Chapter 7

Angela

“No! Why can't we just get a divorce and pretend like that drunken mistake of marrying each other never happened?”

"It's not that simple, babe. In my family, once you're married, you're tied to that person for life. You have to love, honor, and stay loyal to them. The only way out is if one of you dies."

"What?" That's a lot easier said than done.

I mean... I could off him and stage it to look like we both went down together with a fake version of my dead body.

"Or we could ask my dad for permission."

"Excuse me?"

Who even needs their dad's permission to escape a marriage that was a total accident?

"But to do that, my dad's going to grill us with a ton of questions. Mostly about our mafia, and I doubt you want to deal with that, right Cora?"

"Absolutely not. But honestly, I wouldn't spill anything about your mafia anyway. I couldn't care less as long as you guys leave me and my family alone." I say honestly. Their mafia is the last thing on my mind.

"Well, sorry babe, but that's the only way out of this marriage. And who knows, he might just decide to take you and your family out instead." He said with a smirk, which only made me shoot him a death glare.

“Why don’t you just go marry some spoiled mafia princess your father picked instead? I mean, out of everyone, why me?”

"Guess it was meant to be."

I roll my eyes at him. "Yeah, right. I just need to figure out why I got so wasted that I ended up in this mess—"

I get interrupted by a loud knock at the door. No, it was more like a barrage of knocks. "I'll be right back," Nikolai said quickly before stepping out.

I pull out my phone and see a message from Clio.

Can you explain why there are so many hot guys on the floor you crashed on last night?

Wait, did you actually hook up with someone?

By the way, I tracked your phone and I'm outside your room right now, about to knock.

I knocked.

Oh man, this is bad. Knowing Clio, she’ll search the room for any signs of me getting cozy with the guy who’s about to open that door. Which I totally didn’t.

"Hey! I didn’t say you could come in!" Nikolai shouted.

"Let me go! If you don’t take your hand off my arm, I swear I will—"

I hurry toward the voices of my sister and Nikolai, trying not to trip in these heels. "Nikolai, let my—" I pause, momentarily forgetting what I wanted to say. "Let my friend go!"

Nikolai listens and finally lets go of Clio.

"Thank goodness! I was so worried about you!" Clio exclaimed, pulling me into a hug. "Angela, what on earth are you doing with Nikolai Vasilios?” she whispered.

"How on earth did you know who he is?!" I whispered back, surprised that Clio even recognized him.

"Because I was his lawyer for a bit over a year ago. It was mainly for a case involving one of his guys."

"Excuse me, but Cora, can you explain how your friend found you so fast?"

"I got this, sis." Cleo said quietly before turning to Nikolai. "Did you really forget about me, Mr. Vasilios?"

"Clio? Wow, has it really been a year? I still owe you for helping Jessy out. You really came through for us."

"That's just what lawyers do, and don’t worry, Jessy kind of... repaid me..."

I raised an eyebrow, smirking as I realized my sister had hooked up with someone from the Vasilios mafia.

"Anyway, I tracked Cora through her phone. You know, best friends always share their locations... mind if I use the bathroom?"

"Go ahead." I glanced up to see Nikolai stepping closer. "So, love, how did you end up friends with a lawyer at such a young age?"

Funny story, she's actually my older sister.

"Oh, you know... we just clicked on the first day I went to school," I replied.

"Well then—"

“Cora Kratos! GET IN HERE NOW!" Oh no. Clio found the marriage certificate. I hurried into the room to see her holding it up. "Can you explain why you're married to Nikolai freaking Vasilios?!"

I turned to see Nikolai running his hands through his hair. "You're explaining this," I told him. He took a deep breath and leaned against the wall.

Nikolai grinned and started spilling everything to Clio.

It turns out Clio is one of the rare folks not tangled up in the mafia who can yell at Nikolai without a second thought. She got close to them during her brief stint as a lawyer for one of his guys.

Nikolai also accidentally let slip that Clio had been sleeping with someone named Jessy, who just so happens to be his right-hand man and best friend.

Ms. Clio Leventis isn’t as pure as I once thought.

Nikolai informed Clio and me that I’d be living with him and his crew at the mansion back in Athens. I was obviously furious because living with him meant I’d have to be extra sneaky to get past his guards for my fights and other business.

"Alright, I’ll stay under your roof, but I have a few conditions," I said.

"Name your price, babe."

I cringed at those last two words. "First off, don’t call me ‘babe.’ Second, this is strictly business. You married me in order not to get married, and I’m stuck in this marriage to keep my family safe. If that means no divorce, then fine. Third, Clio needs her own room in the mansion—"

"Clio already has a room, and she shares it with Jessy," Nikolai interrupted, smirking at Clio. "They’ve been roommates for a year now."

I turned to Clio with a playful grin. "Clio, you little minx." She blushed at that. "Anyway, I want to do my own thing, and lastly, I want my own room."

"Hold on a second, Cora. If we want my parents, especially my dad, to think we married for love, we need to share a room."

You really had to get wasted last night and marry a mafia boss, didn’t you, Angela?

"Alright, just so we're clear, you better keep your hands to yourself if we end up sharing a bed," I say.

"I would never disrespect you or any woman like that, Cora," Nikolai replies.

"Cool. Cora and I are heading out tomorrow night, and since I know your address, I’ll just drive her there," Clio chimes in.

"Sounds good to me, but we’ll be taking my private jet, and I’d rather you refer to my beautiful—"

I shoot Nikolai a look that says 'not that.' "My business partner will be joining us on the flight back."

"Got it," I responded.

"Anyway, since you’re a mafia boss now, thanks to me, I’m going to the room I’m sharing with Clio because I feel like I can’t breathe in here. You and your crew can call us when it’s time to head back to Athens."

Clio tucks the marriage certificate into one of her folders and then into her purse. "I’ll keep this safe," she assures.

"Let’s go, bestie!" I say, linking my arm with Clio’s as we step out of the hotel room. Once we’re back in our room, I head straight for the shower, and while I’m rinsing off, I remember what I told myself the night I booked these tickets. "I really hope nothing goes wrong," I had thought.

Well, surprise, Angela! You’re now a married woman at just twenty two. I just turned twenty two a few weeks ago, now that I think about it. So, does that make me Angela Aphrodite Vasilios or Cora Vasilios? I mean, I signed the document with my fake name... I’m honestly not sure.