Chapter 17
17
A urelia paced the length of her room, her footsteps muffled by the thick carpet. Her arms were crossed tightly over her chest, her thoughts racing. She couldn’t shake the heavy knot in her stomach, the sense that something was wrong— very wrong.
The basement door. Dimitris intercepting her. The muffled sound she couldn’t explain away. Michalis’s cold, distant expression. It all churned in her mind, a whirlpool of uncertainty and dread.
She wasn’t completely na?ve. She knew the Giannopoulos family wasn’t made up of innocent businessmen. Her mother’s warnings from years ago had made that clear. But this was the first time since she was kidnapped that the truth had brushed up against her so directly. It was the first time she couldn’t ignore it.
Her steps slowed as an old memory surfaced unbidden, the edges sharp and vivid.
The stench of sweat and blood had clung to the air, suffocating her. Aurelia had been bound to a chair in a damp, dimly lit room not unlike the basement she’d been near today. Her wrists had been raw, her heart pounding as her kidnappers circled her like vultures.
She had been terrified, her mind a blur of desperate prayers and half-formed plans for escape. And then the door had burst open.
Michalis had been a force of nature, his movements efficient and unrelenting. The men who had taken her didn’t stand a chance. The sounds of the struggle—the sickening thuds and pained cries—had haunted her for weeks afterward.
Those men had wanted to hurt her, maybe worse. She had been glad Michalis had done what he’d done.
Does that make me a hypocrite? How can I approve of what he does when it’s for me, yet disapprove when it isn’t?
The thought left her restless, torn.
Unable to sit still any longer, Aurelia grabbed a cardigan and slipped it over her shoulders before heading out of the house. The warm breeze greeted her as she wandered aimlessly across the estate grounds, her feet carrying her toward one of the outbuildings. The sound of voices and clanging metal reached her ears, pulling her from her thoughts.
Curious, she followed the noise until she reached a garage tucked away near the edge of the property. Inside, several of Michalis’s men were gathered around a car, its sleek black frame gleaming under the overhead lights. The hood was propped open, and the men were talking animatedly, tools in hand.
Aurelia lingered just outside the open garage door, her gaze drawn to the car. It wasn’t just any car—it was a drag racer, its wide tires and aggressive lines practically screaming speed. The sight of it stirred something familiar in her, a spark of nostalgia that cut through the haze of her thoughts.
The men didn’t notice her at first, too engrossed in their conversation.
“Bigger scoop, bigger carburetor, and it’s still running same as before?” one of them said, his tone incredulous.
Another man frowned, wiping his hands on a rag. “The ignition timing’s fine. Maybe it’s the fuel mix?”
“It’s not the fuel mix,” the first man shot back. “We checked it already.”
Aurelia watched them for a few moments, their animated debate pulling her focus away from the storm in her mind. She stepped closer, her hesitation replaced by curiosity.
“Uh, excuse me,” she said softly, her voice tentative but clear.
The men turned toward her, surprise flashing across their faces. She offered a small smile, her hands tucked into the pockets of her cardigan.
“What’s up, Mrs. Giannopoulos?” one of them asked, his tone polite but cautious.
“I couldn’t help overhearing,” she said, nodding toward the car. “You’re trying to make it faster?”
“Yeah,” the man replied, his brows furrowed. “We already had a guy install a bigger carburetor and modify the hood to get extra air, but we’re not seeing much difference.”
Aurelia took a step closer, her gaze flicking to the engine. “So, you’ve got more air coming in with the scoop, but your carburetor isn’t flowing enough fuel to match it? Got it.” she said. “Even if the carb is bigger, the factory settings still won’t be enough. Not with the amount of air you’re pulling.”
The men exchanged wary looks. “None of us are mechanics, ma’am. We just went in equal shares on the car and haven’t entered any races yet. We’ve been taking turns out on the track to see who’s the best driver.”
“I see,” she nodded, her smile genuine. “Well, I think you need to change the jets,” she explained, stepping closer. “Should solve one of your problems, anyway. Right now, sounds like you’re running lean. You might also consider conversion to EFI.”
The blank looks on their faces made her chuckle softly. “Here,” she said, reaching for a nearby wrench. “Let me help. EFI would require a full tear down and rebuild, a lot of work and a major shift in thinking, so let’s look at the jets for now.”
“Uh, maybe you should put something on over those fancy clothes, Mrs. G.”
Before she could ask, one of them grabbed a pair of fresh coveralls and handed them to her. “They’re too big for you, but better that than ruining your clothes. I’m Theo. That’s George, Luke, and Jayce.” He pointed to his left. “And over there’s Chris and Leon.”
“Thanks. You can call me Auri.”
“Sorry, Mrs. G. Boss would shoot us dead, we get too familiar, disrespect his wife.”
Aurelia blushed. “Well, then Mrs. G. sounds pretty good. Looks like you boys have a good engine.” She took the coveralls and pulled them on. Mrs. G? Is it bad that I’m starting to get used to being referred to as Michalis’s wife? Is it even worse that I kind of really like the short version? Like maybe I earned it?
She worked quickly to drain the fuel from the carburetor and disconnect the fuel line, then opened up the carburetor. “These are the jets,” she said, pointing to the small parts inside as they all leaned closer. “They control how much fuel gets mixed with the air. If you put in bigger ones, you’ll get a richer mix and more power. I can adjust these, make sure they’re not dirty, so maybe you get a little better mix. Won’t solve your problem until you get the bigger ones, though. Still, a little help is better than none, right? You’ll also want to get a mobile weather station if you’re really serious about racing. Depending on the temperature outside and time of year, you’ll want to adjust your jets.”
The men watched in silence, their earlier skepticism melting into genuine interest as she worked. The hours slipped by without her noticing, the men getting more comfortable having her around as they started to joke and ask more and more questions. When she finished putting everything back together, she stepped back and wiped her hands clean. “Try it now,” she said, grinning.
One of the men climbed into the driver’s seat and turned the key. The engine roared to life, the sound stronger and more aggressive than before, without any surging or stalling. He revved it a few times, and the men broke into grins.
“You don’t look like a gearhead. How do you know so much about cars?” Jayce asked, looking at her with newfound respect.
She shrugged, a faint smile tugging at her lips. “My mom was a mechanic,” she said simply. “She taught me a few things.”
“Don’t suppose you’d want to come down here again, sometime? We could use a real mechanic.”
She grinned happily. “I’d love that.”
The sound of approaching footsteps made her turn. Michalis stepped into the garage, scanning the scene. He was wearing a dark gray shirt, the top buttons undone, his sleeves rolled up to reveal his forearms. His hair was damp.
“Did you just get out of the shower?” she asked, a teasing note in her voice.
He didn’t answer. Instead, he strode toward her, cupping her face with both hands and kissing her hard. The world seemed to fall away, leaving only the heat of his lips against hers and the firm pressure of his hands on her skin.
When he pulled back, his gaze flicked to the men. “What’s going on here?”
Theo straightened, his voice laced with equal parts fear and enthusiasm. “Mrs. G. helped us with the jets.”
Michalis’s brows lifted slightly, his gaze shifting back to Aurelia. “Is that so?”
She shrugged, her cheeks flushing. “It’s just a hobby.”
A small smile tugged at his lips. “That’s right. I almost forgot; your mother was a genius under the hood. You can come down here anytime you want. These guys are new to racing, so if you can help, we might just have a winning car.” Then his voice dropped, softer but more commanding. “But right now, I need you.”
Aurelia nodded, slipping out of the oversized overalls she’d borrowed to protect her clothes. Beneath them, her dress was pristine. Michalis took her hand, leading her out of the garage as the men watched with quiet respect.
The starless sky stretched across the estate, the only light from the lanterns along the pathways. Aurelia walked beside Michalis, his grip on her hand firm, his silence heavy. She couldn’t shake the knot in her stomach, the restless thoughts swirling in her mind.
Finally, she glanced up at him, her voice soft but insistent. “What was going on in the basement earlier?”
“It’s nothing you need to worry about,” he replied without hesitation, his tone calm but distant.
She frowned, pulling slightly against his hold to slow their pace. “You say that, but I know something was happening. Dimitris didn’t want me to see it, and now you’re brushing me off.”
Michalis exhaled sharply, his jaw tightening. “Because it’s not something you need to know about or see.”
Aurelia stopped walking when they got close to the barn, forcing him to turn and face her. “You don’t want me to run, Michalis, but you’re not giving me a reason to stay. If you’re not willing to share your life with me, then what am I even doing here?”
Michalis stared at her, the tension between them crackling like a live wire. His hands curled into fists at his sides, his control slipping for just a moment. “If you knew the worst parts of my life, Aurelia, you wouldn’t just run—you’d hate me for it.”
Her chest tightened at his words. “Hate you?” she asked, her tone rising. “If you think I’d run away if I knew the truth—then how can you expect me to stay? To have a family with you? To build a life with you?”
He stepped closer, his jaw working as he struggled to keep his emotions in check. “You think you want to know,” he said, his voice quieter now, almost a growl. “But you don’t. You don’t understand what you’re asking for, and I’m not willing to lose you because you can’t take it.”
“You can’t just tell me to trust you and then act like I’m too fragile to handle the truth.”
“If you’re determined to pick a fight, let’s not do it out here.” Michalis growled, his voice sharp as he released her arm and turned to push the heavy barn door open, guiding Aurelia inside. He switched on a single light, just enough to see one another. The warm scent of hay and wood surrounded them. “I don’t think you’re too fragile. Why would I want to involve you, when I know it would upset you?”
“Because you’re treating me like a child!” she retorted, her frustration boiling over.
His expression hardened. “No, I’m protecting you. You don’t understand, Aurelia. This isn’t some storybook where everyone gets to live happily ever after. My world is dark. Dangerous. And if you knew even half of what I deal with?—”
“Then explain it to me!” she said, her voice cracking. “If I don’t understand, make me understand. How bad can it be? Let me decide if I can handle it! Don’t try to make that decision for me!”
His eyes blazed, his hands clenching at his sides. The tension between them was electric, the air thick with unsaid words and simmering frustration. For a moment, they simply stared at each other, the silence crackling with unspoken emotions.
And then he moved.
He closed the distance between them in a single stride, his hands framing her face as his mouth crashed down on hers. She stiffened for a heartbeat, her hands pressed against his chest as if to push him away—but then she melted, her fingers curling into the fabric of his shirt as she kissed him back.
His lips softened, aggression giving way to something deeper, more consuming.
When he finally pulled back, his breathing was ragged, his forehead resting against hers. “You drive me insane,” he murmured, his voice low and rough. “But you’re mine, Aurelia. And I’ll do whatever it takes to keep you safe—even if you hate me for it.”
Her heart pounded in her chest, her lips tingling from the intensity of his kiss. She searched his eyes, seeing the raw emotion behind the steel exterior he usually wore. It left her reeling, torn between the urge to push him away and the undeniable pull she felt toward him.
“Michalis…” she whispered, her voice trembling with a mix of frustration and something deeper.
“You’re not running,” he said, his voice quiet but filled with steel. “Not now. Not ever.”
Aurelia stepped back and crossed her arms over her chest, her frustration bubbling to the surface. “And now we’re right back where we started. How can you expect me to stay?” she asked, her tone rising again. “You’re asking me to trust you, to believe in something I can’t see and don’t understand, that you’ve admitted is dark and dangerous.”
Michalis stepped closer, his broad frame towering over her. “I don’t want you to see it.” His voice was low and intense. “Is that so terrible? Do you think I want you to know what I have to do to keep you safe? To keep everything I’ve built from falling apart? I want you to trust me to take care of it. Trust me to take care of you and someday, our children.”
Her eyes glistened with unshed tears. “Trust goes both ways. You can’t just?—”
He silenced her with another kiss, his hands cupping her face as his mouth crashed against hers. The kiss was hard, desperate, a collision of anger and need that left her breathless. His hands slid to her waist, pulling her flush against him as the world outside the barn faded to nothing.
She clung to him, her anger dissolving into a haze of heat and longing, burning away her words, her protests dissolving as she gripped his arms. She clung to him, her body responding to the heat of his touch despite the storm still raging in her mind.
He began edging her back, deeper into the barn, when she abruptly pulled away. “Oh my god. What is that smell?” She dry retched.
He chuckled, the tension easing from his shoulders. His eyes softened. “We’re in a barn, Agápe mou.”
She dry retched again. “We––” she gasped for air. “Are not having sex in a stinky barn, Michalis.”
His mouth twitched. “Apparently not today, anyway.”
“Not…ever.” She retched again. “Bed, Michalis. Now.”
He swept her up into his arms and carried her out of the barn, laughing. “I am yours to command.”