Nikos stood there dumfounded.
“Clock’s ticking. I suggest you do whatever you can.”
The man took out his knife and ran it along Cassia’s neck. She whimpered in fear.
Nikos reached for his phone without taking his eyes off her and dialed his assistant’s number. He kept his movements slow so as not to agitate the men.
“James. I need to transfer money. One-billion dollars.”
His assistant gasped with outrage.
“Sir! That’s too much! It will take time!”
One of the masked men approached Nikos and handed him a slip of paper with the account number where the money should be transferred.
“I know. We have a situation. I need it now and I need it fast. Empty as many accounts as you can. Sell my stocks if need be or ask for a loan! Call whoever can help. I need it in fifteen minutes. Listen carefully, here’s the account number...”
Nikos dictated the numbers on the paper and James repeated it to him for verification.
“But sir—“
“Lives depend on this, James. Hurry up,” he pleaded.
“Tell your assistant that if he alerts the authorities, all of you will die.”
His lips pinched in a tight line, he repeated the words to James.
Then, all Nikos could do was to wait. He prayed to all the gods listening that James could find away and beat the odds. He wouldn’t let Cassia and his unborn child die. If they did, he’d die along with them.
Antonio approached him.
“Call my assistant as well. I can give you two hundred million.”
A look of understanding passed between them. Nikos squeezed his friend’s shoulder and breathed a sigh of relief. He called Antonio’s personal assistant and asked for the money to be transferred.
“Eight hundred million to go,” the leader remarked cheerfully.
Something in his voice was really familiar, even if it was a bit muffled by the mask he wore. He also made an effort to make his voice lower but still there was that niggling feeling that Nikos knew the man.
Ten minutes down on the clock and Nikos started sweating bullets. He kept his eyes on Cassia, and Cassia kept hers on his. He saw her love and her fear shining in them. His own eyes started to water for the second time that night.
“Time’s nearly up, Demakis.” There were just two minutes to go on the clock.
Suddenly, his phone rang.
“Sir! I managed to get eight hundred million right away. I emptied one of the Swiss accounts and called in a favor from the bank owner himself. Antonio’s assistant called me and I already had the money wired to the account. Please confirm.”
Nikos faced the men.
“My assistant says the money has already been transferred. Release her.”
The leader tipped his chin towards one of his men. He had a laptop with him and quickly confirmed the money transfer.
“You have what you need. Please let my wife go,” he begged.
“So sure that I already have what I need? Well, not yet. I’ve waited for this moment for a long time, Nikos.”
“Who are you?!” he growled.
The leader pulled off his mask and revealed a mop of sandy-blonde hair, blue eyes and an evil smile. Cassia gasped while Nikos roared with rage.
“Hector? Why?” Cassia whispered.
“Why? That’s a really good question. I’ll tell you why. I was born the year 1975. My mother was from America and she chose to live in Greece. Why? Because she fell in love. She became mistress to Andrei Demakis—your father, Nikos”
Nikos inhaled sharply.
“Stavros Demakis hated my mother. She was an actress from America. It was not a noble profession for him and because of that, he refused to give us anything. Eventually, Andrei Demakis lost interest with my mother. He accused her of cheating and threw her out the street. He treated us like trash and we were forced to live in the slums.”
Nikos paled for he knew where Hector’s tale was heading.
“We begged Stavros Demakis for money. My mother just wanted to go back to her family in America. But he turned his back on us and didn’t even spare a single euro. When I was four years old, Andrei Demakis married your mother and she had you. You became your grandfather’s golden boy and he gave you everything.”
“Hector—“
“Don’t call me that! I am the first born son of Andrei Demakis. Everything should have been mine! All you have is mine! But what did I have? I had a life where I had to eat scraps, beg for coins. Eventually I joined the drug cartel and they took me in. They taught me everything. Most of all, they gave me the instrument for my revenge.”
“Hector...don’t do this, please,” Cassia begged.
“Shut up! You’re one of them now, Cassia! I thought you were the only thing he wanted that he’d never get. I was wrong. You fell at his feet just like the rest of them!” he roared.
Hector took a deep breath and then continued. “I came to your wedding ten years ago hoping to steal you away. I was only supposed to get you away from your own wedding and then discard you. But one look at you and I was lost. I fell for your beauty and your kind heart.”
Hector cupped her cheek and forced her to look at him. “I changed my plans for you, you know. I thought that maybe you’d divorce him and the company will be ours. I thought you’d help me reach my revenge! But I was wrong. Clearly you’re not as immune to his charms like the others. Look at him Cassia! I am so much better for you!”
Hector tugged on her hair and forced her to look at Nikos. Cassia winced in pain.
“I loved you and gave you everything but you gave up a life with me for him!” Hector roared.
“Let go of her!” Nikos shouted.
Hector turned his attention back to Nikos.
“I’ve waited for this a long time now, Nikos. I was the one who had you kidnapped two years ago, you know. I wanted revenge and at the same time I wanted all your stocks at the company to be turned over to me. I should be the one handling Demakis International! It is my right as the first son!” he shouted.
Then Hector shook his head. “But my people were so gods-damned incompetent and you were able to escape.”
Hector sighed and when he looked up, there was a malicious glint in his eyes.
“I will kill your child and then kill your wife. Finally, I will kill you and take your head to your beloved grandfather.”
Hector retrieved his gun and pointed it back to Cassia’s temple while his knife was on her belly.
“Say goodbye,” Hector commanded.
“Hector...don’t,” Nikos begged.
“Don’t call me Hector. My name is Sebastian... and I do what I please.”
He pushed Cassia forward. At the same time he pulled the trigger twice.
Chaos ensued.
Nikos roared and sprang towards him. Antonio rolled to the side so he could catch Cassia. Alex jumped from his crouch and aimed a kick at the man nearest him. The man staggered backwards and Alex wrested his weapon from his hands. He quickly turned around and started to fire.
The guests screamed and hid behind the tables. But in Nikos’ rage, nothing else mattered. He dove toward Hector and the momentum bought them to the floor. He slammed Hector’s wrist against the floor and he dropped his gun.
With his other hand, Hector swiped with his knife and Nikos dodged backwards. Hector was still on the floor and Nikos kicked his other arm causing him to let go of the knife. Nikos aimed another kick and this time it was to Hector’s ribs.
Alex continued firing towards the men. Several of them dropped dead while more were returning fire. Alex ordered the other guests back and told them to stay down and call for help.
“Get down!” he shouted to them.
On the corner of his eye, he saw one of the men approach Isobel. He fired as he dove towards her.
“Get behind me!”
He crouched and crawled to the corner of the room where the buffet was laid out. He pushed her behind it and c
hecked how much bullets were remaining. He only had two.
“Stay here,” he told Isobel who remained silent and shaking from fear.
One of the men pointed his weapon at Nikos while he was on the floor in a struggle with Hector. Alex quickly fired and the man dropped down. Nikos tried to reach for the gun of that fallen man but Hector beat him to it. Alex used his last bullet and fired on Hector but the villain was able to duck.
Alex crawled to the other side of the room so he could get his gun that was kicked away earlier.
On the other side of the room, Antonio was behind one of the tables as he protected Elise and Cassia. Cassia had difficulty breathing and made choking sounds. She spat out blood and Antonio turned her to her side.
“One of her lungs is punctured,” Elise murmured as she removed her sweater. She balled it up and used it to stem the bleeding from her wounds.
“My baby...” Cassia whispered weakly.
Elise removed her hand from her stomach and saw that it was where the second bullet went to. She had to be brought immediately to the hospital or she may never survive. But their exit was blocked by the armed men.
Antonio retrieved his phone and called for help immediately. He detailed their situation and he was promised quick response. He only hoped they came in time before any of those who were injured died.
“Are you really going to kill your own older brother, Nikos?”
“I have no brother!” he spat.
“You’re right. We’re so different, you and I. I’m scum and you’re everyone’s golden boy.”
“Shut up, Hector. You’re scum because you chose to be that way. Because you chose to involve yourself with the drug cartel.Because you chose to do this.” Nikos waved a hand indicating the entire room.
“Not everyone is born with a silver spoon!” Hector kicked Nikos who staggered backwards. Nikos stood up but his side was pierced with agony. It felt as if one of his ribs was broken but he refused to back.
“You could have gone back. You could have introduced yourself and I could have given you what you wanted.”
“I doubt that. I want everything, Nikos. I don’t want scraps. I am the rightful heir of Andrei Demakis and I should have been CEO.”
“That’s your problem then. You’re nothing but a greedy bastard who thinks he has the right to everything.”
Hector roared and charged. He punched and kicked wildly because of his anger. On the other hand, Nikos did not allow his anger to rule him. He knew Cassia was hurt but unless they beat all the men here, they would not be able to escape.
“I’ll kill you. But first, I’ll let you watch Cassia die. I’ll make you watch as I carve her chest open and tear out her heart. That’s the time when I’ll kill you,” Hector snarled.
Nikos saw red.
He jumped towards Hector and punched him in the face. Hector spat out blood but still had the gall to grin.
“Every second you waste fighting me, she dies slowly.”
“Shut up!” he roared.
Nikos charged and they exchanged blows once more.
On the other side of the room, Alex finally found his gun. He waited for the perfect opportunity. While waiting, he took out his phone and sent an emergency message to his team. They were the only ones he trusted and he knew they’d come as soon as they could.
Now, he just had to keep his friends alive.
He saw an opening and fired at Hector. He hit Hector’s shoulder and the man crumpled to the ground in pain. Nikos kicked him in the back and the bastard sprawled on the floor.
“Kicking a man when he’s already down? Going to kill me now, little brother?” he taunted.
“This is for my wife and my child!” Nikos punched Hector’s face again.
Hector’s left eye was so swollen that it was almost shut. He laughed still and tried to rise.
Nikos grabbed his half-brother’s shirt and shook him hard.
“This is for what you did to Antonio and me!” He continued punching Hector even if pain shot up his arm with every swing. His knuckles might be broken but he ignored the pain. Once more, he punched Hector and that last one was enough to bring instant loss of consciousness.
When the men saw that their leader was unconscious, they started to retreat.
“Let’s go! We already have the money!” the one who confirmed the transfer told the rest of the team.
“No one leaves,” Alex snarled.
He carefully aimed his gun and fired. He kept on firing and when he was out of bullets, he rushed into the fray, pulling his knife out of his boot. He rolled to the floor and grabbed one of the scattered weapons.
One man came at him from the side and Alex quickly spun and jabbed him with his elbow. It stunned the man then Alex kicked him backwards before he fired. He threw his knife at the one who had the laptop. The knife hit the man in the back and he crumpled to the floor. The man tried to crawl away but Alex ran to him and slammed the butt of his gun at the man’s head. Instantly, he was unconscious.
Alex quickly grabbed the laptop then retrieved his knife. He turned to help Nikos.
Nikos was about to rush to his wife when he heard Hector speak, “Kill me now, brother.”
“No. That would be a mercy. You deserve to rot in jail.”
“Then, I will kill you,” he laughed.
Hector grabbed the gun nearest to him and aimed. But Alex fired first. Hector took his last breath and Nikos watched the light fade from his eyes.
He tried to feel remorse or sadness but there was none. He even felt as if a burden was lifted off his shoulders.
Finally they were all free.
The one who tortured him finally paid.
The threat to his and Cassia’s life was eliminated.
Every inch of him ached but he forced himself to stand up and limp to the other side of the room. Alex’s team burst in and they finished off the rest of Hector’s men. They took the one whom Alex rendered unconscious. When he woke up, he would be their source of information.
One of them also took the laptop and reversed the transaction so that the money would go back to Nikos’ and Antonio’s accounts.
Minutes after Alex’s team arrived, the police and the paramedics came.
Nikos’ heart stopped when he saw his wife. She was pale and her eyes were closed. Her face was a mask of pain and her body was coated in her blood. Elise, who tried to help her, was also covered in blood. She cried as she held Cassia’s hand.
Dazed, Nikos followed them to the ambulance.
“Sir, we need to see to your wounds as well,” the paramedics told him and pointed at his bleeding hands.
“No. Her first.”
He climbed inside the ambulance with her for the second time in his life. He winced at the thought but it was all over now. She would never be in danger again.
He took her hand and held tight even as the medics tried to do everything they could. They stemmed the bleeding, placed an intravenous line and hooked her to monitors. They also placed her on oxygen to help her breathe. Nikos saw her vital signs on the monitors. Her pulse was too weak and he knew she’d lost a lot of blood.
“Don’t give up, agapimeni. Fight for me. Fight for our child,” he whispered.
Then, Nikos Demakis bent his proud head over his wife’s hand and wept.
CHAPTER 22 - HOPE
January 26, 2013
Athens General Hospital
Athens, Greece
“Mr. Demakis?” The doctor finally came out of the operating room and spoke to Nikos.
He stood up followed by Antonio and Alex. They all awaited the news with bated breath.
“She’s resting now. Her vital signs are stable and we’ve retrieved the two bullets. Her right lung has collapsed but a few days of treatment, it will be as good as new. The other bullet went to her abdomen and punctured an intestine but it has also been repaired. So that means no solid food for a while. She’ll be here for a long time but I foresee no reason as to why she cannot make a full
recovery.”
All three of them sighed with relief.
“And our baby?” Nikos whispered.
“Mrs. Demakis had a little bleeding. If the bullet went another inch down, it would have pierced your wife's womb instead. Good thing she was brought here quickly. Your baby’s fine, Mr. Demakis. ”
“Thank God!” Nikos cried out.
Alex and Antonio patted him on the back. His knees threatened to buckle so he sat. He moved quickly and his chest hurt agonizingly. He had several broken ribs but they’d already been seen to and bandaged tightly.
“When can I see her?”
“She’s in the recovery room now. After this, she will be brought to the intensive care unit. If we do not have any complications, you may see her there. But I think she won’t be awake for another two to three days.”
“Thank you for everything, doctor,” Nikos said as he shook the surgeon’s hand.
“My pleasure, Mr. Demakis.”
“The police and my team just need a statement from you, Nikos. Can you manage that before you go and see your wife? I just need that and then the part of my case about Hector Petrides is closed,” Alex asked.
Nikos nodded.
“What’s next, Alex?” Antonio asked.
Alex shrugged.
“Hector is just one of the many bosses of the cartel. There are still more. That’s the only information I got from the only one from Hector’s men that we got alive. After he said that piece, he killed himself.” Alex shrugged and ran his fingers through his hair.
“I was just assigned to Hector Petrides so I’ll say case is closed. If they want me to investigate further and nail the big boss of the cartel, then that’s another matter. Another assignment for me.”
A few hours later, Nikos entered the Intensive Care Unit wearing a sterile gown, gloves, mask and a cap. It didn’t matter to him that he could only stay for a few minutes instead of sitting by her side through everything.
He’d take as much time as he could get.
He closed his eyes and fought a wave of pain the first time he saw her. She looked so fragile lying there. She was connected to so many tubes and machines that he feared to touch her. Her beautiful skin was now pale and covered in bruises.
The Billion-Dollar Marriage Contract Page 29