Page 79 of Betraying Family Vows
"Look," Athena points, "they're all from a call with S."
My finger hovers over the first one, and I press play. Cosmo's voice fills the room.
"You said once payment was over, you'd... No, I understand that, but I paid more and you're still... I get it, but what you're asking is too much."
The audio ends.
"Why does it sound like that?" Athena asks.
"It's only recording one side of the conversation, Cosmo's."
"Oh," she nods, "okay, play another."
I click the next recording.
"You never said it would go this far. You promised?—"
The recording ends. Someone must have hung up.
I click the next without hesitating. Cosmo's voice comes out of the speakers again.
"I've done everything you've asked. The Kastaris contract will be honored. You'll get what you want. This better not come back to me."
The recording ends. The room feels suddenly airless.
Athena gasps and grips my forearm. "Your dad."
I shake my head, feeling the wrath build inside me.
I click the last recording.
"It's done. Vasilis won't be a problem anymore. Funds are sent. I'm done."
My chest tightens at the mention of my father.
I clench my jaw and flex my hands.
Athena makes a sound like she's been struck. Her eyes are wide, glistening with unshed tears.
"Jesus," she says, leaning back. "This is so fucked up. They used him. Threatened and manipulated my father to get to yours."
"I'm going to skin S alive, that motherfucker," I say, unable to contain myself anymore.
I look in the last area, the files.
Financial records show a pattern: increasing pressure, mounting payments. All tracked to different accounts under the umbrella of a single holding company, HS Enterprises.
"Look at that," she says, pointing at the screen, "it's all going back to S. All this money."
"Someone's building an empire," I say, turning to her.
Her eyes meet mine. "Using my father's money and your father's death."
I lean back in my chair. "Okay, so I know for sure this wasn't Cosmo's plan. He was pressured."
Athena pushes her hair back from her face. "It's all S. He gave the orders."
Athena shifts in her seat and stares back at the screen.
