Total pages in book: 91
Estimated words: 88153 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 441(@200wpm)___ 353(@250wpm)___ 294(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 88153 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 441(@200wpm)___ 353(@250wpm)___ 294(@300wpm)
I walk over, touching his hand gently. I’m not sure how to hold it without hurting him. There’s an IV in it and it’s the wrist so his hand is taped down on a splint to keep it straight. His normally immaculate hair is mussed. It’s in need of a wash and needs a cut. His beard is haggard and where it normally is cut closer to his face, it has now become shaggy.
“Niko, you need a haircut and a shave,” I whisper. I try to laugh, but it breaks into a sob, and I can’t stop the avalanche of tears that hit me.
I can’t breathe. I find myself leaning over Niko, just to touch him, and cry close to his shoulder. I look at him, trying to fool myself, while trying to pretend that he’s just asleep. I want to believe that any moment he will wake up. He will put his arms around me and tell me that he’s got this. I want Niko to tell me to stop worrying. I want him to make sure these people pay for taking my father away. He doesn’t do that though, so finally, I sit in a chair beside the bed. I decide to just talk to him. That’s all I can do. Maybe it will reach him somehow.
“I need you, Niko.” I whisper it into the room, and it feels like such a huge admission and yet so small and weak at the same time. I want Niko to know what I’m going to do. I’m hoping it will give him enough fuel to bring himself back to me. I need that from him. “They took my father away—away from both of us,” I whisper, the words cracking because they are so painful to utter. “They stole him and we can’t let that go. I can’t let that go. You need to be a part of this. You need to wake up. Until you’re here to help, I will start on my own. I don’t know what will happen—or how to start—but I will do this. I promise to hold it together until you can be here to stand with me. You will give me strength and my father deserves both of us doing this for him. That means you have got to wake up and do your part. We will have revenge. For my daddy and for you.” The word daddy leaving my lips starts another round of tears. “I know when you wake, you’ll be upset with what I’m doing, but I must do this. I must. When you can help, I’ll be here. I’ll be here because I need you, There’s no if in this scenario, Niko. Come back to me. I need you. I need you so much.”
I’m struggling with so much guilt. I ran away, like a foolish child. I left because my feelings were hurt. Instead of fighting for what I wanted—what was mine—I was on a beach waiting for Niko to prove himself to me. I should have been by his side when he needed me most.
I never realized how much of my life has already been wrapped up in Niko and the bond we’ve been forming. Now, I just feel so alone and the ache of that is soul destroying. I need to figure things out. I don’t know where to start and Callan is barely holding it together. His best friend is fighting for his life, and he’s got to hold my hand through it all. I need to speak with Antonio. He can help me. He’s the only one who can.
“Vic, Callan…” I call out. True to their word, they come back in immediately, proving they were waiting right outside. “Do you know who did this?” I ask, watching their faces closely. I don’t normally observe people and find their tells, but if I’m going to do what needs to be done, I need to start. I need to be able to judge when others are trying to soften things for me—or outright lie. I have revenge to plan. I can do that. I can channel my anger, pain, and sorrow and give it a purpose. I can cling to that for now.
“No, we don’t. We’ve searching for answers, but we’re not getting anywhere.”
“Does anyone know my father has died?” I ask Callan.
“Absolutely not. We locked it down. Niko was flown here on a private medical charter, and no one will find him on any patient roster. Everyone that helps him is paid to keep their mouths shut. Your father’s body is in Greece. DeLuca is taking care of those arrangements and having him sent here.”
“We can’t announce my father’s death. Not yet. My family are vultures. Every last one of them and they will commence circling. I can’t deal with that right now.”