Page 2 of Savage Obsession

Aithan

One Month Earlier.

The heavy oak doors of my father’s study creak slightly as I push them open. The familiar scent of aged whiskey and leather fills the room, mingling with the faint smoke curling from his half-finished cigar. I stride in, exuding raw strength. My movements are purposeful because my father hates to see any sign of weakness. My pewter-gold eyes scan the space briefly before settling on him. Sebastian Vasilios, theArchigos,or what some might call the godfather of the GreekElliniki,sits behind his grand mahogany desk. His expression carved in granite. He looks up as I enter, his piercing gaze meeting mine.

I lean down and kiss him on both cheeks, a show of respect ingrained in me since childhood. “Yassou patéras,” I greet, my voice steady.

“Aithan.” His tone is gruff, laced with unspoken weight.

I sink into the leather chair opposite him, leaning back with casual confidence. The quiet stretches between us, and my curiosity begins to bubble. My father doesn’t summon me unless it’s important. My fingers tap idly against the armrest as I tilt my head. “You called for me?”

His jaw tightens, and for a moment, he says nothing. Silence is a weapon this man wields expertly, but I’ve learned patience over the years. Finally, he exhales, setting the cigar in the ashtray with deliberate precision. “We need to talk about your future.”

The words land heavily, stirring a faint sense of unease which I quickly shove aside. I keep my expression neutral, but my curiosity sharpens. The impending conversation already feels loaded, and the look on his face tells me he is presently dealing with me as his second in command and not as his son.

Sebastian steeples his fingers, his dark eyes locking onto mine with a force that dares me to look away. “When are you planning to get married?” he asks, his voice even but underscored by a chilling authority.

I blink, momentarily thrown off by the directness of the question. Marriage? That’s the last thing on my mind. I leanforward slightly, resting my forearms on the desk. “Why the sudden interest?” I counter, keeping my tone measured.

He doesn’t flinch. “It’s not sudden. You’re thirty-seven, Aithan, and it is time to settle down.”

“I am settled.” I say through clenched teeth. "TheOikogéneiarequires my attention, so I'll dedicate my efforts to theEllinikiinstead."

“You’ve spent the last decade proving yourself to the organization, but it’s not enough. The council is concerned about your personal life.”

“The council can shove it up their asses,” I interject, my voice hardening. “I’ve done more for theEllinikithan anyone else. I don’t need a wife to validate my position.”

Sebastian’s gaze sharpens, his anger barely contained. He hates to be questioned. “This isn’t just about you. It’s about the future of theElliniki.The leaders need to see stability and continuity. A family.”

I scoff, the sound cutting through the room. “Family,” I repeat bitterly, leaning back in the chair. Memories flash unbidden— and I remember the warmth. I see my late wife's laughter, my son’s tiny hands wrapped around my finger. Then their mangled body and the unbearable silence that followed.

The day of the accident plays in my mind like a haunting melody I can’t escape. I remember the phone call that shatteredeverything—the trembling voice of her father, the sterile coldness of the morgue, and the lifeless forms of my wife and son. I was away on a mission, playing the enforcer for theElliniki. My absence cost them their lives.

After their deaths, I spiraled. The once-impenetrable Aithan Vasilios crumbled into a shell of himself. Nights blurred into mornings, the burn of alcohol and the haze of sleepless hours my only companions. I became reckless, inviting danger with every move. There were days I didn’t care if I lived or died. Then came the call from Leon, my cousin and closest confidant.

Leon had found the driver, a man whose drunken recklessness stole everything from me. I remember the acrid stench of fear and urine as the man pleaded for his life. My fists met flesh, breaking bones, but it wasn’t enough. I wanted him to feel every ounce of the agony I lived with daily. Hours passed before I finally granted his wish for death. His blood-stained my hands, but it didn’t wash away the grief. It marked the beginning of the man I am today—cold, unyielding, and ruthless. Vulnerability was a liability. I buried my emotions, locking them behind walls so high that not even I could scale them. Love? Family? They were weaknesses, cracks in the armor I couldn’t afford.

“You remember what happened the last time I had a family,” I say, shaking off the memory, my voice colder than I intended. “You remember how well that turned out?”

Sebastian’s face softens, but only slightly. “It’s been ten years, Aithan,” he says quietly. “You can’t keep living in the past. The organization needs you to move forward.”

I clench my jaw, the faint tremor of rage coursing through me. “You know I’ve contributed majorly to bringing this empire into what it is today,” I snap. “I don’t need their approval.”

“While you may not need their approval, you certainly need their trust,” he counters. “And that’s slipping. They see your reluctance as a weakness. And no one will follow a leader who they think is weak.”

His words strike a nerve, and I grip the armrests tightly, my knuckles turning white. “Weakness,” I echo, my voice low and dangerous. “Do they think it’s weak to make the hard decisions? To do what others won’t? To keep eliminating every danger that threatens their businesses? Are they aware of the lengths I go to keep their pockets lined?”

Sebastian’s expression doesn’t waver. “What they think matters, Aithan. Whether you like it or not, their perception influences your power. And without a successor, without stability, your position is at risk.”

I exhale sharply, my temper simmering just beneath the surface. “So that’s what this is about? Finding someone to parade around as my dutiful wife so the council can sleep better at night?”

Sebastian’s jaw tightens. “It’s about securing your future and the future of this family. You can’t delay this any longer.”

“How come you did not remarry after Mum died from her illness?” I ask bitterly.

“Because, unlike you, I was already past fifty and had an heir.” He looks straight into my eyes. “And I will not leave a feuding organization behind when I die. You, Aithan Vasilios, will perform your duty to me as yourPatérasandArchigosby getting married.”

The ultimatum hangs in the air, heavy and unyielding. My chest tightens with a mix of frustration and resignation. For a moment, I say nothing, letting the weight of his words settle over me. Finally, I let out a harsh laugh, the sound bitter.

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