YANNIS (Cretan Saga Book 1) (97 page)

‘They say the lily is the flower of death, but here we only grow hamoleuka.’

‘Was everyone buried here?’ asked Elena, looking at the small number of graves and remembering how many occupants her uncle had described on the island compared with the few who had finally left.

‘The others are in the tower, with Phaedra and Anna.’ He pointed. ‘You can see their bones at the bottom.’

Elena shuddered. ‘I’ll not bother. Can we go up in the fort?’

‘You two can if you want a stiff climb. There’s not a lot there, but you get a fine view across the bay. I’ll wait for you here.’

Yannis settled himself comfortably on the ground, his back to the wall of the carpenter’s house. He smiled. It was good to be back home. The flowers looked brighter here, the sun seemed warmer and the air was definitely cleaner.

‘We won’t be long, uncle.’

‘Take your time. There’s no rush. There never was over here. I was just impatient always. I wanted to get everything done at once. What a trial I must have been to live with!’

The bees buzzed more loudly. Yannis opened his eyes to see how far they had climbed. They must be behind the first of the walls that still remained for he could see no sign of them. He looked across the graveyard. There was Phaedra coming towards him, with Anna skipping along by her side.

As the pain in his chest squeezed him breathless, his fingers closed around the silver chain holding the charm his mother had given him so many years ago, breaking the slender links. Yannis rose easily and walked towards them.

In this, the second book in a continuing saga, Anna is left to care for her invalid mother and her sister’s children when the Germans invade Crete. A battalion of Italian soldiers is billeted in the village to prevent a seat of resistance being formed on Spinalonga, the leper village opposite the village.

There are resistance workers in the area.

How will she protect strong-willed Marisa from the Italian soldiers, and impulsive Yannis from joining the resistance?

Unwillingly she becomes involved in the resistance and has to draw on all her resources and ingenuity to fool the Italians, finally risking her life to save the man she loves.

Yannis has become a successful businessman with a number of hotels. He has taken his resourceful nephew, Giovanni, into partnership. Giovanni is full of ideas to improve the business. He has only one failing – he is susceptible to a pretty face.

His younger brother, Joseph, is resentful of Giovanni’s success and determined to avenge himself. With the help of a beautiful woman, he schemes and plans to bring about his brother’s disgrace. His final act of revenge has dire results for all involved.

Marianne, Annita’s granddaughter, visits Athens with her friend and meets relatives who were previously unknown to her. Elizabeth finds the city romantic in many ways. Later they both visit Crete, which has unexpected consequences for Marianne.

Yannis’s loyalty to his extended family saves all of them from shame and humiliation.

Joseph has moved to Rhodes. He lives and works in a warehouse that is a centre for drug distribution and is responsible for taking the money to Turkey each week. He becomes over ambitious and has plans to become a wealthy man.

Sorrell is searching for Joseph to wreak her revenge. She accepts the offer of help from a millionaire hotelier and enjoys a life of idleness and luxury before she finds herself in the clutches of a ruthless criminal. She is both used and abused. Fearing for her life she finally has to ask Joseph for help and protection.

Events take an unexpected turn and a number of people find they are under the scrutiny of the police. Both Joseph and Sorrell are able to evade the law, but they are unable to evade their ultimate fate at the hands of their associates.

Christabelle is beautiful and highly successful in her chosen career as a model. She has also inherited her talent for acting from her unknown father. Everyone is charmed by her; but there is an evil side to her nature. Anyone who upsets Christabelle regrets it. She takes her revenge to extremes, becoming more confident in her actions each time. She is convinced she is invincible.

As she travels across Europe a trail of fatal accidents follow her. It finally takes subterfuge and John’s talent for photography for justice to be done.

After Saffron’s family separate and divorce, her father brings her to England, where she adapts well and is happy. She achieves her childhood ambition to become a doctor. She falls deeply in love, only to be badly hurt when her hopes for a long-term relationship are cruelly shattered. When she does marry, she finds she has made the biggest mistake of her life.

Over the years she has wished to be reunited with her American family and when she finally contacts them it is with an unexpected and delightful result.

Saffron eventually manages to visit Crete and spends time getting to know her family. Through them she meets their friends, Vasilis, Cathy and their son, Vasi.

Nicola is in New Orleans with her family, where she moves on to University after finishing High School. At the weekends she works in a diner to make her pocket money for when she visits Elounda during her summer vacation.

Following a tragedy of his own making, Todd sees Nicola as the salvation from his guilty conscience. He longs for Nicola to notice him and reject John. His desire for Nicola to become dependent upon him becomes an obsession; finally making him follow her to Elounda where events take a drastic and dangerous turn.

JOHN brings the endings of NICOLA and ALECOS together.

Saffron is disappointed when Vasi is unable to visit her in England as planned. She agrees to work in a hospital abroad for six months as a replacement for a colleague. She makes a fleeting visit to Crete to inform her family and returns with another difficult decision to make.

Filippos Melanakis has fled to Athens, but is unable to control his abnormal behaviour.

John was injured during the fire at the self catering chalets and suffers another slight blow to his head that affects his vision adversely. Saffron insists that he consults a neurologist and accompanies him to London where they are both involved in an accident that causes further problems for him.

Abraham Gallagher is given access to his son’s diary and becomes desperate to suppress the information it contains and free his son from jail.

Giovanni’s ambitious rebuilding plans for the self catering business, along with medical treatment for John, has stretched his family’s finances to the limit until Marianne has an idea that solves their immediate financial problems.