Page 7 of The Greek's Destruction

“Gentlemen, I want to thank you for showing up tonight. Now, that we have taken care of the parasite that was trying to infect us, I want to inform you all my grandson, Balthazar will be taking over this region, effective immediately,” Grandfather announced, causing my eyes to widen.

“What,” I asked, perplexed at his statement.

Grandfather turned to me, replying, “It is time for you to take on more responsibility and now that this region needs a new Boss, you’re it.”

“But Grandfather, I want to stay in Chicago,” I protested.

Father spoke up, “Balthazar, you heard what your Grandfather said, this is not up for debate. You are a Boss now, so fuckin’ act like one!”

Father was right, I am a fucking Boss! I have been groomed since I was younger to run shit. Chicago wasn’t going anywhere; I could go home to visit anytime I wanted. It wasn’t like I didn’t know anything about Dallas, my mother’s younger sister lived here with her family and we have visited them numerous of times. If I wanted to someday be the head of our family, this was one way to prove myself to Grandfather and Father. I needed to show them that I could run shit on my own and not have others fear me just because my last name is Kourakos but because I could be just as calculating and ruthless as they were.

I took my position proudly and when we returned to Chicago, I got my affairs in order for my relocation. I knew once I told Xander Andino, my best friend, the news he was going to be on board to come with me as my right hand man. It took a year later before Alistair, my little brother, followed us. Since then, we’ve been like the Three Musketeer’s running Dallas.

After taking over, I had to deal with the backlash from some of Christos men not wanting to get on board. Needless to say, those motherfuckers didn’t last long and miraculously disappeared, never to be heard from again. I bought a few businesses to make my operation look legit from the outside. I own a few gas stations, check cashing stores, some real estate, and The Elite. The money we bought in from the illegal gamble houses, arms trade, racketeering, and loan sharking, we washed it through the other businesses.

Two years later, I gained my respect with the other Bosses and Grandfather and Father were proud of the way I was running my territory. When Nina came along, I was warring with a local Italian family, the Ganino’s, that was trying to muscle their way into my territory. Hence, one of the other reasons I didn’t want to get close to Nina. I’ve been in this business long enough to know that family or anyone who is close to you will have a target on their backs in those types of situations. So, I kept my distance, that is until I saw that asshole try to kidnap her in the parking lot.

Alistair, Xander, and I were in my office going over that week’s figures, well they were mostly talking; I, on the other hand, was watching Nina as she left out of the building, on the security screen like I always did on the nights she worked. She looked exhausted as she tiredly walked towards her car. Then suddenly she stopped and a figure appeared in the screen. Who the fuck was that? By her demeanor, I could tell Nina did not want to be bothered by the asshole. I kept saying in my head for her to just get in the car. When she turned to do so, that motherfucker grabbed her. Instantly I was out of my seat, rushing out of my office with Alistair and Xander running behind me. As I raced through the club, I pulled my gun from the back of my pants.

“What’s going on, Zar,” Alistair questioned, when we stopped at the exit Nina went out of.

I put my finger up to my lips, letting them know to keep quiet before twisting the knob. Nina was struggling in his arms as he tried to back away with her. I snuck up behind them, then cracked him hard with the butt of my gun. He let her go, clutching his bloody head.

Nina spun around, her eyes like a deer in headlights. She was scared and shook up. I wanted to put a bullet in his head right then and there but I wasn’t ready for Nina to see that side of me.

I had to fight the impulse to pull her into my arms and comfort her. I wanted to be the one to take her home and make sure she was okay, but I needed to deal with the motherfucker who thought it was okay to try and take what was mine.

Lowering my head, I told her, “Nina, I’m going to have my car service take you home, okay? You’re not in any condition to drive. Give me your car keys, and I will have it dropped off.”

“Thank you,” she said as she placed them in my hand.

After she asked what about the asshole, I sort of lied, responding, “Oh, don’t worry about him. He and I are going to have a little chat about my policy of not touching the dancers.”

Bitch boy had the nerve to beg, asking her to tell us he only wanted to take her to get some food, which I knew was a lie. Nina ignored him as I walked her back to the door, then opened it. Once I told her again to wait for the driver at the front of the club, Nina went inside, leaving us with her would be abductor.

“Man, I wasn’t going to hurt her,” the guy groaned.

Alistair pulled out his gun, striking him across the face. “Shut up, motherfucker!”

I chuckled as I reached into my pocket for my cellphone. Alistair might be my little brother, but he has a nasty temper. Father says he’s a combination of him, Grandfather, and me which makes him deadly and unpredictable.

After making arrangements for the car service to take Nina home, I turned to the guy. “What’s your name?”

“What?” he asked, looking up at me.

“He asked you what is your name, asshole,” Xander piped in, moving the lower part of his jacket to the side, showing the butt of his gun tucked into his pants.

“Chris...Chris Matthews,” he quickly replied.

I stepped closer to him, then asked in a low voice, “Chris, do you know what happens to men who touch things that don’t belong to them?”

Chris looked at me in bewilderment.

“You see Chris, you fucked up because you put your hands on someone who belongs to me and I can’t have that.” I pulled out my leather gloves and slid them on.

He began to stutter. “I...I...I didn’t know she was your lady! I mean, she’s a fuckin’ stripper for Christ’s sake. She shakes her tits and ass in men’s faces all night, teasing us, telling us we can look but not touch! A man can only take that shit for so long!”

I growled as I backhanded him hard causing his head jerk to the side as blood flew from his mouth. Snatching him up by his shirt, I hissed, “Too bad your weakness to keep your hands to yourself is about to cost you your life!”

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