Page 108 of About Love and Revenge

THE CAPITAL GRILLE RESTAURANT - NEW YORK

“What's going on, Odin?”

“Why do you think there’s something going on?”

“Stop. I fought with myself not to interfere, but it's enough now.”

“What exactly are we talking about, Christos?”

He sighs, looking annoyed, then runs a hand through his hair. “More than anyone, I know that sometimes we go down strange paths until we get our bearings, but whatever you're planning right now, you need to stop immediately.”

I lean back in my chair at the restaurant where we came for lunch and wait for him to finish.

“I’ve waited for you to talk, but since you don't seem willing toshare, here you go. You have to make a decision about Elina and her father.”

I feel my body stiffen.

Even though we met as adults, Christos has become a brother to me. We’re as close as even Aristeu and I ever were, yet I’ve never shared my revenge plans with him.

However, I now have proof that he’s found out several things on his own, including my problem with Leandros.

It doesn’t surprise me at all that he has investigated my past. Men like us don't allow just anyone near, even if it was him who found out we were cousins and then took the initiative to establish our friendship.

Like me, Christos is a CEO, although our area of expertise is completely different. He owns a conglomerate of companies linked to fashion, in addition to other businesses.

Of course, I also did my own investigations to find out who he really was and whether he was hiding any skeletons in his closet. After the initial distrust on both sides was past, our relationship went from social events with the remainder of my paternal family in America to a real friendship. And now, here we are, with him confronting me with something I may not be ready to face.

“My relationship with Elina has nothing to do with her father.”

“Do you really believe what you're saying? Unless she's nothing more than a distraction, in which case Zoe will kill you?—”

“She's not. I asked her to marry me.”

I can see that I’ve completely surprised him, but after the shock passes, he again insists, “Don't you think the time has come for us to have a frank conversation? You are like a little brother to me. You can share whatever you want with me.”

I’ve never allowed myself that level of emotional closeness with anyone who was left of my family. His father, who happens to be my uncle, for example, I’ve only met a few times. As much as I tried to push Christos away, though, since we met, he has always been present in my life in one way or another.

“Who is Leandros Argyros to you?”

“How do you know he's anyone to me?”

“Because you have no plans to move back to Greece, as far as I know, and yet you bought his island.”

I'm not surprised that he dug so deep in his research. I would have done the same. I don't really want to involve him in my problems, but the truth is, I'm tired of so many secrets.

“He's responsible for the fire that killed my parents and sister.”

“Fuck!”

I tell my story, remembering to mention my mother's betrayal and the person who saved me that day.

“Who is this man?”

“A good Samaritan.”

“No. There's more to it. Saving you is one thing, but no one leaves a fortune to a stranger out of sheer kindness. Haven’t you investigated it?”

“No, because I gave him my word that I wouldn't. I'll have all the answers when I accomplish our plans. He left me a letter and said that everything I need to know about his motives can be found there.”

---