“We know, Nicolai,” said Luke. “My grandparents have strived to keep our traditions alive for decades and I’m not sure I appreciated it until just now. You’ve sacrificed a lot to keep your piece of heaven, heavenly.”
“We’ve appreciated it,” said Diana. “My son will appreciate it for decades to come. We’ll be home soon because of your bravery Nicolai.”
Nicolai stood at the windows, staring across the sea at their island paradise. His wife betrayed him. After all these years, why now? They’d been through so much and they seemed happy together with their simple, innocent life.
Or maybe that was him dreaming that it was happy and simple. Maybe it wasn’t any of those things for her.
“What do we do now?” he asked turning toward the men.
“We fight for your island,” said Luke. “We prove that you signed nothing to allow the blasting and digging on the island and that your wife and her brother, faked their deaths.”
“How do we do that?” asked Nicolai.
“I think I can help.”
CHAPTER THIRTY
“Mr. Andriopoulos,” whispered Marguerite. “So, you’ve decided to show your face to the world?”
“I deserve that and much more,” said Petros. “I’m sorry. I’m sorry to all of you. Marie Nicole isn’t her real name. Her real name is Amber Bodley. Her brother’s name is Charles. Sir Charles Bodley to be specific. A small-time land owner in Great Britain who was running out of money and credit. That’s why you were fooled. We were all fooled, for a while.
“I owe a lot of money to some very nasty people and Charles said he’d give me the money if I found a way to get on that island. You are so loved. So appreciated by your people.”
“They’re not my people,” said Nicolai. “They’re the people of Greece. We are the people of Greece.” Petros nodded.
“How do we make this right? We can kick them off the island but they deserve to be punished,” said Luke.
“I know a way,” said Petros. “If the Prime Minister will speak to me.”
“Let’s go,” said Cam. “We’ll make sure that he speaks with you.”
Petros, Luke, Cam, Hex, and Nicolai made their way back to Athens and the Prime Minister while the others relaxed, watching from the windows as their island was destroyed.
“I can’t just sit here,” said Bodhi.
“What do you propose?” asked Frank.
“I think we should cause a little havoc. You know. The kind that Poseidon, Zeus and the boys would approve of.”
“Let’s do it,” grinned Frank. Leaving the rest of the team with the residents, Ben, Adam, Bodhi, Frank, Kiel and Joseph took the submersible out to the island where they discovered work was still at a standstill.
With little effort, they raised the anchors for the barges and allowed them to drift away from the cliffs. Then they climbed the cliffs once more and released the levers holding the equipment over the edge.
With the sounds of iron bending and crashing, dozens of faces appeared at the openings of the caves. The workers were effectively stranded on the island with no way off.
“What next?” grinned Joseph.
“Let’s see if we can create some issues on that cargo ship,” said Bodhi.
“Like sink it?” smirked Frank.
“That might be a little drastic but we can definitely have some fun. Let’s go.”
“Where is that idiot?” asked Amber. “He was supposed to be back on the island with new crews. It’s clear they’re not back. The work isn’t happening.”
Her brother stood with exasperation and stared out the porthole. Lifting the binoculars, he gasped.
“The equipment! It’s gone! It’s fallen into the sea,” he yelled. His sister pushed him aside, staring at the wreckage at the bottom of the cliff. She couldn’t believe her eyes. Not now. Not when they were so close.
