Mui Thriller Bundle

A Book of Truths Excerpt

Near the outskirts of Nafplio, well away from the harbor and the touristy spots, was a large cannery. It processed every type of seafood imaginable. The stench it produced stuck to everything within a half-kilometer radius. It made a dairy farm seem delightful. 

The few residential buildings consisted of temporary housing that had been erected for the immigrants working in the cannery. No Greek would work there. There were a few who opened businesses to serve the workers, but other than that, most of the residents of Nafplio avoided the area unless they needed to travel to the next town, Tirintha. It was the only route there. Truckers didn’t mind the area. An old parking lot, with weeds growing from cracks in the asphalt, served as a rest stop before they made the long haul back to Athens.

Tucked against a hillside was a small pub, the only one within smelling distance of the cannery. It had no signage or exterior lights—unless you counted the single light bulb that hung over the entrance. There were two windows, though one needed to press their face against the glass pane to see through the soot that had collected on it. It could easily have passed for an abandoned building if it weren’t for the few cars parked near the entrance, often late into the night.

The scene inside wasn’t that much more appealing. The bar stood unmanned, and all of the liquor bottles lining the shelf behind it were empty. Two ceiling fans rotated with a noticeable wobble. A coin-operated jukebox sat in the corner, but the bright tube lighting and the glass case containing the CDs was broken.

The same two men were always there. Nicolaos Spiros was the big hairy fellow sitting on a tiny chair. He owned the bar. He was also the local crime boss, or as the Greeks called him, the local “Godfather of the night.”

Markos Megalos was Spiros’s second-in-command. He was a bald man who always wore a t-shirt two sizes too small and had a toothpick sticking out of his mouth.

Together they ran the organization. Spiros did enough to live comfortably, meaning a place to live, food to eat, and women to warm his bed. Megalos did okay, but the power that came with being second-in-command interested him more. He relished the attention from the local residents, especially the women. He was the sort of man who confused attention with fear. 

Spiros also had a small group of lackeys who worked for him. Three of them sat at a nearby table playing cards. The operation wasn’t large, but it was enough to keep Spiros happy. 

Until recently.

“I need to make more money,” Spiros said. “Athena is costing me an arm and a leg. Always shopping.” He took a sip of black coffee.

“I don’t know why you put up with that woman. She spends most of her time in Athens anyway. Do you really know what she’s doing there, besides shopping?”

“I don’t know what it is, but I can’t give her up.”

“You will when she figures out a way to get all your money. I don’t trust her. You should cut her loose. What about the other girl, the skinny one who comes over to your place most nights? Why don’t you just stick with her?”

“Her boobs are small.”

“Yeah, but her ass is amazing.”

“A juicy apple,” Spiros agreed with a smile. He glanced at the three men sitting at a nearby table before looking at his watch. It was half past ten. “When are the rest of the men arriving?”

“They should be here soon.” Megalos leaned back in his chair. “So, this thing with making more money, what are you saying? We’re already squeezing the fishermen harder.”

Spiros shifted his gaze from his cup to Megalos. “Why stop with the fishermen? You’re thinking too small. There are the farmers, the store and restaurant owners, the hotels and inns. They all do well from the tourists. We deserve our cut.”

“We should start with one group. One by one, we’ll convince them all that it’s good to be in business with us. By the time we’re done, they’ll be convincing each other.” A smirk appeared on Megalos’s face. “It’s always tragic when a fire breaks out.”

Spiros’s shoulders bounced as he chuckled. He drained the last of his coffee and snapped his fingers. One of the men playing cards stood and fixed him another cup.

“What about Matthaios?” Megalos asked.

Matthaios Ioannidis was the mayor of Nafplio and had held that office for seven years. Spiros had come into power at the same time by ousting another crime boss.

“What about him?” Spiros shrugged.

“He’ll catch a lot of heat for this. He’ll have to show the people that something is being done.”

“We’ll fatten his monthly take so he comes up with a plan that doesn’t get in our way.”

“You’re sure he’ll do his job?”

“I put him in that position. I can take him out. Anyway, he’s my cousin.”

“Yeah, but he’s from the side of your family that nobody likes.”

Spiros waved off Megalos’s concern. “I don’t care. We need to earn more. This town has a lot to offer, and we need to take what’s ours.”

Just then, the door opened, and in walked another of Spiros’s men, dragging a teenage girl by her arm.

* * *

“Caught this one sneaking around outside,” the man growled.

“You didn’t catch me,” I said, shaking free from his grasp. I blinked my eyes as they adjusted from the dark outside.

“Who are you?” a heavyset man asked me.

“She’s the daughter of that woman who owns… What’s the name?” A bald man tapped a finger on the table before snapping his finger. “Opa! Hotel. That’s the one.”

The large man eyed me, his gaze moving up and down my body approvingly. “You come here looking for a good time?” He laughed. The others joined in. 

“You like what you see? You’ll never get it.” I spat the words out.

“If you knew me, you’d know I get whatever I want. And you should speak with more respect.”

I had done a little research online to learn more about the local mafia, but aside from a few names, there wasn’t much information. My break had come when I headed back to the market after my visit in the morning with Polina. Paolo had just closed his shop. I followed him until he met with a man I hadn’t seen before. Paolo handed him what looked to be money. I then followed that man to the pub. With a few names, and a location, I figured I had enough information to make my move.

The fat man talking to me had a large gold chain around his neck and gemmed rings on his fingers, and he dressed well. He had to be the one in charge. The bald guy sitting next to him always looked for his reaction after speaking, but he also sat at the same table and not at the one with the three other men. He was important, but not in charge—the number-two guy.

“I know who you are. You’re Nicolaos Spiros, and your bald friend is Markos Megalos. I know what you two do. I’ve come here to tell you to stop.”

Spiros’s eyes widened. “Did you hear that?” he looked around the room with dramatic flair. “She’s come here to tell us to stop what we’re doing.” He hugged himself and faked a shiver. “If you say so.”

It had become clear to me that talking wasn’t working. I quickly assessed the situation. Six men. Two are overweight. Slow. All are underestimating me. A surprise attack. This will be easy.

I moved quickly, striking the man who had dragged me inside. A fist to his throat sent him to his knees, gagging. I moved quickly to intercept another man as he stood from the table where he sat. He walked right into a kick to the face. Just like that, I had disabled two men while Spiros, Megalos, and two other men sat stunned. Not bad for a girl who hasn’t tangled with someone in a while.

“Who’s next?” I asked.

Before anyone could answer, the door behind me opened, and in walked five more men.

Gulp!