The Billion-Dollar Marriage Contract(54)

“Hector? Why?” Cassia whispered.

“Why? That’s a really good question. I’ll tell you why. I was born the year 1975. My mother was from America and she chose to live in Greece. Why? Because she fell in love. She became mistress to Andrei Demakis—your father, Nikos”

Nikos inhaled sharply.

“Stavros Demakis hated my mother. She was an actress from America. It was not a noble profession for him and because of that, he refused to give us anything. Eventually, Andrei Demakis lost interest with my mother. He accused her of cheating and threw her out the street. He treated us like trash and we were forced to live in the slums.”

Nikos paled for he knew where Hector’s tale was heading.

“We begged Stavros Demakis for money. My mother just wanted to go back to her family in America. But he turned his back on us and didn’t even spare a single euro. When I was four years old, Andrei Demakis married your mother and she had you. You became your grandfather’s golden boy and he gave you everything.”

“Hector—“

“Don’t call me that! I am the first born son of Andrei Demakis. Everything should have been mine! All you have is mine! But what did I have? I had a life where I had to eat scraps, beg for coins. Eventually I joined the drug cartel and they took me in. They taught me everything. Most of all, they gave me the instrument for my revenge.”

“Hector...don’t do this, please,” Cassia begged.

“Shut up! You’re one of them now, Cassia! I thought you were the only thing he wanted that he’d never get. I was wrong. You fell at his feet just like the rest of them!” he roared.

Hector took a deep breath and then continued. “I came to your wedding ten years ago hoping to steal you away. I was only supposed to get you away from your own wedding and then discard you. But one look at you and I was lost. I fell for your beauty and your kind heart.”

Hector cupped her cheek and forced her to look at him. “I changed my plans for you, you know. I thought that maybe you’d divorce him and the company will be ours. I thought you’d help me reach my revenge! But I was wrong. Clearly you’re not as immune to his charms like the others. Look at him Cassia! I am so much better for you!”

Hector tugged on her hair and forced her to look at Nikos. Cassia winced in pain.

“I loved you and gave you everything but you gave up a life with me for him!” Hector roared.

“Let go of her!” Nikos shouted.

Hector turned his attention back to Nikos.

“I’ve waited for this a long time now, Nikos. I was the one who had you kidnapped two years ago, you know. I wanted revenge and at the same time I wanted all your stocks at the company to be turned over to me. I should be the one handling Demakis International! It is my right as the first son!” he shouted.

Then Hector shook his head. “But my people were so gods-damned incompetent and you were able to escape.”

Hector sighed and when he looked up, there was a malicious glint in his eyes.

“I will kill your child and then kill your wife. Finally, I will kill you and take your head to your beloved grandfather.”

Hector retrieved his gun and pointed it back to Cassia’s temple while his knife was on her belly.

“Say goodbye,” Hector commanded.

“Hector...don’t,” Nikos begged.

“Don’t call me Hector. My name is Sebastian... and I do what I please.”

He pushed Cassia forward. At the same time he pulled the trigger twice.

Chaos ensued.

Nikos roared and sprang towards him. Antonio rolled to the side so he could catch Cassia. Alex jumped from his crouch and aimed a kick at the man nearest him. The man staggered backwards and Alex wrested his weapon from his hands. He quickly turned around and started to fire.

The guests screamed and hid behind the tables. But in Nikos’ rage, nothing else mattered. He dove toward Hector and the momentum bought them to the floor. He slammed Hector’s wrist against the floor and he dropped his gun.

With his other hand, Hector swiped with his knife and Nikos dodged backwards. Hector was still on the floor and Nikos kicked his other arm causing him to let go of the knife. Nikos aimed another kick and this time it was to Hector’s ribs.

Alex continued firing towards the men. Several of them dropped dead while more were returning fire. Alex ordered the other guests back and told them to stay down and call for help.

“Get down!” he shouted to them.

On the corner of his eye, he saw one of the men approach Isobel. He fired as he dove towards her.

“Get behind me!”

He crouched and crawled to the corner of the room where the buffet was laid out. He pushed her behind it and checked how much bullets were remaining. He only had two.

“Stay here,” he told Isobel who remained silent and shaking from fear.

One of the men pointed his weapon at Nikos while he was on the floor in a struggle with Hector. Alex quickly fired and the man dropped down. Nikos tried to reach for the gun of that fallen man but Hector beat him to it. Alex used his last bullet and fired on Hector but the villain was able to duck.

Alex crawled to the other side of the room so he could get his gun that was kicked away earlier.

On the other side of the room, Antonio was behind one of the tables as he protected Elise and Cassia. Cassia had difficulty breathing and made choking sounds. She spat out blood and Antonio turned her to her side.

“One of her lungs is punctured,” Elise murmured as she removed her sweater. She balled it up and used it to stem the bleeding from her wounds.

“My baby...” Cassia whispered weakly.

Elise removed her hand from her stomach and saw that it was where the second bullet went to. She had to be brought immediately to the hospital or she may never survive. But their exit was blocked by the armed men.

Antonio retrieved his phone and called for help immediately. He detailed their situation and he was promised quick response. He only hoped they came in time before any of those who were injured died.



“Are you really going to kill your own older brother, Nikos?”

“I have no brother!” he spat.

“You’re right. We’re so different, you and I. I’m scum and you’re everyone’s golden boy.”

“Shut up, Hector. You’re scum because you chose to be that way. Because you chose to involve yourself with the drug cartel.Because you chose to do this.” Nikos waved a hand indicating the entire room.

“Not everyone is born with a silver spoon!” Hector kicked Nikos who staggered backwards. Nikos stood up but his side was pierced with agony. It felt as if one of his ribs was broken but he refused to back.

“You could have gone back. You could have introduced yourself and I could have given you what you wanted.”

“I doubt that. I want everything, Nikos. I don’t want scraps. I am the rightful heir of Andrei Demakis and I should have been CEO.”

“That’s your problem then. You’re nothing but a greedy bastard who thinks he has the right to everything.”

Hector roared and charged. He punched and kicked wildly because of his anger. On the other hand, Nikos did not allow his anger to rule him. He knew Cassia was hurt but unless they beat all the men here, they would not be able to escape.

“I’ll kill you. But first, I’ll let you watch Cassia die. I’ll make you watch as I carve her chest open and tear out her heart. That’s the time when I’ll kill you,” Hector snarled.

Nikos saw red.

He jumped towards Hector and punched him in the face. Hector spat out blood but still had the gall to grin.

“Every second you waste fighting me, she dies slowly.”

“Shut up!” he roared.

Nikos charged and they exchanged blows once more.

On the other side of the room, Alex finally found his gun. He waited for the perfect opportunity. While waiting, he took out his phone and sent an emergency message to his team. They were the only ones he trusted and he knew they’d come as soon as they could.

Now, he just had to keep his friends alive.

He saw an opening and fired at Hector. He hit Hector’s shoulder and the man crumpled to the ground in pain. Nikos kicked him in the back and the bastard sprawled on the floor.

“Kicking a man when he’s already down? Going to kill me now, little brother?” he taunted.

“This is for my wife and my child!” Nikos punched Hector’s face again.

Hector’s left eye was so swollen that it was almost shut. He laughed still and tried to rise.

Nikos grabbed his half-brother’s shirt and shook him hard.

“This is for what you did to Antonio and me!” He continued punching Hector even if pain shot up his arm with every swing. His knuckles might be broken but he ignored the pain. Once more, he punched Hector and that last one was enough to bring instant loss of consciousness.

When the men saw that their leader was unconscious, they started to retreat.

“Let’s go! We already have the money!” the one who confirmed the transfer told the rest of the team.

“No one leaves,” Alex snarled.

He carefully aimed his gun and fired. He kept on firing and when he was out of bullets, he rushed into the fray, pulling his knife out of his boot. He rolled to the floor and grabbed one of the scattered weapons.

One man came at him from the side and Alex quickly spun and jabbed him with his elbow. It stunned the man then Alex kicked him backwards before he fired. He threw his knife at the one who had the laptop. The knife hit the man in the back and he crumpled to the floor. The man tried to crawl away but Alex ran to him and slammed the butt of his gun at the man’s head. Instantly, he was unconscious.