Page 27 of Influence

Laya approached them confidently, stepping into Stefano’s personal space without a moment’s pause.

She tilted her head, her perfectly manicured finger gliding along her jawline. “Let me guess, you’re the second child, Stefano? Is that right?”

“Yes,” he answered, irritation clear.

“So am I.” She raised an eyebrow. “Look at us: completely different beings, wouldn’t you say? I returned, reclaimed what belonged to me, and created a life. And you? What have you accomplished? Snorted cocaine? Overdosed on ecstasy? Squandered cash on drugs and fleeting pleasures until you’vebecome just a shadow of your older brother? Or have you genuinely achieved something?”

Every one of her retorts struck like a dagger, and I couldn’t believe he hadn’t collapsed into a heap of shattered ego. Instead, his glare darkened as he stepped forward in a weak attempt to intimidate her.

“Oh, come on, Stefano,” Laya said lightly, almost with a chuckle. “Do you think you can scare me?”

My adrenaline surged alongside my heartbeat. Here was my fiancée, standing her ground like a warrior.

She got into a fighting stance. I was certain that if Stefano attempted to make another move, she would take care of it before I could even consider stepping in.

Stefano growled, but his show of aggression was feeble and unconvincing. Laya just laughed, exuding confidence, unconcerned and completely unfazed.

Just when the tension seemed unbearable, Cali swung open the door to the terrace, accompanied by my three guard dogs. Immediately on high alert, Artemis escaped Cali’s hold and lunged at Stefano, sinking her teeth into his leg.

Stefano’s scream pierced the air, high-pitched and filled with terror, causing him to crumple to the ground in a heap of pure agony.

The other dogs barked and growled furiously, their leashes tugging as Cali desperately tried to regain control. Amid all the chaos, Laya’s commanding presence remained steadfast, leaving no doubt that while words could wound, actions had their own brutal way of settling scores.

I burst into the room, and immediately, chaos engulfed me. The dogs barked and snapped; Cali shouted at Artemis to calm down, while Markos yelled at the top of his lungs. Yet, nothing compared to Stefano’s furious screams. “Hey, what the hell?” I shouted as I noticed Markos reaching into his jacket.

The sunlight glinted off the barrel of his handgun, reflecting ominously as he swiftly aimed it at Artemis and clicked off the safety.

“Markos, no!” I ordered, instantly cursing myself for having hesitated for far too long. Everything spiraled out of control in an instant.

I was rounding the massive sofa when Laya, deadly calm, drew a gun and pressed it firmly against Markos’s temple.

The room fell silent except for the ongoing scuffle between Stefano and Artemis on the floor.

Laya sneered, her gaze sharp and piercing, chilling the air around her. “Go ahead, asshole. Keep giving me reasons to shoot your ugly fucking face off.”

Markos, his eyes blazing with anger, spat back, “Get your fucking woman off me, Niko!”

“His what?” Laya released the safety on her pistol and pressed the barrel deeper against his flesh.

Then, as if on cue, my men charged down the hallway like a small army.

“What do you want us to do?” one of them asked as they closed in, weapons ready.

“Remove these buffoons from my property!” I demanded. “Artemis, heel!”

Artemis quickly released Stefano and rushed to my side, sitting down. Stefano screamed in agony while clutching his leg, blood pouring from the wound.

My men surged forward to subdue both of them. Realizing he was in over his head, Markos reluctantly released his grip on the gun and allowed my men to escort him out.

As he was led away, he shouted back, “We’ll be back, you prick! How dare you choose a Vitalis over your flesh and blood, your brothers!”

I glared at him and retorted, “Think twice about returning—my guards won’t allow you back!”

I turned back to the women and shook my head in disbelief and exasperation. “Ladies, I apologize for the deeply offensive behavior of those two imbeciles. I’m ashamed to be related to them.”

Laya shrugged coolly. “It’s not your fault, Niko. Besides, I can handle myself.”

“Clearly.”

---