Page 3 of Under The Greek's Protection

Chapter 1

Alistair Kourakos

Waiting patiently forBalthazar to tear into my ass, I steer my Navigator in the direction of Copper Canyon. We’ve been riding for twenty minutes, and I can feel the tension in the air. Earlier, when I was leaving his house, I told him I was tired and going home to rest. He and I both knew that was a lie. I personally wanted to meet the man who hurt Hailey and Devyn. I wanted to let him know if he kept up his search for them, I was going to kill him. I wanted him to look into my cold, dark, crazed eyes and realize he was not dealing with someone who had all his faculties. The only reason I didn’t kill him then, was because Devyn is young and someday she might want answers. Hell, she might even want to be the one to put a bullet in his head. Until then, she and Hailey are mine to protect.

When Zar and I found Hailey, Devyn, and the other women in that fucking room Trent was keeping them in, Hailey’s protectiveness over her sister and others, and the wild look in her eyes, instantly drew me to her. As she stood in front of us with her bruised face, fists clenched, ready to fight, I thought she was the most exquisite and brave woman I had ever met. Believe me, I have been with my share, but none could hold a candle to Hailey, with her soft looking brown skin, and captivating brown eyes.

Something inside of me said I needed to keep them close. When I found out they were on the run from Hailey’s step-father, Andre Varner, who had been molesting Devyn and Hailey since she was younger, I knew they weren’t going to make it without me. Which is one of the reasons I had Tech draw up the marriage certificate, making Hailey my wife, and legal papers stating that Hailey and I are Devyn’s legal custodians. I also had him provide documentation that their last names had been changed to Kourakos.

Zar and the guys probably thought I was really off my fucking rocker for having Tech do that; and they’re right. They also know I always get what I want. I know I can be impulsive, stubborn, and downright arrogant as fuck, but that’s just my dazzling personality. My new wife will just have to get used to it.

Hailey thinks that when they return from Chicago, she and I will be getting a divorce. That shit isn’t going to happen.

I grin thinking about when she looked at the papers at breakfast the other morning, sealing us for life...

“No, no this is not right! Why do the ID’s have our last name as Kourakos and why is there a marriage license here with mine and Alistair’s name on it? And it’s signed!,” Hailey shrieked.

“This needs to be fixed,” Hailey said, throwing the file on the table.

“We don’t have time for that,” I told her, sipping my coffee with a smirk.

“I like the name Kourakos,” Devyn said, cutting into her pancakes.

Hailey rolled her eyes before she asked, “Tech, can you please have new ID’s for us when we return and do something about that marriage certificate?”

Tech cleared his throat, looking nervous. “Ummm, sorry I can’t. Those are legit and the license is valid. All are registered with the state.”

“You’ve got to be kidding me,” Hailey murmured, placing her hand on her forehead. I continued to smirk at her as she said, “Don’t get comfortable with this whole marriage thing, we’re getting an annulment or divorce when we get back.”

“Not going to happen,” I promised under my breath as I sat my cup down, picking up a piece of sausage.

I meant that shit, too. Hailey is my wife now and Devyn is my little sister. I will bury any motherfucker who tries to fuck with them. If Andre knows what’s good for him, he’ll heed my warning and take his ass back to Atlanta. That shot to the knee will be an insignificant scratch compared to what I will do to him.

“You know he’s not going to let that shit ride, right,” Zar asks, finally breaking the silence.

I glance over at him, curling my lip. “If he wants to keep his fucking life, he will.”

“Little brother, I know you want to protect Hailey and Devyn...” he starts, but I cut him off.

“My now wife and little sister.”

Zar sighs. “Your wife and our little sister, but the shit you just pulled is going to come back to our doorsteps. You shot him, Alistair! That motherfucker will be coming for you and I’ll be damned if I let anything happen to your crazy ass. So, not only do I have to deal with the bullshit with Trent, but I also have to make sure your ass stays alive too.”

I grip the steering wheel because Balthazar has gone into big brother mode again. He of all people should know I don’t need anyone babysitting my ass. I’ve always been like that since I was a little boy. Father said when we were younger, it was always me who started fights with Balthazar. Balthazar being older, and bigger than me, would never fight back because he didn’t want to hurt me. It would have to take Mother or GeeGee to come and get me to calm my little ass down. I’m never one to back down from a fight. I stayed in trouble in school, not because I picked fights, but more so because I couldn’t stand a bully. I couldn’t stand to see my friends or any other student be pushed around by some prick who thought it was cool to pick on the weak. Andre Varner is a perverted bully who will find his ass in a coffin being shipped back to Atlanta fucking with me.

Zar rubs his hand down his face. “Alistair, you have done some crazy shit in the past, but forcing Hailey to marry you, and becoming Devyn’s guardian...I don’t know little brother, this might take the cake. What is it about the two of them that has you shooting assholes in the knee? Granted, he deserved it, but help me to understand? They’re good people from what I’ve seen of them so far, but to be truthful with me, are you doing this to be their Knight in Greek shining armor, or is there more to it?”

I mulled over his question. It was hard to explain, but I knew what I felt deep down inside for Hailey and Devyn. They needed me, and for some unknown reason, I needed them too. Relaxing my hands, I made a right turn. “Honestly Zar, all I can tell you is they need me, and I need them too, and for your information I don’t need protecting. I am capable of taking care of myself, my wife, and our sister.”

Zar peers over at me before letting out a low laugh. “Alistair, let me tell you something...this is my territory. I run motherfucking Dallas! You, my brother, are a part of my crew, and just drew first blood against a drug lord! This shit, your shit, now involves all of us. We are not going to sit back and let that motherfucker try to take you out and get the girls. Hell, fucking no! So, as your brother, I’m telling you now...there will be no more of this doing solo missions shit! What do you think would’ve happened if we hadn’t shown up when we did? Your ass is lucky I know how that warped brain of yours works! We..” he motions his hand between the two of us, “We are a fucking family. If one of us has some bullshit going down, we all do. That’s how it has always been and will fucking continue. Am I clear?”

When I don’t reply, Zar growls my name, “Alistair”

“Yeah, I hear you loud and clear,” I tell him.

Zar’s voice goes back to normal as he adds, “And speaking of your wife, you need to call and tell her what happened.”

“I will,” I respond before silence fills the air again.

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