Total pages in book: 88
Estimated words: 82332 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 412(@200wpm)___ 329(@250wpm)___ 274(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 82332 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 412(@200wpm)___ 329(@250wpm)___ 274(@300wpm)
"He did. Melina said he broke in when her father punished her, and ensured she got medical care. I feel indebted to him for that reason and that alone," I add. "If we succeed in our bid to take over the Stratakis family—"
"We will succeed easily," Niko interrupts.
I smirk. The bastard is getting as cocky as I am since he cheated death and has Emilia warming his bed every night.
"I'm confident we will be victorious too. When we take over the family, I would like to put Marco at the head of it, but I will need someone in place to monitor him.”
“Definitely.”
“I’m glad I have your agreement Niko, because I will need you to work closely with him and make sure we’ve got men in this new faction that have been with us from the beginning. I can't leave him unchecked.”
"Emilia looks great in a bikini. Greece will be no hardship," Niko says, but I see beneath his mask. Greece is where he lost a man that was his father. I’ll talk with him privately and see if he’d rather me send someone else.
The intercom in the middle of the conference table blares, stopping the conversation. I hit the button.
"What?" I ask.
"The other men are here for the meeting." It's the guard at the front, buzzing them in.
"We're ready,” I tell the guard before I look to Vic and then to Niko. It doesn’t show on my face, but the excitement rolls through me. "It's fucking showtime. We'll make sure Dracos Stratakis takes his last breath soon."
melina
I'm surrounded by bodyguards while waiting on the private tarmac by the car. Not only does Antonio own the plane Helen is flying in on, but the whole airstrip. I guess it pays to be the boss.
Her plane just arrived. The doors open slowly as a bodyguard steps out. He surveys the layout before stepping aside. Behind him, my friend is waiting to climb down the steps.
"Damn," Levi hisses under his breath.
"Is that her?" Zane asks.
"Yes, that's Helen—Helena, really, but I've always called her Helen," I say as I look between them. Both have their eyes trained on my friend.
"But she's blonde," Zane points out. Her pale blonde hair hangs down to the middle of her back.
"We have blondes in Greece," I explain, laughing as I shake my head, trying to stifle my smile. I'm not surprised by their reaction. She's gorgeous. Always has been.
"If she's any example, you definitely do," Levi says.
Zane can't even tear his eyes away. "Is she single?"
"She's arranged to marry Marco," I tell them.
"I suddenly hate your bother," Levi mumbles, making me giggle again.
I watch Helen descend the stairs and walk quickly to meet her.
Helen looks as gorgeous as ever. She doesn’t even appear to have been on a long flight. She’s wearing a pinstripe suit tailored perfectly to her body. The jacket hangs open enough to show she's not wearing a shirt underneath. Her eyes are covered with oversized, diamond-studded sunglasses, and the ensemble is finished with her red stiletto heels. She looks like she just stepped off the runway. She runs to meet me halfway, as graceful as ever.
She could've been a model if her father wasn't the type of man to keep her on a very short leash. In fact, the only way she was allowed to come to this meeting is because Antonio assured him that he would be taking over the Stratakis empire and that Marco would be at the helm. That sealed the deal. That did nothing but prove my father has no allies he hasn't paid to have, Helen's father switched alliances too easily.
I pull her into a hug, loving that my best friend is here.
"Oh my God, Melina, you look radiant," she says, holding my shoulders as she looks me over.
"Ugh, please. Look who's talking!" I tease.
Helen leans in. "I wanted to look my best. I heard Marco was here," she whispers.
"He's working with Antonio but will be at the house, so you'll definitely see him," I tell her. "How long do you get to stay?"
"Actually, I don't have a deadline," she tells me excitedly. "I had to agree to bring along my security detail and keep them with me the entire trip." She pulls her glasses down so I can see her roll her eyes.
I lift an eyebrow, skeptical of what I'm hearing. "He asked for your agreement?"
Helen shrugs. "My agreement, my silence. Same thing."
I laugh as I know what she means and understand the feeling.
The security team in question flank around her, looking aggressively at Levi and Zane. Levi and Zane’s earlier humor is completely gone as they take control of the situation.
Zane steps in front of us. "The women will ride with us per Mr. DeLuca's orders. He's provided the SUV behind us for your team."
The one seemingly in charge stares him down. "We're not to leave Ms. Kratos's side."