The Ghost of Greece ~ A Drakos Dynasty Novel~

Kristos Aleksander Drakos was the younger brother of the two born into the Drakos line on Ariston Kristos’ side. Ariston was brother to the famously wealthy Apollo Drakos, Founder of Drakos Shipping International.  Ariston’s family had branched away from Apollo’s family and stayed with ties to the mob. While Kristos’ older brother, Angelos, chose to work closely with his Uncle Apollo and his sons Dimitri and Darius, Kristos wanted little part of the shipping industry. From a young age Kristos had shown significant promise as a tactical genius and marksman. He was highly intelligent in school and graduated at only fifteen, thus finishing college at the ripe age of twenty-one with a Master’s degree in Defense & Strategic Studies. With his older brother Angelos always gone with Darius and Dimitri in training and work, Kristos was left to his own devices. He began running items and delivering “messages” for the Mob side of the family that his father Ariston had been a part of for many years.   Ariston had been a right-hand man of Eros, the families ‘godfather’, if you will, for over a decade before he was killed in a hit and run accident. Well, they labeled it as an accident. This left Kristos either home with his mom or out to find something to entertain his time. It wasn’t long after his eighteenth birthday that a man of great wealth and political power approached Kristos. It was during a benefit that Apollo Drakos was holding for some of his clients and several essential political benefactors in hopes of raising funds for a ‘help the third world countries’ charity, that Kristos was accosted.  For purposes of security the world leader cornered Kristos in the bathroom towards the beginning of the night.   “You are Kristos Drakos correct?”   “I am. Who the hell is asking and why are you blocking my exit.” Kris asked rudely. “You misunderstand my intent Kristos. This is for my security so we may speak privately. I have a job for you. It pays ten million and all you have to do is rid the world of my radical brother. I hear you are the best marksman and move throughout your hits undetected. I need this done quickly, quietly and by tomorrow evening. When our country decided to look at its options for leaders, I want to be the only one standing.” He spoke frankly looked at Kristos the entire time.   “I don’t know what you have heard but I am an eighteen-year-old college student, I don’t have…” Kristos was cut off.   “Do not insult me Kristos. We both know you have produced several difficult hits with ease and perfection. My prime minister being one of them just last month. Who do you think sent you that job. I don’t know how you pulled off being undetected among a million people and taking him down in a crowd with no other casualties but you succeeded. Now. My rate is ten million and you have until tomorrow night. Do we have a contract?”   Kristos shifted from one foot to the other. Two guards, one leader and a about two hundred fifty square feet to move in.  This was exactly the scenario the brother had said would take place.  He already had an alibi, exit strategy and a place to land in the benefit so he wouldn’t be anywhere near the madness when the bodies were discovered. This leader was a tyrant and held his people hostage with his totalitarian mindset. Kristos cared not for politics or who was the leader, he cared about money and control. There was really nothing more that interested him at this point in his life. He could have whom ever he desired in his bed and toss them away when he was finished. It was the perfect life. His sandy blondish- brown hair and hazel eyes with flecks of green hidden within. Kristos was not just young, well-built and good looking, he was highly intelligent. With a chiseled cut jaw and aquiline characteristics Kristos was a girl’s wet dream. Softly bronzed skin that was unblemished and a zero-body fat, well sculpted physique rounded out his attractiveness. Kristos was a natural born crack shot and assassin without concern for what he was actually doing. His entire reason for attending the dreadfully boring benefit was to eradicate this world leader and his entourage. The contract price was a miniscule five million. Money talked. Hardly ever did Kris contemplate of what political gain or loss was actually in the balance, just the pay off. No one loved him in this life other than his sister and with her death years prior, Kristos was frozen inside.   Putting up a finger he pulled out his phone and texted the brother of this leader. ‘The price is now ten million’   The response was near immediate. ‘Seven’   Kristos responded. ‘Your brother offered ten’ There was a pause in returned response. Kristos looked up smiling to the leader as if to pass the time, while discussing his death, as pleasant. The leader had a furrowed brow in question as to why there was a delay in accepting his proposal. The phone dinged once more. ‘Fine. Ten. But I want proof. Half transferred now. Half when the proof arrives.’ Kristos’ phone dinged once more. Five million had been deposited into his account and the notification popped up. He gazed up. “I am sorry. Your offer is not the best on the table.” With the speed and agility that no human should possess, Kristos fell to a crouched position and pulled the gun with silencer from his boot. With the exactitude that his reputation had been circulating of late, Kristos took out both protectors with a head shot each in less than ten seconds. The leader stood there trembling and stunned. “Wait, wait I can give you...” Kristos stood and put the shot right between the eyes. Taking a picture with his phone, Kristos sent it to the brother. It wasn’t two seconds and another notification showed five million more being deposited. He had done his job. It was time to rejoin the party. The hollering and screams were heard throughout the benefit. Someone had found the three bodies in the men’s lavatory and alerted security. Angelos was on the podium speaking when the event occurred. Worried for his eighteen-year-old younger sibling, Angelos looked around feverishly. Rushing off the stage, Angelos caught notice of Kristos sitting on a stool at the nearby bar. Kris seemed to be craning his next to establish what the uproar was about. “There you are brother. I haven’t seen you in a little while.” Angelos said slightly panicked. “Been at the bar and went out for a smoke. “He pulled out his cigarettes and flashed them at Angelos. “Well first that is a nasty habit you should quit and second, as long as you are safe. We should go. They say it was a hit on the Prince.” Kristos nodded and stood in compliance setting down his diet soda. He never drank and being only eighteen, he couldn’t legally in a few countries. Walking out the door with Angelos he looked back at the bathroom and watched them start to haul out the bodies covered in white draping. He smiled and ducked inside the limo.  This is all too easy. He thought to himself as they drove away.