Page 10 of Lord of Ruin

CHAPTER 4

Stavros

There was something spectacular about being the second in charge of a powerful and dangerous crime syndicate, especially one where our roots were secured in old style Greek culture. My entire family had been born in one area of the stunning country or another, including my older brother. Unfortunately, my younger brother and two sisters had been born in the United States, our parents arriving when Phoenix, the big man in charge of the Diamondis Empire had been three or four.

We still had family in Santorini, my uncle continuing the family’s legacy there. That allowed us to claim a certain portion of international business, including the weapons we sold to various military operations. We were very careful and particular about that portion of our business. That was one way to keep control of our seagoing vessels and shoving aside unsavory clients.

Of course we’d branched out to very legitimate operations through the years. Casinos. Restaurants. Nightclubs. However, our bread and butter was still the sale of military-style weapons.

We were one big, happy Greek family. We just happened to be dangerous as fuck. Given our parents’ determination to ensure their five kids had the best of everything and the danger that had surrounded my family with the rise of other crime syndicates determined to take a piece of the pie, we’d been blessed. We’d been brought up in a gorgeous estate in a beautiful section of Philadelphia, returning to Santorini in Greece often where my parents had kept their house near the coast.

While the main headquarters was located in Philly, the old ways in Greece were still utilized, although less and less. Now, with Phoenix taking over only a few years before, it allowed me to excel in what I did best.

Operating our casinos and clubs as well as hunting down those who betrayed us. It wasn’t often. It wasn’t ordinary especially in this day and age where I could thoroughly check the background of anyone we employed and all those we considered doing business with, but unfortunately greed was a still a major factor in deals gone bad, boys becoming traitors.

I was an excellent tracker, hunting down the assholes who betrayed us as well as enemies determined to bring us to our knees. The job had dozens of perks, including an exorbitant salary, access to one of two corporate jets, a reputation that included being some of Philly’s most eligible bachelors, and the kind of expensive toys that would put any other billionaire to shame.

Well, Phoenix was officially off the market, finally meeting and marrying the love of his life. Me? I was the eternal playboy, enjoying the added perks of having a beautiful woman on my arm. I wasn’t the kind of man who’d ever wanted a family or even a steady girlfriend. What was the goddamn point?

Women were the single most useful tool when attempting to destroy a powerful man.

I was out of my usual stomping grounds in Philadelphia, arriving in New York for two different rounds of business. I’d already eliminated two soldiers of another group of assholes trying to slide into Philly for a second time. The Albanians were bad news all the way around, their defeat years before likely leaving a bad taste in their mouths. However, for them to be brazen enough to make an attempt by reaching out to our weapons vendors had both my brother and me pissed. I’d left the illustrious leader, Viktor Marku, a prize on the doorstep of his headquarters. Hopefully, he’d get the point before any additional lives were lost.

With my Capo’s help, we’d tracked and carried out a warning message to the asshole responsible.

It was funny how the ruthless new leader of the Albanians had left me an angry message already, demanding a meeting. Well, I might grant him one but on my terms. Where I’d tell him that one more fuckup and his entire world would be destroyed.

“I told you I should have come with you last night,” Christos growled from beside me as we headed toward the casino.

I glanced over at him while buttoning my jacket. The pain in my shoulder continued but thankfully, there didn’t appear to be any complications. The girl I’d started thinking about as the mageménos, the enchanted one had done a damn good job of removing the bullet. Especially under the circumstances. It was fascinating to me that even after eighteen hours or so had passed, my cock still twitched every time she’d crossed my mind.

Maybe I’d been a fool leaving her to her own conscience since she’d witnessed the ridiculous event I’d never intended to happen, but my instincts had told me she wouldn’t dare go against the promise she’d made to me. She appeared to be the kind of young woman who kept her word. That was rare and priceless in my world. Often, women were worse than men in being conniving, easily able to lie through their pretty white teeth.

No, Jenna was something special alright. Why she’d decided to make New York City her home and place of business was beyond me. She had that fresh, midwestern appeal that I’d never thought I would like.

“I was and am perfectly fine, my friend. How many bumps, bruises, and gunshot wounds have I had over the years?”

“That’s not the point and you know it. And you know you need to be at your best because I doubt Marku is going to just stand on the wayside and allow us to get away when gunning down two of his men. You know you almost shot his son.”

“Yeah, I purposely missed but wanted to put the fear of God into both of them.”

“You would make a terrible poker player,” Christos huffed.

“I’m a damn good one. Who are you kidding? I think you still owe me like five G’s from the last round we played.”

“Somehow, I think I worked that off doing your bidding.”

I coughed on purpose, shaking my head. Any other man in my employ wouldn’t be allowed to talk to me that way but our relationship was entirely different.

Christos had been my personal Capo for years. He was actually a first cousin, coming over from Greece fifteen years or so before. That meant he had blood in the game, which allowed for his continued loyalty. That was the thing about the Greek families. We were huge in numbers and we were close. So many couldn’t understand just how much so. Several enemies had been stupid enough to underestimate us.

The other thing about being of Greek heritage was that for the most part, even if we weren’t blood related, there was a certain amount of loyalty and respect. Hence the call from the New York Greek boss.

He was buddies with our father, a jovial guy who lived large and loved even larger. He also watched our backs if any business occurred in New York. In turn, he had full access to our ports. It was a win-win situation. I hadn’t realized until recently how valuable alliances could be.

“You have a goddamn bullet hole in you. Your brother ain’t going to be happy with me when we get back.”

We headed through the all glass doors, the oversized resort owned by a member of the illustrious and powerful Brotherhood, something Phoenix had gotten involved with only a few years before. Another even more powerful alliance. While I hadn’t originally been a fan of the alliance of the most ruthless leaders of various crime syndicates throughout the United States, the group of dangerous men had proven themselves to be useful more than once.