Total pages in book: 25
Estimated words: 24493 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 122(@200wpm)___ 98(@250wpm)___ 82(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 24493 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 122(@200wpm)___ 98(@250wpm)___ 82(@300wpm)
"Marrying Bailey isn't enough to repay what I owe your family. I give you my word, Astro. Your granddaughter will always be safe with me."
"Bailey will take care of you, too," the older man promised gruffly. "She's a very special girl. You'll know this for yourself, hopefully sooner than later."
"Of course." It was the only polite thing to say, even though Stelios privately thought the words were more the opinion of an affectionate grandfather than fact.
A matriarch seemed to have his bride-to-be cornered when Stelios found his way back to her, and she nearly had him blinking when the loveliest smile suddenly broke over her lips.
"You're just in time," the girl exclaimed.
Was he now?
"Theía Helene was just reminding me about the deadline for our marriage."
Ah.
He knew all about Helene Cholevas from Kayra, and since it was as good a time as any to make some new enemies—-
"I've been wanting to talk to someone about that," Stelios said silkily. "Are the Familia's elders aware that our state requires a three-day waiting period between applying for a marriage license and holding a marriage ceremony?"
Helene's face turned blank while his bride-to-be appeared surprised. "Seriously?"
"It makes things rather...interesting," Stelios drawled. "Doesn't it?"
"You'll have to talk to Astro about that," the older woman said coolly. "We were very clear about the deadline, and he made no objections at all—-"
"My apologies, Helene. I didn't mean to sound I have any objections since I don't. The deadline may be someone's attempt to make trouble, but I'm rather thankful for it, actually. It's been a while since I last flew anywhere, and my wedding is certainly a good reason as any to take some time off."
Stelios smiled politely at the older woman. "If you haven't anything planned this afternoon, perhaps you'd like to join us for a quick trip to Georgia? We'll be taking my private jet, and Judge Simmons has also cleared his schedule for the rest of the day."
THE NEXT SIXTY MINUTES went by in a blur of paperwork and planning for contingencies. Helene struck him as being unnecessarily petty, and since that made her unpredictable in his book—-
"I finally get why Theía approves of you."
It was the girl's first time to speak ever since they boarded the jet, and since old habits died hard, Stelios turned up the charm like he always did when speaking to people he didn't quite trust.
"Dare I hope it has something to do with our looks?"
A smile slowly formed over his bride-to-be's lips...and Stelios felt as if he was hit by a bolt of lightning. What the hell?
"Theía is actually more likely to distrust you because of your looks, so no...it's not that. Rather, I think it's because both of you—-"
"Don't hold back now," Stelios said dryly.
"—-are control freaks."
He was one, actually, but it was also his first time to hear a woman to call him that to his face.
"Let's just say that's true. Will it make you more or less likely to marry me?"
"Neither, of course." The girl's tone was one of surprise. "I just want to understand you better, that's all."
And there it was, Stelios thought.
Astro had said his granddaughter was special, and he was beginning to believe, albeit grudgingly, that there might be some truth in the older man's words. Women only cared about using him while Bailey here...
"Do you know of the ties that bind our families?"
Bailey looked horrified. "Are you saying we're relatives?"
Stelios almost choked. "No, of course not—-"
The girl sighed in relief. "Oh, thank God. I'm not into incest, you know—-"
"Neither am I."
"Really?"
Stelios didn't know whether to feel exasperated or insulted by the girl's dubious tone. "Yes, Bailey. Really."
"Then what's that all about our families—-"
"When my parents entered the witness protection program, the people after them believed that your parents would know where they were hiding."
"Blood debt," the girl realized out loud, and her expression turned grave. "It's why you married me."
"It's the least I can do, even if I know it won't make up for the loss of your parents—-"
Bailey shook her head. "You lost your parents, too—-"
"They knew the risks they were taking when they turned themselves in to go against Familia's former leader. Their death was the consequence of that risk. But your parents, Bailey. The only reason they died was because they were friends with mine—-"
"You don't have to apologize or make up for anything. You weren't the one who killed my parents, and those who did have already been made to pay."
He could see that she meant every word, and for someone who had grown up in a world dominated by vengeance and violence—-
Was this another thing that made her special?
Her ability to remain untouched by cruelty and anger, despite being born in the same world as his?
"I want to do this, Bailey," Stelios said quietly. "I need to do this. Will you let me?"