Page 81 of Influence

“Which region did they call from?” I asked.

“Thrace,” Laya replied, a slight crease forming between her brows as if the name carried extra weight.

“That’s one of the largest regions,” I noted, feeling the gravity of the situation settle in. “So what’s with all the talk about bullets?”

Cali clenched her jaw. “Regional godfathers are covertly pursuing their own agendas behind closed doors to gain more power. And, frankly, this call came from the one asshole who dares to think differently.”

“I agree.” Avra smoothed away a crease of concern on her brow. “But we need to handle this with skillful precision—keep everything at a diplomatic level.”

I leaned forward, both eager and cautious. “What exactly did they say on the call?”

“They want to forge an alliance with the Vitalis family.” Avra paused as she carefully chose what to say. “The plan is to prevent any fallout in that region by strategically aligning with us.”

“Smart thinking, though I understand Cali’s point about the bullet,” I remarked.

Cali nodded emphatically. “Tell him everything, Avra.”

Avra continued, “He mentioned wanting to change how the others manage their territories.”

“Really?” I raised an eyebrow. “It might sound clever, but I can’t just buy into their true motives without investigating further.”

“I was thinking the same,” Laya murmured, her hand tightening around mine.

Her touch always reassured me, even in uncertain times.

Curious, I asked, “And who exactly made the call?”

“Anastasios Balaska,” came the reply.

“Balaska may be smart enough to outmaneuver his peers, but he always looks out for himself. The moment he tries to fit in, it’s less about loyalty and more about self-preservation.”

“I trust no one in that circle,” Avra stated flatly.

“Neither do I,” Laya added

Then Cali cut in with raw intensity, “Absolutely not. We’re not trusting any of them. Our guard is up after everything those pompous godfathers did to Papa.”

Avra’s tone hardened with determination. “So here’s the plan: we give each godfather just enough freedom to eventually get tangled in their own excess—a slow collapse of their control.”

Laya nodded in agreement, a playful smirk revealing her excitement.

Avra continued, “We’ll accept his offer while keeping a close watch on his moves. If he’s truly smart, he’ll soon realize that his best long-term bet is with us, and he’ll maneuver to help us extend our influence into his region.”

“I’ve been cooking up a plan to make that happen.”

Avra’s eyes softened as she turned to me. “Niko, ever since you joined our cause, your loyalty has been crystal clear. And seeing how well you treat my sister warms my heart—I’ve rarely seen her so happy.”

Laya’s cheeks turned a shade of crimson as she lightly reprimanded her sister. “Avra! Stop it!”

“Am I not being sincere?” Avra responded with a smile.

Laya paused for a moment and then continued, “You know…”

Cali added, “Her expression is so unmistakable, it could wake the sheep in the distant fields.”

A rich sound of amusement escaped Laya, mixed with a touch of exasperation that filled the space around us. I soon found myself caught up in the waves of ecstasy.

With a confident gesture, I proclaimed, “Let everyone hear it. I take great pride in what I possess.”

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