I, Eryx, do solemnly swear to become the sword …” After a few more words I lift the cup and begin to drink. It takes all of me not to spit this shit out of my mouth. What the fuck is this? It tastes like fucking horse piss.

I will become the sword and Khaos the shield. One to protect the other to rule. To rule…. over men and their lives.

“These are now yours.” Atticus passes an old flask to me and one to Khaos.

“They were your father’s father,” Nikos says. As I rub my fingers over the smooth silver surface of the flask. Feeling the dents and grooves of my ancestors gone by. I should feel happy instead, all I feel is dread. I did it though, I did exactly what my father wanted, I attained his power. In time Kai will do the same. My son will do the same.

“Now we will go down to the priest’s house and have dinner with him. He will recognize you as the new Don. Then there are some important people who would like to meet you.” Atticus says boldly.

“I will see the priest and then I have to take my leave.” I place the flask in my jacket pocket.

“Look here, boy. Your father made it his duty to learn about all the people that—” Atticus cuts shorts as I casually stroll up to him looking into his bloodshot old hazel eyes.

“It’s good thing I’m not my father Atticus. Because if I were, he would have killed you for your insolence. Yet with me you stand.”

Atticus swallows and steps away. “You can always come back to meet with them.”

I smirk. “Now let’s go see a priest and then we are gone.”

* * *

ANISE

Self-control that’s what’s keeping me from bursting out of this car while it’s still moving to make my way up the stairs.

It’s been four days; he hasn’t contacted me for four days. Now he has decided to send for me. My emotions are all over the place. I feel hurt that he just left without asking me to go with him. I’m upset that he didn’t even have the decency to tell me about his father’s death. Four fucking days of me worrying about him, wondering if he was all right. I’m so pissed I can hit him over his head.

As the car stops, I open the door, dashing up the stairs. Khaos greets me at the doors stepping aside to let me in.

“Where is he?” I have no time for salutations.

“His office,” Khaos says as he glances to the stairway. “He’s been there all morning.”

Holding on the railing, I pull myself back from rushing up the stairs.

“You don’t want to look desperate,” I whisper to myself.

As I reach the top of the stairs, I hear the low register of my husband’s voice.

I don’t bother to knock. I enter and he pauses behind the desk as if he is seeing me for the first time. He turns to me and with a pointed finger, signals for me to wait. It’s not right that he looks this beautiful while my world feels like it’s helter-skelter. I notice his hair has grown longer, I love the way it curls around his ear. Then he shifts his gaze away from me, looking toward the garden. He doesn’t look like he has been hurt. In fact, Greece has sculpted him into a figure resembling a marble statue. The white shirt sparkles against his newly tanned skin. Even the way he smells is different. He seems so different.

I close the door behind me, pressing my back on it. My fingers grip onto the brass doorknob, twisting it to and fro, the sound of the dead bolt sliding against the door plate catching Eryx’s attention. His mouth tightens, his brows dip between his eyes.

“I will be meeting him tomorrow morning. I have to go,” Eryx hangs up the phone and proceeds to gesture for me to sit.

He pulls out his chair and sits, opens some files, placing them on the table. He is the definition of insanity in my mind.

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