Page 38 of Influence

Our enemies were still out there, waiting for us to slip up.

“Well, it’s good for you,” I said, forcing a smile despite the tightness in my muscles that protested with every movement. “Though I must admit, I’m a bit sore myself. Vik’s workouts push you to your limits.”

Cali’s brow furrowed, her expression shifting from lighthearted to serious in an instant. “Speaking of things that are good for you, there’s something important I need to discuss.”

My heart quickened, curiosity mingled with dread. “What is it?” I asked, trying to keep my tone steady.

She hesitated, glancing away as if weighing her words. “The other day, I caught some staff whispering about you.”

A wave of unease washed over me, cold and heavy.

“Oh no,” I whispered, the knot in my stomach tightening. “I’m not sure I want to know.”

Images of judgmental glances and hushed confessions flashed in my mind, making my stomach churn with anxiety. The thought of being at the center of gossip was suffocating, a weight I wasn’t sure I could bear.

I let out a deep, weary sigh as uncertainty weighed heavily on me.

“Tell me, what did they say?” I asked.

A playful spark lit up Cali’s eyes as she leaned in close.

“Well, it actually got me wondering about something,” she hummed.

I squinted at her, my heart pounding with a mix of suspicion and apprehension.

“And what exactly is that?” I asked, knowing whatever I asked would embarrass me.

“Is it true, dear sister, that Niko expects everyone in the house to hear you scream his name while he’s fucking you?”

And I was right.

“Cali!” I exclaimed, mortified, my cheeks burning, and crawling under the table seemed like a great option. Cali and Avra erupted into laughter, their amusement echoing loudly around me. “Stop making fun of me!” I retorted, giving them a mock scowl and a lifted fist as if I was going to punch them. “Don’t make me beat you up.”

“Give it your best shot,” Avra retorted between snickering. “Isn’t that what sisters are for—teasing each other?”

That comment made Cali laugh even louder, and despite the sting of humiliation, I felt a joyous rush of gratitude that she could laugh so freely, even if it were at my expense.

I gazed at them, my heart swelling with fierce love and deep affection for my family. I would have been consumed by loneliness if it weren’t for Avra and Cali. I released a deep sigh, shaking my head as I felt the haunting absence of those who couldn’t be here today.

I missed our mother, the kind and loving soul whose laughter brightened every memory.

I missed our father, a steady presence who had always been our rock.

I knew, even in my loneliness, that they missed us too.

I often wished they were here to share the moment as I walked down the aisle and exchanged vows with Niko, to see him as the man he had finally become.

But that remained nothing more than a wistful dream.

The ruthless syndicate godfathers ensured we’d never reclaim these lost moments, mercilessly stealing irreplaceable pieces of who we were. They robbed Cali of things she could never recover, vanishing like shadows in the night.

Yet, they dared to protest as we reclaimed the lands they’d stolen, conveniently forgetting they’d ripped away the most precious parts of our lives. In our eyes, what we had lost was sacred and irreplaceable: our beloved ones. They had stolen the only treasures that truly mattered to us.

My marriage to Niko would be more than just a union—it was a crucial step toward reclaiming what was rightfully ours. Yet, deep down, I understood that no amount of territory could ever replace what we had lost.

A deep, smoldering thirst for revenge consumed me, like a spider, patient and prepared, weaving its web and spotting its prey, allowing it to crawl to the perfect point before striking with its poisonous blow.

Cali’s kidnapping had merely stoked those coals into a roaring blaze. In that fervent instant, I promised that the three of us would seize the vengeance we had yearned for. Together, nothing could stand in our way.

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