Page 135 of About Love and Revenge

“Yes, it is. Pardon me. Could you please repeat what you said?”

Odin

NEW YORK

“He's on the island.”

“Why am I only hearing about this now?”

“Because we too were taken by surprise. One of our men has just reported that they managed to capture him and take him back to Greece. Apparently the bastard got careless. In fact, I caused his carelessness. I stopped following him so closely. Our men began to act discreetly, and he began to feel confident.” Grigory laughs. “Or maybe the money just ran out. Elina's father isn't exactly the type to deprive himself of anything, and that coupled with the fact that he's had to hire men to protect him must have drained his reserves.”

“Prepare the plane. I'm flying to Greece today.”

“Odin, I could solve this easily and in a way that doesn't involve you.”

“I know, but I've been waiting for this reckoning for a long time. It's time for our final showdown.”

“I have to go away for a little while.”

"So tonight will be a farewell night? How many days will you be gone?” she jokes, but there's something in her voice that makes me doubt. Elina sounds anxious.

I stayed on the plane for a while, building up the courage to call her. I don't think I've ever felt so divided in my life. Even though I've been sure this day would come, it feels wrong to talk to her knowing what I'm about to do.

“No, I won't have time to stop by the house. I'm already on the plane.”

“Where are you going?”

“Greece.”

“Oh . . . I . . . would like to know when you'll be back.”Again, the hesitation in her voice baffles me.

“I'm not sure. Maybe in two, three days. Now I need to go.”

“Right.”

“Elina, I love you.”I just hope that when this is all over, you can still love me back—but that last part I keep to myself.

Elina

“Zoe, I really am pregnant.”

“Congratulations, Mom! Are you happy?"

“Yeah.”

“Elina, what's going on? You don't need to hide anything from me."

“Odin is in Greece. I think he went after my father."

I was frustrated when he told me about the trip yesterday, and I barely slept. I wanted to tell him about the pregnancy, and now I'll have to wait for his return.

He hasn't called me again, even though Grigori came to check on me earlier today and also called in the afternoon.

Odin's right-hand man is treating me differently now. I no longer feel like he hates me. Gradually, I'm relaxing when I see him.

“What do you mean ‘after your father?’”

“I’m not sure. I think Odin wants to hand him over to the authorities. I'm scared to death, Zoe. My father owes him a lot of money, and there’s the murder of Odin's cousin to make matters worse.”

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