The Beginning

"Love," they say, "sometimes needs another shot because it wasn't quite ready the first time."

Half a decade ago, like a hurricane's surprise visit, she knocked on her grandfather's door. Desperation painted her face as she begged for help to flee the country, and the reason was crystal clear—escape from a lover who had been breaking not just her heart, but their child's future too. Ririna had had enough, her unrequited love too costly to bear. She left to shield her child from the labyrinthine world of the underworld.

Eli, a man as shrewd as they come, had the world at his feet, what with being the heir apparent to the underworld and a master of corporations. He found his thrill in financial victories, stock market domination being his ultimate conquest. A childhood resolution dictated he would never kneel before a woman or follow his father's shadow. Or so he believed, until Ririna vanished, taking his heart along for the ride.

But lo and behold, the story twists again—she reenters the stage, determined to unravel the mysteries surrounding her mother's accidental demise.

For Eli, this is the opening he's waited for, a chance to weave her back into his life. Yet, danger and conspiracies dog their steps, enemies lurking in the shadows with nefarious plans. The tango between life and death plays on, and amidst it all, parenting seems an unwise endeavor. Eli decides to eliminate threats before embarking on family life with Ririna. Yet, in the grand tapestry of fate, a twist waits—a child he never knew existed now seeks his attention. Will this new connection be a chink in his armor, or the mighty force that guides them forward? Time will be the judge, weaving its own brand of suspense into this intricate tale.

And that's the gist of it. A second chance at love.

As I sit here and pen this letter, the clock ticks, its rhythm counting down to something I cannot put into words. All I know is this is my final gift to you, the last chapter of my life. I've lived an honorable, full life, and my soul is finally content. The only regret I carry is that I won't get to see my children grow, and I'm not just referring to you, Eli.

There's the boy, the one I brought into this world, the child whose identity is shrouded by the mystery surrounding his mother's death.

Ririna was my daughter, my pride, a child who grew up far too quickly. I know that she died before her time, and that it is the reason Eli never knew about the little girl. And I am sure there are secrets about the night Ririna died, and the child's father that I was never privy to.

Now I wonder how Ririna must have felt when she found out about her pregnancy, and her mind was a jumble. Her heart, a mess. Her soul, lost. Yet, despite everything, she fought, and gave life to a new being, the continuation of her legacy.

Eli, my dear grandson, I want you to listen carefully to me, and this is a request I make not as your grandfather, but as your mentor.

I want you to search out the boy. He deserves to know about his roots.

And if you're wondering why I ask this of you, well, it's simple. You will gain an ally, one who will be more useful than you can imagine.

You will have a brother.

He is your blood, Eli. And I believe that blood is thicker than water.

I wish the very best for both of you.

You have a legacy, a history, and a future.

Don't waste it.

Love always,

Grandpa.

It is said that blood runs deep, and for me, that's a fact. It's a reminder that, even when I thought I was all alone in this world, I had someone, right there, under my nose.

It is said that love is blind. But what about when love has the audacity to walk in the shadows?

This isn't a fairy tale, but a glimpse of the dark underbelly that is life, and a tale of two souls bound by destiny, who had to fight to live and love.

I've had a lot to deal with since I found the letter my grandfather wrote a few days before his death, and I have a lot more on my plate now that I'm going to set the record straight.

My name is Elias Tronik, and this is my story, one that's intertwined with Ririna's, my grandfather's and my parents' sordid tales, and a journey into the past, a history, and a legacy.

And the best part is, you've never heard anything quite like this.

PART 1

THE PRESENT

ONE

ELI

A week earlier...

"Sir, the flight's ready," Kato informs me. "Your luggage is packed, and everything's on standby. We're ready to depart."

"What about the security situation?" I ask, checking the news on my phone, scanning the headlines.

"There have been some skirmishes near the city's perimeter," Kato confirms.

"We don't have a choice, then. Let's leave." I walk ahead of him, my bodyguard and assistant trailing behind, while other security detail surrounds us.

In the car, Kato updates me on the latest intel regarding the riots.

"I've made arrangements for the next few weeks," he says. "And there are other security measures in place, just in case."

I nod.

"All our employees have been updated and advised to take caution," he adds.

"Thank you, Kato," I tell him, knowing I can rely on him in every possible way.

I watch the city go by outside the window, wondering how long the conflict will last. My grandfather's letter has instilled a sense of urgency within me, and there's no question of putting my trip off any longer.

After Ririna's funeral, I returned to Greece. But I couldn't stay still. Restless, I began the search for information regarding her death, the events leading up to it, and most importantly, the reason why her body was found in the middle of the forest.

At the time, it was assumed the body had fallen off the cliff nearby, which led the authorities to believe her death was an accident, an unfortunate hiking incident. But now, five years later, the story looks a lot murkier, the circumstances more complex, and a sense of dread has settled within my gut.

I'm sure something fishy is going on.

My grandfather's letter was the push I needed to start digging into the mystery, and I intend to find the answers I'm looking for.

I can't shake the feeling that, had Ririna and I continued dating, and she had survived that fatal fall, we would have gotten married and raised our family in peace and harmony. We would have had children.

And one of them, I believe, would have been a son, my brother, my child, and an heir to the underworld, and the empire my grandfather created.

I wonder what Ririna must have felt, going to that grave, alone, carrying the burden of that knowledge. She never told me about the child. She never got the opportunity to.

But I intend to fulfill her dying wish, the last thing she ever asked me to do, to find her child, and make sure he's well cared for, and knows his family.

As the plane takes off, I open the envelope in front of me, the one addressed to Ririna.

She received it on the day of her death, the day we had arranged a surprise party, but it never happened.

She was never seen alive again.

It's a letter from my mother.

"This is an odd development," my assistant, Kato, says, peering over my shoulder.

"Very," I agree, studying the handwriting, wondering if the person who penned the note is actually my mother, the same woman who disappeared fifteen years ago, without a trace.

It's an address and a note, but what makes it even stranger is the date on the letter. It's dated a week before Ririna's birthday.

"I can't make out the sender's handwriting," Kato points out. "Is this your mother's?"

"I've not seen her writing in a very long time. It's been fifteen years since she went missing. So I can't say with certainty."

"The handwriting looks different. Maybe it's not her," Kato surmised.

"Perhaps. But we have a name and an address. That's enough for us to begin a search."

"Are you thinking what I'm thinking?"

"That this has to do with Ririna's death and her last wish?"

"Exactly. It's a strange coincidence, isn't it, that she received the letter a week before her death."

"Indeed. Now the question is, who is the person this note refers to?"

"And how is he connected to your mother?"

"Let's start there."

Kato nods, and we spend the rest of the flight poring over the clues we have. The location on the note is a few hours' drive from the nearest city, a forest, according to Google Maps, and an area with a population of under three thousand.

"I have an idea," Kato suggests. "Let's make a list of names of children in that age group and the ones who were born around the same time as Ririna's son. This should help us narrow down our search."

"I can use the private investigators," I suggest.

"Not a good idea," Kato warns. "There is no telling how the underworld will react to the news, and they're still not on board with the fact that you're a Tronik, and the head of the organization."

"You're right. Let's keep this under wraps for now. I need some more time."

Kato and I have an understanding—the less people who know about the contents of the letter, the better. We also decide to keep the contents between us for now.

"Do we tell your father?" Kato asks.

I sigh. "If he were a different man, a man of honor, then perhaps, but not now."

Kato's silent for a minute, knowing exactly why I don't trust my father, and his role in the events that have occurred.

"You can't go alone," he tells me. "Not when we're uncertain about the circumstances of Ririna's death."

"True," I concur.

"Let me see what I can do," Kato suggests.

"Make sure whoever you call is discreet. And trustworthy," I tell him.

He nods.

The flight is uneventful, and before long, we're in the car, en route to the coordinates, and a small town, called Seferovo.

The landscape is beautiful, with the mountains serving as a backdrop, and a river cutting through the lush green. As the car drives through the winding roads, I'm reminded of a particular vacation, a holiday during college, and a camping trip.

Ririna had wanted to go rafting, and insisted that she wanted to learn the basics.

I remember how happy she was as she tried out the craft, and it was fun to watch her. I knew she had a wild streak in her, the same rebellious nature she inherited from her mother, and her grandmother.

"You have to let her try it out," her grandmother, Vicky, told me.

"She doesn't know what she's doing," I complained.

"Of course, she doesn't. That's why it's fun."

"Grandpa," I appealed, trying to get my grandfather to be on my side.

"It's only a matter of time before she does something like this, and I would rather you keep an eye on her," he said, his tone calm and authoritative.

And just like that, the old man had a point, so I joined the rafting trip, along with the others, and Ririna's laughter echoed around us.

A sudden jolt jerks me out of my musings, and the driver calls out, "We're here, sir."

TWO

RIN

The last thing I want is to make small talk with my aunt and my sister. So I'm grateful when they finally leave for the grocery store. I'm sure Auntie is hoping she'll run into Mr. Manev, the guy she has a crush on.

"Do you need us to bring you anything from the store?" she asks.

"No, thanks," I reply, glad that the answer is a solid no.

She has been cooking my meals ever since my accident, and has been very sweet, but I've been craving burgers. The hospital food was awful, and there's only so much salad a person can eat.

"I'll be back in a few hours," she announces, and then they're out the door.

I've spent the last week resting, recovering, and letting the bruises heal. I've been getting around on crutches, and the doctor has said it'll be another two weeks before the casts come off, but that's the least of my problems.

No, the bigger problem is, how I'm going to face the world.

When I first woke up in the hospital and found my family, I was relieved, and also grateful to find that no one seemed upset with me, but when Auntie said those words, the ones I dreaded, I almost fainted.

"We found him," she said. "He was living just a few hours away."

My brother. My half-brother, and the child my mother had after I was born.

The thought has me in a daze, and the questions swirl around me, threatening to consume my very being.

Is he really alive? And how did my aunt find him?

It has always bothered me, the fact that I never got the chance to meet him, or even hold him in my arms.

My father had a family, a wife and a child, and I wasn't a part of it.

My own father never came forward, and claimed me as his. Instead, he sent his daughter, my half-sister, to find me, and I've lived with the guilt ever since.

How did I not know this?