BRANDONFour weeks later, preceding Alfio’s case investigation, the prosecution office has Marcus Katrakis and Annette Teller arrested by the UK police and transported to New York, where they committed the crime of murder.
I am now facing the man who killed Mom and Elga, with a glass wall dividing us. He has a number plate over the left breast of a gray uniform, wearing the same as the rest of the criminals inside.
“Look at you. Standing on top of the world with your flawless face. Life’s been good to you, huh? Mr. Lucien.” His wrinkled face smirks at me. He feels familiar but strange since this is only the second time I’ve seen his face. The first time was when he got arrested, but I didn’t get the chance to interrogate him.
I glance at my wristwatch; I’ve got only twelve hours to spare before my flight back to Athens. Tomorrow is Alfio’s final trial, and I should be there. I would very much like to see his face while the court reads his sentence.
“Look, I don’t have much time for chitchat. I just really wanted to see your fucking face one last time and probably show you His eyes darken. “Evan has nothing to do with this. Leave my son alone—”
“Don’t worry about your son,” I cut him off. “Be thankful because there’s still actually one person in your family who has a soul left.”
I’ve met Evan once. Charlie introduced him to me. He has a master’s degree, works an office job, lives with his girlfriend—Marcus’s son is a decent man. He wouldn’t believe that his father could commit murder, and with his mother as an accomplice at that. But after years hiding in a town, unable to use the family name, alone in the world without any known relatives, Evan Teller is smart enough to seek answers on his own.
“I’m not here to talk about that. I’m not here to apologize for what my grandfather did to your father, either. I have one last question for you.”
He scowls. “You knew?”
“My grandfather told me.”
He springs up furiously and slams his palms on the glass window. “Petros killed my father! When he found out his sister was having an affair with a nobody, he killed him with his bare hands! Do you hear me?” He rams into the glass, but immediately the guards restrained him. “Your family’s death isn’t enough to cover for all of your grandfather’s sins! Your family deserves all of it!”
I know what my grandfather did. Just like the rest of the Katrakis who have sinned, he got away with his crime. He was cold enough to hurt his own daughter, so that isn’t even a surprise. I’m not very fond of him either, and there’s still a part of me that resents him.
Because he is where it all started. When my grandfather was still a spiteful man, he ended an innocent man’s life. But it wasn’t just my grandfather; Helen’s husband pulled the trigger too.
He didn’t know his sister Helen had a boy out of her affair until many years later. Marcus was raised by an aunt, driven to revenge, and was found by his half-brother, who promised him the world. Together, they worked to make my life miserable. I was the fee for my grandfather’s sins.
But it’s all over now. I ended it. I chose the right path. No one has to die anymore.
“Wait.” I stop the wardens from taking him inside. I haven’t asked my question yet, and there’s no way I’m coming back to this place. “Where is my father?”
NOWAlayna is quietly listening to the story while her head rests on my chest and I stroke her hair. However, I left out my last question for Marcus because I haven’t found a goddamn answer yet, so I continue to the very last part I don’t want her to miss.
“Pauline’s father and I came up with a business deal without marriage involved. I have full control of the American market, and Pauline’s father works in the same field of technology. He has been trying to enter America, but with many rivals, and with Oliver trying to prevent non-American businesses joining us for years, it was hard for them to do business here.”
Alayna’s beautiful face looks up at me. “And you allowed them now.”
“It’s still better than being tied in marriage.” I wink at her and pinch her chin. “Besides, Penelope, Pauline’s sister, is still marrying Charlie because they’re really in love.”
She giggles. “Still tied in the Katrakis tradition after all.” She touches my cheek and kisses me. “But yes, that is still better.”
“Alfio has been sentenced to a life in prison for all those crimes he committed,” I proceed. “The Dragoumis family and all those he allied with severed ties with him. The twins are running the case, and nothing really gets past them.”
“It’s been one hell of a ride,” Alayna remarks. She slides her arms around my waist again and buries her face in my chest.
“Yes, love. It is over now.”