Page 113 of About Love and Revenge

Odin

CHAPTER THIRTY-SEVEN

The party is almost over,and I can't wait to leave. The auctioning of a week-long stay at a resort in South Africa—Elina's idea—was a success; we raised more than double what we did last year.

I look at my watch and think about how much longer I have to stay before I can grab my girl and leave.

Suddenly, Christos appears beside me. “He was your mother's brother. Half-brother, actually, because they were children of different fathers, hence the surname not being the same as yours."

I don't even need to ask who he's talking about. Christos is just as stubborn as I am, and I wouldn't have given up until I found out more about my rescuer. Although I suspected that Ingvar probably had family ties to me, I never imagined he would be something as close as an uncle.

Why didn't he tell me? Why so much mystery? I would have perfectly understood his motives. Any brother would seek justice for his sister's death.

“I don't understand why he hid our kinship.”

“Me neither, but I'll keep investigating.”

“I don't want you to tell me anything more, Christos. I gave my word that I wouldn’t try to find out, and now I’m very close tocompleting my mission. There's no reason, after all this time, to break my promise. I can wait a little longer.”

“I admire your sense of honor, but it doesn't sit well with me, Odin. From what you told me, the man raised you for six years. Why not comfort the only nephew he had left?”

“Was I his only nephew?”

“Yes. Your mother had another brother, but he died in a car accident as a teenager. On the maternal side, as far as I know, you are the only one left.”

“I know you're doing this with the best of intentions, but don't get involved in this filth. I don't want you tainted if things go wrong.”

“Don't worry, I'm being careful. I'm not stupid, Odin. I know you’re not planning to bring Argyros to justice. I just wish I could drag you out of this insanity.”

“I don't want to fight with you, but you need to know that nothing will stop me. I’ll only have peace when he is dead.”

He's about to make a counterargument when we see Zoe searching the crowd as if she’s looking for someone. As soon as she spots us, she walks over to where we are.

“Where is Elina? I can't find her anywhere.”

I feel the blood begin to pump fast in my veins as I scan the room. Not only can I not find her, I can't see any of my security guards, not even Grigori.

“Wait here. I’ll go after her. As soon as I find her, I'll let you know.”

As I speed-walk, I reach for my cell phone to track hers. In moments, I find out that the last signal was right here, inside the party, about ten minutes ago.

When I complete the call to her phone, it goes straight to voicemail, and I experience a mixture of frustration and despair like never before.

She wouldn't just leave me, right?

No, that can’t be it. Nobody can fake it that well. And she’s hadmany opportunities to leave. Why would she wait until now to do it, when things are falling into place between us?

I go to the women's bathroom, and two women look at me in amazement as I enter. “I'm sorry, ladies, I'm looking for my girlfriend.”

Once the initial shock is past, they give me condescending nods.

After checking that there is no one else there but them, I pick up the phone again to call Grigori, already walking towards the security room we designed to monitor the event.

Despite the possibility of Naim or Leandros showing up being a remote one, I anticipated every outcome and installed cameras in the main hall and hallways. Before I can reach the security room door, however, Grigori answers the phone.

“Odin?”

“Where is she?”

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