Silent Eyes

27, The Intruder

There was a knock at the door, grabbing Monica's attention. She settled onto the couch and looked up. "Yes?" she called out, but there was no response, causing her to frown. Curious, she got up and asked, "Now, who could that be?" Approaching the door, she peered through the peephole. On the other side stood a man who seemed oddly familiar. Monica cautiously opened the door and poked her head outside. "Is there anything I can help you with?" she asked.

The man's eyes, like Andreas', were a mesmerizing shade of light blue, glistening like the sea. He had the same dark hair and strong jawline. As soon as he laid eyes on Monica, he broke into a smile. "Hello," he spoke with a thick accent. "My name is Nikos, and I'm Andreas' father." Monica's eyes widened, and she stepped outside, shaking the man's hand. "Oh, wow!" she gasped. She pointed inside, struggling for words. "Andreas isn't home right now."

But Nikos shook his head. "That's alright," he said and entered the house. Monica craned her neck, watching him pause inside and look around. He turned back to her, smiling. "I heard about the pregnancy and thought I'd introduce myself," he revealed. Monica slowly closed the door behind her, a hint of concern creasing her brow. "Okay."

Something didn't feel quite right. Andreas hadn't spoken much about his father before. Monica had never met the man, and now that she thought about it, he wasn't even present at their wedding. The resemblance between Andreas and his father was startling, and conversing with this mysterious man felt unsettling. Uncertain of what to say, Monica anxiously rubbed her arms. "I'm Monica," she hesitated. "His... wife."

Nikos hummed, circling Monica as if she were on display. He stopped, squinting his blue eyes at her. "What do you know about my son?" he asked. Monica frowned, blinking and stammering. "Sir, I don't understand. Could you please clarify?" Did he mean there was something she didn't know about Andreas? Her mind grew fuzzy, and she cautiously inquired, "Is there something I should know?"

In that moment, Nikos realized that Monica had no inkling of Andreas' true identity. She was oblivious to the fact that her husband was a criminal and the leader of the Greek mafia. A wide grin spread across his face, and he chuckled darkly. "Oh, it's nothing," Nikos waved her off. "I was just teasing you!" His hand dropped, and he looked around, chirping, "So, where's the food? I'd love to get to know my daughter-in-law better." His words sent a chill down Monica's spine, and she swallowed, pressing her clammy hands together.

"Um, I can prepare something for us," she stammered. She pointed towards the living room, saying, "Would you like me to call Andreas? I left my phone in the living room." Knowing that his son would immediately storm into the house and throw him out, Nikos shook his head. He politely smiled and raised his hand. "No, it'll be fine. I already sent him a text," he lied. "My son knows I'm here, and he's thrilled that we're meeting for the first time."

Nikos watched as Monica's eyes relaxed, and she placed a hand on her racing heart, smiling. "Okay!" she beamed. She brushed past him and cheerfully suggested, "How about we cook together? That way, when Andreas gets home, we can all enjoy a lovely dinner, sir!"

Andreas sat in the dimly lit nightclub, engulfed in the pulsating music and the kaleidoscope of colorful lights that danced around the room. Smoke curled from his fat cigar as he engaged in a tense meeting. All eyes were locked in a fierce stare-down, words exchanged cautiously, knowing that a single misstep could unleash a hail of gunfire. Suddenly, a man approached Andreas from behind, tapping his shoulder. "Sir?"

Andreas furrowed his brow, looking up at the man. He withdrew his cigar, his gaze piercing. "Are you out of your mind?" he hissed in Greek. "Can't you see we're in the middle of something important?" The man swallowed, the weight of his words hanging on the tip of his tongue. "I apologize," he said. "But there's something urgent you need to know." Andreas growled, his patience wearing thin. "If you're truly sorry, then leave me be. I'm busy." But the man whispered haunting words into Andreas' ear, causing him to freeze.

"Your father... he's with Mrs. Samaras."

Alarm bells blared in Andreas' mind. He swiftly stood up, drawing disapproving glares from the others, and lowered his head. "I apologize," he mumbled. "But I have an emergency. We can continue this another time." One man rose to confront Andreas, only to have one of Andreas' men hold him back, pressing a cold barrel against his cheek. The threat silenced the man, who reluctantly sank back into his seat.

Andreas stormed through the nightclub, people parting in his wake, creating a stir of commotion. His hands clenched tightly, veins bulging from his neck. He was a ticking time bomb, ready to explode at any moment. Yet, he needed to regain his composure, focus on getting home, and rescue Monica from a potentially dangerous situation. His father may have been old, but he was still a dangerous guy. "And please," Andreas pleaded silently, squeezing his eyes shut. "Please don't let Katrina be there." That conniving witch was a thousand times worse than his father!

Ignoring red lights, cutting off other cars, and glaring at anyone who dared honk at him, Andreas sped his way home. There was only one thought consuming his mind: Monica. As he arrived outside the house, he jumped out of the car, slamming the door shut. He approached the house, forcefully kicking the door open.

The entrance was empty, and an eerie silence hung in the air. Andreas' heart raced, and he began to pace anxiously, calling out, "Monica?" Laughter reached his ears, and Andreas snapped his head towards the sound. He hurried toward the source and halted at the dining room door, his shoulders sagging. Monica was safe, but she wasn't alone. His murderous gaze met the gaze of the stranger he reluctantly called father.

Nikos smirked up at his son, Monica's laughter ringing in the room. The table was filled with food, and Monica covered her mouth, unable to contain her amusement. Nikos gestured warmly. "Andreas, please join us! I was just telling Monica here about that time you ran from a bee."

Eventually, Monica's eyes met Andreas', and she smiled, her dimples appearing. "Hey, babe! We cooked some dinner too. Have a taste!"

Unaware of the danger lurking within the man sitting beside her, Monica blissfully engaged with Andreas' father, enjoying their time together. In her small world, she found connection and relaxation. But as Andreas' blue eyes turned nearly black with rage, he fought the urge to flip the room over, strangle his father, and put a bullet through his skull. Andreas took a trembling breath, his voice filled with tension. "Okay."

Finally, he approached the table. Monica continued chatting with his father, while Nikos smirked, relishing in Andreas' seething anger. It seemed as though at any moment he would reveal Andreas' true identity, only to dismiss his words as a joke with a chuckle. Andreas' fists clenched under the table, his nails digging into his skin. As the evening grew late, Andreas longed to rid his house of this man. He glanced at his watch, glaring. "I think it's time for you to leave," he muttered. "Katrina must be missing you."

Nikos widened his eyes, pretending surprise. "Well, you do have a point!" he exclaimed. Rising from his seat, he grabbed his coat. He moved to give Monica a peck on the cheek, but Andreas grabbed his arm, his voice strained. "Drive safely," he forced a smile. But it was a thinly veiled threat, a warning to Nikos that if he ever dared to repeat this intrusion, Andreas would kill him.

Monica bid Nikos a polite goodbye, waving him off. Once the door closed, she turned back to Andreas, beaming. "Your dad is such a funny guy!" However, Andreas wasn't smiling, and her smile faltered. "Babe?"

Andreas reached out, gripping her neck, forcing her to meet his gaze. He growled, his voice filled with anger. "That man is nothing but a monster!" he trembled. "He's the reason my mother died! He was abusive, to me and to everyone! I bear the scars from him, Monica! How dare you laugh and chat with him as if he's a good guy! WHAT MADE YOU THINK IT WAS OKAY TO LET HIM IN!" He roared.

Monica was shocked, her mouth hanging open. "B-Baby," she stammered quickly. "I didn't know." But Andreas forcefully pushed her away, his grip releasing. Monica crashed into the table, and he jabbed a finger in her direction. "I don't want to look at you anymore," he growled. He stormed out, and Monica chased after him, her heart racing and tears streaming down her face. "Andreas, I'm sorry!" she cried. "I didn't know!"

But he reached the door, slamming it shut behind him. The house fell silent, leaving Monica standing there helplessly. And she whimpered again, "I'm sorry..."