Page 24 of The Greek's Retribution

“No, Father. This asshole needs to know that no one is going to put up with his shit. He just disrespected Xander and I won’t have it. Jeroen was like a brother to you and Xander is that way to Alistair and me.”

Alistair jumps in. “That was a fucked up thing to say, Yiorgos. Had you been anyone else, I probably would’ve shot you for saying some shit like that and it’s because we are blood that I don’t. Xander might not be blood but to me he is my brother and I will fight for and with him.”

As Zar and Yiorgos stare each other down, I take deep breaths to calm myself. Even though I wanted to put Yiorgos in his place, Zar did the right thing in stopping me. Asshole or not, Yiorgos is a Boss and cussing his ass out would’ve been seen as a total sign of disrespect to a high ranking family member.

“That is enough,” Sebastian growls with authority. “Balthazar, take your seat.”

Zar, never taking his eyes off of his cousin, eases back into his chair.

Sebastian points his finger between the two of them. “We are all family and whatever animosity the two of you have been hanging onto against each other ends right the fuck now! Yiorgos, I know you’re from the old country where family are the only ones let into the inner circle, but here,” he jabs the table with his finger, “here, it’s not just family by blood and those who we deem worthy enough to stand next to us, do we call family. I know you’re used to how my brother Linus runs things over there, but I run shit here and the men you see in this room are all considered family. They have earned that right and there are others you will soon meet who are regarded in the same manner that we would go to war with also. Yiorgos, I have asked you here because we think you are the right person to take over the Chicago territory, but don’t let me rethink my decision.”

Yiorgos lowers his head in respect as a tiny smile graces Zar’s mouth but quickly falls when Sebastian trains his eyes on him.

“What the hell are you smiling for? Your ass isn’t off the hook. You know as well as the rest of us, family shit is talked out calmly and civilly. If this is how you’re reacting with your cousin, how will you do at the meeting in Bermuda? You’re a Boss and you are not to let anyone, family or not, push your buttons enough to make you lose control like that. Your Father and I taught you better than that.”

“I’m sorry, Grandfather, Father,” Zar apologizes to both of them, lowering his head.

I couldn’t let him take all the blame by himself, so I state, “I’m also sorry, Sebastian and Yiannis. Zar was only taking up for me and I shouldn’t have let Yiorgos’ words get to me.” When they both nod their approval of my words, I turn to Yiorgos. “My apologies.”

Yiorgos holds up his hand. “No apologies necessary. I’m not used to how things are done over here. My father only had me and my brothers close around him. He considered us his Right Hand Men, everyone else was workers. No one was considered family who wasn’t a blood relative. This is something that I will have to get used to. If my family considers you one of their own, then you are family to me as well.”

“Thank you,” I tell him, bowing my head in respect.

He returns the gesture, then moves his eyes to Zar, who says, “Grandfather is right, Yiorgos. We are both Bosses and should not be in competition with each other. The shit was even silly when we did it as kids, but now we’re grown ass men with our own territories. There cannot be any divides within the family. I’m willing to let bygones be bygones and work with you.”

Yiorgos stares at Zar’s hand this time when he reaches it across the table to him. After a couple of seconds, he grins wide as he takes his cousin’s peace offering.

“I would like that, cousin,” he states. “And who would’ve thought we spent all this time holding grudges against one another all because some girl played both of our young asses back in the day. And believe me, if you could see her now, we both dodged a huge bullet.”

They both let out hearty laughs as the rest of us gawk at them. Seriously, they’ve spent all this time despising each other over a girl?

Chapter 7

Sabre

After hanging up withXander, I decided to leave the guest room I’m staying in on the first floor and go to the kitchen to get a snack. My stomach was cramping some but I didn’t want to take the pain medicine GeeGee insisted on getting, on an empty stomach.

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