Page 68 of The Enforcer

“Do not tell stories on me,” Christos warned. “I will get you back and you know how many secrets I own about you. I do not care it’s the night before your wedding. Kara deserves to know what an asshole you were as a child.”

“Language!” Cora piped in.

I was watching the interaction among the family, jealous of how much they loved each other. Dinner with my parents had never been so lively.

“Wait. I want to hear this. I think I need to know who I’m getting involved with,” Kara complained.

“It’s a little late, babe,” Havros growled. Did all the men growl?

Laughing and enjoying myself was entirely too easy around them. They had a way of making everything seem normal. If that was possible. The rehearsal had actually made me teary-eyed. Seeing Havros and Kara together had been special. When I’d met their little boy, Philip, I’d seen even more love bursting from the two of them.

I hoped one day to be that much in love.

“What about Christos? I think I need to hear his story myself,” I interjected.

“Our guest has spoken,” Dimitrios said, laughing. “Tell it, Havros.”

“I think I will. You see that man over there?” He pointed toward Christos using his fork.

“Oh, yes. I see him,” I purred and Christos squeezed my leg under the table.

“When he was ten, he wanted to run away from home. We were staying at the house in Athens. He managed to take my father’s car and was halfway to Albania before the police caught up with him.”

“Why does that not surprise me,” I said and bumped my elbow into Christos’ side.

Christos groaned. “I was maintaining the speed limit and I would have made it until the police started chasing me.”

“Yeah, and he wrecked our father’s favorite sports car.” Dimitrios lifted his glass of wine as if toasting what his brother had done.

Apollo exhaled, the sound exaggerated.

“I’m curious. Was he punished?” I turned my head toward his parents.

Cora could light up a room with her smile. “I was the one who punished him. His father was going to forgive him.”

“And?” I pushed, nudging Christos again.

“Let’s just say he couldn’t sit down for a solid week,” Havros interjected.

“I hate all of you,” Christos said emphatically. “No more talking about me. You’ll scare Valencia off more than my current lifestyle already does.”

“I’m not that scared,” I told him. Although the jury was still out.

“Then I’m not doing my job.” Christos made a funny face at me and I couldn’t have been more shocked that a man of his power and presence was allowing himself to just enjoy the moment. “We need to have a toast to the happy couple.”

“Yes.” I raised my glass.

“To my brother. A true pain in the ass with a big mouth and to his lovely bride, a woman so beautiful and enticing that she could do much better with any other man.”

“Oh, you pig!” Havros moaned.

“There better be a better speech tomorrow, son. I mean it.”

Apollo gave Christos a stern look and everyone laughed.

And I couldn’t help but wonder what it would be like to be considered family.

CHAPTER 19

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