Page 77 of Savage Obsession

Sabastian looks directly at his son. “Aithan has more than proven himself. He has faced threats from within and without—and he has come out victorious. Stronger.”

Sabastian steps forward and clasps his son’s shoulder. “Today, I officially relinquish the title ofArchigos. I am no longer the head of theElliniki.”

There are sharp intakes of breath from some of the older men seated at the table.

“I am no longer the ruler of this empire,” Sabastian continues. His eyes lock with Aithan’s, proud and unflinching. “Aithan is. He is now your godfather.”

Sabastian releases Aithan’s gaze and turns toward the men seated at the table. “All decisions from this point forward go through him. His word is law.”

Aithan’s jaw tightens. He stands, his shoulders squared as he faces the men who have served his father for decades.

“This is quite unexpected, but I have never been one to shy away from responsibilities.” He says, looking men in the eye from one person to the other. “I will make and keep the same promise my father has kept all these years. Which is safety, protection and growth in all your businesses and investments.”

Before Aithan sits back down, he asks a question that sounded more like a challenge. “Does anyone here wish to contest my leadership?” His voice is sharp and lethal.

No one speaks.

“Good.”

Sabastian steps back, reclaiming his seat at the table. He’s still powerful—still respected—but the invincible crown now sits on Aithan’s head.

Aithan’s gaze slides toward me.

“The Bratva?”

I lean forward, clasping my hands together on the table. My eyes meet Aithan’s, and I don’t bother softening my expression.

“The Bratva is prepared to move forward,” I say, my tone measured and steady. “Now that Lazaro is gone and the internalthreat has been purged, we believe the path is clear to strengthen our alliance.”

Aithan’s eyes narrow slightly. Not with suspicion—but with calculation. He’s reading me the way I’m reading him. Looking for cracks in the foundation. Weakness. But he’ll find none.

I give him a sharp smile. “You’ve proven yourself, Vasilios. Eliminating Lazaro wasn’t just about protecting Yelena—it was about securing your position at the top of the chain. The Bratva respects strength. You’ve earned that.”

Aithan’s gaze sharpens further. He doesn’t speak—but the muscle ticking in his jaw tells me he’s listening carefully.

I glance toward Sabastian. “The Bratva is ready to align our resources with theEllinikifully. Intelligence, weapons, manpower. Moving forward, our two organizations operate as one force.”

Sabastian’s brow arches. “And what are the terms of this… alignment?”

I meet Aithan’s gaze, speaking directly to him. “Full partnership. Equal distribution of resources and profits. The Bratva handles the Eastern European territories. TheEllinikikeeps control over Western Europe and the States. If there’s conflict in either territory, we back each other. Without question.”

Aithan leans forward slightly, his elbows resting on the table. His eyes darken with dangerous promise. “And what happens if one side betrays the other?”

My smile sharpens. “Then we bleed together.”

A ripple of tension moves through the room. Men shift in their seats. Some of them don’t like the idea of merging power with the Russians. Too bad. They’ll adjust—or they’ll die.

Aithan’s gaze stays locked on mine for a beat longer. Then he sits back. His mouth curves slightly at the corner. “I can live with that.”

Aithan stands. “Then it’s done.”

The rest of us stand too, following his lead. I extend my hand toward him. He grips it firmly, his strength matching mine. A silent agreement. A promise.

I lean in slightly, my voice low enough for only him to hear. “Take care of my sister, Vasilios. Or I’ll rip your fucking throat out.”

Aithan’s smile doesn’t waver. “She’s my wife. My queen.” His gaze hardens. “No one touches her.”

Good.

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