I thought a routine was what I needed to have a balanced life, to cope and just be happy.
Turns out I was wrong. With the right people in my life, I’m actually enjoying going out and being social.
Who would’ve thought that was possible?
Smiling at Athina as I reach the table in a cozy Greek restaurant, I take the seat opposite her.
“How did you find this place?” I ask as I glance around at the Mediterranean décor.
“Mýthos?” She shrugs. “It’s been a favorite since I moved to Vancouver. I was homesick and searched for anything Greek I could find for a taste of home.”
A waitress comes to hand us menus with a welcoming smile.
Athina orders papoutsákia, roasted eggplant filled with beef mince and topped with feta and béchamel sauce.
My eyes rove over all the dishes, and it takes me a good five minutes to decide on souvlákia, skewers of meat served with a side of fries, tzatziki, and pita bread.
Glancing around the restaurant, I see James sitting with Yiorgos, Athina’s head guard. The other guards are scattered outside the establishment.
“I actually got used to having the guards around,” I admit to Athina.
She gives me a warm smile. “That’s good to hear. How are things at home?”
“Good.” I grin at her, adding, “Things are perfect between Nikolas and me.”
Her smile widens, relief in her eyes. “It makes me happy to hear that. Not many people understand Nikolas, but if you give him time, you’ll see the real him.”
I nod, a burst of love hitting me square in the chest. “He’s a totally different person from when we first met.”
Athina lets out a chuckle, widening her eyes. “Until you piss him off.”
“Right?” I agree. “His temper is something else, but luckily, I’ve managed to avoid being in the line of fire since the wedding.”
We both laugh, then I ask, “How is Basil? I haven’t seen him in a while.”
“Oh, he’s in Athens for work. As much as the man works on my nerves, I miss him when he’s away on business trips.”
“How long have you been married?”
A warm smile settles on my sister-in-law’s face. “Eleven years. I was the same age as you when Nikolas arranged the marriage.”
My eyebrows fly up. “Nikolas arranged it? Were you okay with it?”
“Nope.” She pulls a disgruntled face. “At first, I kicked and screamed, but after the wedding…” her features soften with love, “Basil won me over with his easygoing nature. I couldn’t have asked for a better husband.”
Our food’s set down on the table, and without wasting another minute, I pop a piece of meat in my mouth. Savory bliss bursts on my tongue.
“Good, right?” Athina asks before taking a bite of her lunch.
“Delicious,” I mumble around a mouthful.
We eat half our food before Athina asks, “Have you decided what to do with your apartment?”
I take a sip of my coke, then reply, “I’m going to rent it out, but I want to move my belongings over to the penthouse so it will have more of a cozy feel.”
“Redecorating?” she asks, interest flickering in her eyes.
“Something tells me you love decorating,” I tease her.
“It’s a hobby,” she admits.
“I’d love your help.”
Just as her smile widens, arms lock around me. I’m yanked off the chair and thrown to the floor while Yiorgos tackles Athina to the ground. The impact shudders through my bones, my mind dazed.
Glass shatters. Screams fill the air.
I pinch my eyes shut as a sudden wave of terror hits. James covers me, his voice tense. “Keep your head down. Don’t move.”
I cling to my friend and bodyguard for dear life as bullets spray the entire restaurant. I feel James move, then hear, “We’re taking fire! Mýthos. Send backup.”
I hope to God he called Nikolas.
More horrifying cries echo around us. More bullets tearing through tables, walls, and people. There’s absolute mayhem as patrons and staff try to run and take cover.
Dear God.
My mind struggles to catch up as my heart hammers in my chest, adrenaline surging through my body. Trying to see if Athina’s okay, I turn my head to the right but come face to face with James’ gun, his fingers gripping the weapon tightly.
The gunfire gains momentum, like a crescendo of death and destruction.
Unable to stop myself, a terrified cry leaves me, and I cringe as close to James as I can get.
A gunshot sounds up, much closer.
No. No. No.
The gunman’s in the restaurant.
My eyes dart around, and as they land on a masked man dressed in black, he points the gun right at us. Goosebumps erupt on my skin, prickling with frightening dread. The bang is so loud, there’s a hissing in my ears.
I don’t know when I make the decision, where the strength comes from, but as James’ body jerks, I pry the gun from his hand, point, and pull the trigger.
And I keep pulling the trigger.
Some bullets fly to God only knows where, but some hit their mark, making the gunman stagger back before he drops to the floor.
My entire body’s trembling like a leaf in a shitstorm, but the adrenaline in my veins has me reacting fast. I roll James off me and feverishly glance around, my fingers flexing around the gun.
“Fuck,” James grinds out through clenched teeth, and it’s only then I see the blood blossoming on his dress shirt.
He presses a hand to the wound then pulls himself up into a sitting position, leaning back against an overturned table. Then, looking for something in his pocket, he pulls another clip out and holds it to me. “Put it in. Quick!”
I struggle, but with James’ talking me through the process, I manage to reload the clip, then he takes the gun from me.
Our eyes meet for a moment, and not seeing any fear on my friend’s face, it gives me the strength I need to get through this nightmare.
“Down, Tess!” His arm flies up as I cover my head and duck, almost becoming one with the floor by James’ side.
Every single shot makes my entire body jerk, and I taste a mixture of gunpowder and terror on the back of my tongue.
Suddenly the crescendo builds again, but all the action seems to be outside.
“The calvary’s here,” James sighs with relief, then he lets out a weird-sounding chuckle.
I sit up, and glancing through the shot-up window frames, it’s to see Andreas firing a machine gun. Then my eyes land on Nikolas, and holy shit, he looks like the God of war as he takes out one masked man after the other while running toward the restaurant.
Just as quickly, silence drops like a dead weight around us. Slowly, I turn my head back to James. My lips part, intense worry numbing my tongue and sending pins and needles scattering over my skin.
“James?” I whisper, dread pouring through me. I press my hand over his, covering the bloody stain on his side. “James!”
Slowly, he opens his eyes, then a grin spreads over his face. “I’m… okay.”
I suck in a desperate breath of air, dizzying relief washing through me.
“Theresa!” Nikolas shouts, his voice tense with worry and rage. “Tess!”
“Here,” I call out. Instead of getting up, I crawl to where Yiorgos is still covering Athina and pat his shoulder. “It’s safe.”
Athina lets out a grief-stricken sob. “He’s gone.”
Once again, pins and needles spread over me, but before I can react, hands grip my shoulders, and I’m yanked to my feet.
I see Andreas taking hold of Yiorgos’ body then I’m crushed against a solid chest.
“Jesus Christ.” Nikolas’ voice is hoarse with relief.
The impact of what happened knocks my feet from under me. All the strength leaves my body instantaneously, and I slump against Nikolas.
He lifts me up in his arms, and as I wrap my arms tightly around his neck, I get a glimpse of the devastation of the attack. Bodies are scattered everywhere, pools of blood on the white tiled floor. Trays, food, plates, glasses, cutlery. Broken chairs and overturned tables.
A woman and a little boy still hide behind a pillar, her eyes wide with shock on a dead man lying by her feet.
“I’ve got Athina,” I hear Andreas say, then Nikolas maneuvers his way through the bodies.
“James,” I croak as I hide my face against Nikolas’ neck, not wanting to see any more of the devastation.
“We’ve got him.” He presses a kiss to my forehead. “He’ll be okay.”
My body starts jerking as the shock sets in, and unable to control my chaotic emotions, I begin to cry, my anxiety spiking dangerously high. Bile churns in my stomach, a tense ache setting into my muscles.
“I’ve got you, baby,” Nikolas says, rage still coating his words.
He doesn’t let go of me as he climbs into the backseat of an SUV, and I only cling tighter to him, needing his strength more than ever.
