Chapter 4 Alex Spanos

• Alex Spanos
• Five years have passed since the day I met with Collalto, and he still haunts me to this day.
• My father stepped down as the leader of our mafia, and I took his place, leaving my position as the head of the Greek mafia vacant until we can find someone to take over. I was already standing, trying to fix the knot of my tie, today is a special day in our home, and there's nothing more rewarding for me.
• With the tie knot done, I adjust my cuff links and admire myself in the mirror's reflection. The light tone of my skin contrasts with the blue of my eyes. I believe my height and the way my body is built with muscle are what make all kinds of women look at me with desire.
• It's not that I dislike all the attention women give me. But after a while, I came to understand that the woman I once believed I loved is impossible for me.
• Which reminds me that I once truly loved a girl, but a damn ambush made it so that the only person I ever loved when I was young, and wanted to make my wife, was killed. I witnessed the cruelty of that woman during the five days she tortured me.
• Ever since I came back from Brazil, I've been trying to maintain the same daily routine I had there. I still practice martial arts and love to go running in the morning, even if I have to have at least two men by my side to avoid any incidents. Being the mafia leader is dangerous, I have enemies and few friends.
• And that's something I want to change during my time as the head of the mafia in Santorini.
• I was already ready for the happiest day in our home, for my parents and especially for Selma. Today, after years of keeping my best friend in limbo, it's finally their wedding day.
• Selma and Demetrius are walking down the aisle, not because of a mafia arrangement, but because they truly love each other. I put all the sad memories of my past in the place where I hide them and let the happiness for my best friend and my sister flow through this wedding. It took them years to accept the feelings they had for each other.
• Selma kept the poor guy on hold for several years until she couldn't anymore, and my father decreed their marriage.
• I was already dressed. I left my room, and checking the time, I realized we were starting to run late for the ceremony. When I entered the room where my sister was, I felt the air evaporate from my lungs. She looked stunning, and the protective jealousy I've always felt for my little sister came on strong. I held back my tears as I saw her in that white dress that fit her perfectly.
• "You look beautiful," I said as soon as I approached her. "We're all ready…"
• I looked at my sister, surprised at how beautiful she looked in that custom-made dress she insisted so much on with our mother over the past few months.
• "I'm heading to the chapel. Demetrius is anxious and has already sent me several messages asking why you're taking so long." I smiled and watched her roll her eyes.
• "Tell him I'm not late, he's the one who decided to arrive too early with all that anxiety. And tell him I'm already ready…" Her smile grew. "We can go now."
• I smiled at her, watching her cheeks flush and tears begin to form. I took the handkerchief from my suit and dried them before they could smudge her face.
• "No crying, or you'll ruin it and my friend will run away from you…" I started laughing.
• "Crying is the most important part of a wedding…" she said before sticking her tongue out at me.
• "Alright, I’ll tell him you’ll be ready in ninety minutes. I’m sure that’ll make him even more nervous."
• My sister gave me two light smacks on each of my arms and smiled as she watched me leave her room. Our relationship has always been like this, between our teasing, there has always been a lot of respect and, above all, love.
• I’ve done things I deeply regret just to keep my little sister safe. And I’m sure that if I were in the same situation as years ago, I would do it all again. Both times.
• "Don’t you dare lie to him, Alex…" I heard her laughing.
• I walked down the stairs and found my father already on his way up to take his daughter to the man who stirs her feelings. His face was red, surely emotional about marrying off his daughter. My mother was a few steps behind him, and seeing her like that was wonderful for me.
• "Dad, Selma is ready and coming down now," I said as we heard her footsteps approaching. "I'm going ahead because Demetrius is going crazy down there alone, and I'm sure he’s pacing back and forth, nervous, just thinking Selma might leave him at the altar."
• My mother approaches with a disapproving look. Maitê Spanos raised Demetrius as her own son after he was orphaned and left with no relatives nearby. My parents adopted him. That’s the reason Selma and Demetrius’s relationship took so long to happen.
• There were questions between them that went far beyond my sister’s desire to finish her studies and prove to our father that she was capable of managing anything.
• "Stop picking on your siblings…" my mother scolds me gently. "Now go, or your sister will kill you if we arrive and Demetrius isn’t standing at the altar waiting for her."
• I kiss my mother, who is now able to stand. After the accident, even with physical therapy, she still needed a wheelchair for another three years. With great determination, she managed to get back on her feet. Today, seeing her walk, even with a cane, is already a reason for celebration in our family.
• I leave my parents behind and head to the garage. I choose one of my more discreet vehicles and drive to the chapel, which isn’t far from the mansion.
• I got there in a few minutes. Looking around, I notice the heavy security presence across the entire perimeter. There are important people here, both from the “First” and from the respectable society of my country.
• I enter the chapel and see some friends and the groom pacing nervously at the altar.
• "Hey, brother, calm down…" I say as I approach him. "I left home and Selma was already ready to come, so she must be on her way."
• "Are you sure she’s coming, Alex? Selma is known for always putting things off. Did you notice how long she kept me waiting to have this wedding today? Five years, brother, five long years."
• I started laughing at him, but the truth is that Selma only stalled when she felt pressured or had something weighing on her mind. She used that as an excuse to delay the wedding, and my friend was foolish enough to fall for it.
• "Come on, she’ll be walking through those doors any minute now."
• I see my friend sweating from the nerves and I start laughing at him. I love them both, and their happiness is the most important thing to me, which is why I made choices to always keep them safe.
• I glance around the chapel and spot some of the many friends I’ve made over the years. I wave to the couple smiling back at me from the second row.