Chapter 21
CHAPTER 21
H avros
Kara’s mother had mysteriously passed away.
Her father had changed directions with his career, the first being one he’d excelled in. I’d yet to have a chance to research his record when serving as Italy’s ambassador, but from what Dimitrios had learned, my gut didn’t need to be working fully to realize his wife’s death had been the reason.
The photograph taken on Kara’s phone I’d emailed to myself was of a man I’d never seen before inside either club. He also wasn’t anyone I’d seen in town. While possibly a tourist or entering the club for the first time, he had a look about him that indicated he was scouting the location. At minimum, it was worth checking on. Moving forward had to be handled very carefully.
I led her from the first stateroom, opening the doors for two others. The fourth was in use and I offered no explanation other than a meeting was being conducted. Oddly enough, she didn’t ask any questions.
“Let me buy you a drink,” I told her, leading her toward the bar.
“If you say so.” My kitten was now far too complacent in her actions, but I was completely in tune to her mood swings. She could strike at any moment with pointed questions or another attempt at escaping. I found it interesting she continued to come back, a fearful bird needing her flock.
Or her master.
The thought kept a smile on my face as I motioned for the young bartender who’d brought me the news of her appearance.
“Yes, sir? What can I get for you?”
“Whatever my guest was having before and whiskey for me.”
“Whiskey. A surprise. I’ll have one of those as well. Somehow, I think I’ll need the stronger encouragement tonight.” She tipped her head, eyeing me as a snake would do just before a fatal strike. The woman pulled no punches, even if she had no idea she was in over her head.
“Coming right up.”
I leaned against the bar, surveying the dance floor. “I can see your wheels turning.”
“Always. The nature of a journalist.”
“I can imagine.”
“I’m curious, Havros. Do you dance?”
Her question caused me to laugh. “Rarely. Is that something you enjoy?”
“Always, but it’s been a very long time since I’ve done so.” She seemed nervous, more so than before.
“Perhaps we’ll need to change that. Your trip shouldn’t always be about work.”
“That’s what I’m used to.”
“I’m sure, but you’d be lying if you told me this is all about money or winning an award.”
“You’ve already discovered I’ve won several. They were thrilling in the beginning. I was proud of my accomplishments.”
“And now?” The drinks were brought and I grabbed my glass immediately. Sparring with her was more exhausting than I was used to. The yin and yang of our relationship was exciting, but unpredictable. That was something I could barely tolerate.
Kara shrugged and pulled the glass to her lips. “Very little thrills me any longer.”
“Perhaps because you haven’t found what you’re looking for.”
“You truly believe you know me.”
“Yes, because you reveal yourself to me in many ways. Come. I’ll show you the executive offices.”
“Why do you have any here? You have an entire floor in a glorious building devoted to your family’s corporation. I would think others wouldn’t be needed.”
I guided her through the crowd, keeping my hand on the small of her back.
“Unless the business you handle inside your clubs isn’t considered moral or legal.”
“I do love how you try and bait me.” I laughed and pressed my fingers on the keypad of the private elevator.
“Is that what I’m doing?” She didn’t fight when I gently pushed her inside, but moved to the back wall, hugging against it. Her fingers were tightly wrapped around the glass.
“Yes, you are.” I pressed my hand on the elevator wall next to her, enjoying the fabulous view. “What are you hiding, kitten?”
“I have nothing to hide.”
“So you say.” The elevator doors opened and I moved to the side, motioning for her to go in front of me. My cock twitched the moment she tossed back her head, running her fingers through her long curls. She looked fabulous tonight, the dress hugging every curve as if made exclusively for her.
“Do you?”
“We all do, Kara. It’s how and when we choose to share them that is important. When secrets are revealed, so is the vulnerability of the person holding them. Once shared, the burden is also placed on the person receiving the gift of knowledge. Betrayal is a bitter pill to accept.”
“Very profound.”
“And very true.” Christos’ door was open and he looked up from behind his desk. As he stood, I noticed Kara stiffening.
“This must be the talented Kara Banning.”
“Be careful, brother. She does bite.”
She stuck out her hand. “Another powerful man. So many in a single family. Your mother must be proud.”
I’ll be damned if my brother didn’t grab her fingers, lifting her hand and kissing her knuckles. “Our mother insists we were hatched, not born. Especially Havros.”
“That much I can believe.”
“Our guest insists on being shown every room,” I told him.
“You won’t find but so much excitement. Our lives are significantly more boring than you likely would believe,” he told her.
She pulled her hand away. “Somehow, I doubt that.”
“It’ll take a very special person to keep him in line,” my brother added.
There was a sensual glimmer in her eyes as she leaned forward. “I think I can handle it.” When she turned away, Christos fanned his face and I gave him my middle finger. He knew better than to dare try to take her from me. What continued to fascinate me was the level of jealousy I felt. With my own brother.
God help anyone else who dared make that mistake.
Dimitrios was on the phone, pacing back and forth behind his desk when I knocked and immediately walked in.
Our innate way of communicating without words was one of the reasons we’d always been close. Enough so I could tell his expression was meant as another warning. He was at least respectful and covered his phone.
“Kara. Are you getting everything you need for your article?” he asked.
“Enough. For now. I will obtain more.” Kara was subtle, yet her words were meant as a threat. She’d been provided with the opportunity to see the worst in humanity, yet wasn’t fazed by the possibility of danger. I wasn’t certain what it would take to open her eyes.
“Good to hear. Tomorrow, brother. You should attend the meeting with me.”
I nodded. My butt was on the line. We had an entire corporation of attorneys handling all the legalities our business created as well as keeping a defense attorney on the payroll. Discussing the possible case against me was prudent.
Even if the thought of it continued to piss me off.
“We’ll walk the club,” I told her.
“What about your office? I’d like to see that as well.”
“Do you think you’ll find a smoking gun or one of those dead bodies you mentioned?”
“I’ll know it when I find what I’m hoping for.”
There was no reason to keep her from seeing my personal workspace. While I spent more time at the corporate offices, I found the space in the club more personal; comforting in a way I couldn’t explain.
She walked in without an invitation, moving to the center of the room. I waited near the doorway, curious as to her reaction. My desk at the office was kept clean, the file I was working on the only paperwork on the surface. Almost everything was kept on the computer anyway, the network allowing the executives to work from home if necessary.
Here was a different story.
“This is more you,” she said softly.
“You think so, do you?”
“Yes, as if you can let your hair down when you’re here. There’s personality. Warmth. The other office is cold and stark, the pictures on the walls obviously expensive but boring. You created a scene you wanted other people to see. When you’re here, you’re awake and alive. The colors in your artwork are bold, the subject matter daring. Even your furniture has a creative element.”
Everything she’d said was true. When she headed for the credenza, I almost stopped her. As I should have expected, she honed in on the three photographs I had in frames.
“You have no personal pictures at the other office.” Her statement was made wistfully as she selected and lifted the one photograph that always brought an ache to my heart. She studied it carefully before looking me in the eyes. “Christos, Dimitrios, and Leandro. It’s a wonderful and very candid depiction of your family. Handsome and happy.”
The ache returned. “We were happy. It was taken outside the house in Corfu. We were goofing around. I don’t even remember about what. Dad snapped the picture.”
“It’s lovely, but you do remember every single detail. Don’t you?”
My kitten had suddenly shifted into being a psychologist. Perhaps that was a way of obtaining the information she wanted. “Perhaps you’re right. The day was similar to today, but hardly a cloud in the sky. We were teasing our parents about which kid they loved the most. Sounds ridiculous now. Grown men acting like kids. Later that night, we went out on my sailboat. Music. Drinks. Leandro fell overboard. They were some of the best times we experienced as a family.”
Going down memory lane only fueled the rage that much more. She took a moment before responding.
“That’s what makes you human and why you’re so close with your family.” She ran her fingers across my face in the photograph before returning it to the exact same place, checking to make certain she wasn’t off by a centimeter.
Sharing the private information had come far too easily.
“I’m so sorry you lost your brother. I know the pain all too well of losing someone you care about. But he would want you to live. Right? To share the energy that I feel in this room. To refuse to look back at any aspect of your life. Just move forward.”
There was nothing decent to say to her at this point. It also wasn’t the time to interrogate her about her past. That would be done in private.
“Leandro was a special man. I’m nothing like him and that’s fine with me.”
“Do you see the way he’s looking at you in the photograph?”
I hadn’t really paid attention to it in a long time. She backed away so I had a direct line of sight. Leandro was staring at me.
“That’s a look of admiration. Something you should think about. There’s a lot to admire about you.”
Smirking, I beckoned her with a single finger. “And according to you, a lot to despise.”
“All true.” A laugh bubbled up from her throat. Even her eyes flashed in amusement at my expense. She was a woman refusing to be tamed or controlled.
She was even more incredibly gorgeous when she laughed. The sound always brought a series of chills down my spine. Her rounded hips shifted back and forth as she walked toward me, lifting her glass as soon as she was only a few inches away.
I allowed mine to clink against hers, watching her intently as she pulled the glass to her lips. I longed to devour her here inside my office. Even that would need to wait.
She said nothing as we moved toward the elevator. This time as she backed in, she never blinked. The apprehension had disappeared and for the first time, I couldn’t read her expression.
The crowd was lively, the music pumping, and as I led her through the club, she constantly scanned the perimeter. I stopped near the dance floor. When she stepped around me, swinging back and forth to the music, the strobe lights captured her scintillating essence.
The way she danced was sensual and I sensed she was allowing herself to get lost in the music. Perhaps she was attempting to block out the strong connection between us. I allowed her to enjoy herself, remaining by her side while offering a certain amount of space.
Even with her wearing heels, I still towered over her, able to notice a group of men standing at one of the few tables located next to the dance floor. They were actively staring at her. None of them was able to conceal their obvious hunger for her, one whispering to the other something that immediately raised my hackles. While they were regulars and harmless, their attention to her flashed a warning.
Soon, one of the three noticed my intimidating glare that would terrify most men, no matter how powerful they considered themselves to be. Within seconds, they turned their attention to anything but the prize they were hoping to taste.
By the smile on her face, I could easily tell she’d noticed my moment of jealousy. My arousal was intense, creating an urgent pulse in my cock. The moment had felt primal in its necessity.
“Do you always do that?” she asked, this time being the one to crowd my space.
“Do what exactly?”
“Make people feel small and unnecessary.”
“If needed, then yes.”
Her sharp breath and the way she looked at me was a clear indication she wasn’t immune to her dark cravings or to the man determined to unravel her.
I raked my eyes down the length of her body before taking her drink away. Just to make an additional point with the men still being stupid enough to toss glances in our direction, I slammed the tumblers on the edge of the table. I’d been able to smell the fear rolling off their heated bodies.
After taking her hand, I walked us toward the center of the dance floor. She swung her arms over my shoulders while I held her hips. As we moved together, the desire was nearly explosive.
“You’re the most possessive man I’ve ever met,” she told me. Her eyes were glassy, her lush lips pursed.
“I’ll take that as a compliment.” I would never consider myself a dancer. I’d never cared for the activity, but she felt good in my arms whether on the dance floor or in my bed.
“Of course you do. Tell me why I shouldn’t hate you.”
“Does that mean there’s a chance you don’t?”
She tilted her head. “Maybe, but I’ll need convincing.”
“I should tell you to keep hating me. In the end, that will be much better for you.”
“But you don’t really want that. Do you?”
No, I didn’t. In fact, I needed her to trust me more than she had with anyone. “Let me think about this.” As I rolled my knuckles across her burning cheek, a tiny moan escaped her mouth. It was all too intense, fueling the fire to the point I’d need to get the hell out of there very soon.
“Don’t think too hard.”
“Because I’m the only man who’s ever taken you to bed who ever took the time to learn your body. I’m the only man who allowed you the freedom to be yourself. Because the moment I drove my cock deep inside your tight little pussy, you experienced your first true experience of sheer ecstasy. Because you’re aware I think of you as the most beautiful woman I’ve ever seen. And lastly, because you know when you’re around me, there is no other woman who could ever entice me nearly as much.”
My words weren’t meant to impress her, but as we locked eyes as we’d done so many times before, I could tell I’d caused a hard fluttering of her heart. I sensed her increased arousal, the sweet fragrance of her tight pussy a powerful aphrodisiac. We might be considered toxic together, but as she licked her glossy lips, we both knew where this night would lead.
“Tell me, sweet kitten. Did that convince you that I’m the only man who you should ever consider allowing into your bed?” Or your life?
“Yes,” she whispered in a breathless tone, but I captured it, the desire inside becoming uncontainable.
In that moment, I couldn’t stop thinking about having her luscious body underneath me, our sweat-slicked bodies becoming as one. The heavy beat of the bass was incapable of drowning out the roaring hunger in me, the thunderous sounds as my rapid heartbeat sent echoes into my ears.
Her gaze flitted to mine, her chest rising and falling from her ragged breathing. I slipped my hand around the back of her neck, bringing her onto her toes. She trembled out of her own heightened level of desire.
“I keep telling myself we can’t be doing this,” she added.
“But you can’t push me away because that’s not what you truly want.”
“No, it isn’t. What are you doing to me?”
“Bringing you back to life.” I was finished with talking for now. I had all the time in the world to grill her about her past, her present, and her future. What I had on my mind was entirely carnal.
I took her by the hand, pulling her through the club to the main entrance. She kept up with my long strides, the two of us drawing the attention of several people as they allowed us to pass through. I pushed my way out the door, the two bouncers forced to scramble to unfasten the velvet ropes. Now all eyes were on us, the only two celebrities entering the club that meant anything. The merciless man in me allowed a smile.
The air was crisp, the night sky brightened by the moon and a cloudless night. Her heels clipped quickly on the sidewalk before I walked us across the street where I’d parked. She’d picked up speed, hopping onto the sidewalk. I released her hand, grabbing the key fob from my trousers, the single flick unlocking the doors.
Just before I opened the passenger door, I heard the screech of tires. I jerked my head toward the sound, instantly noticing a dark vehicle careening around the corner. My instincts kicked in. This was a hit. “Get down!” I pushed her onto the concrete, immediately reaching for my weapon.
Shots were fired, two pinging against the back of my Ferrari.
“Havros,” Kara screamed as she grabbed the edge of my jacket, trying to pull me out of harm’s way.
The vehicle slowed, allowing me to catch sight of a man in the passenger seat, a weapon pointed in our direction. “Stay down.” I took aim, firing off several rounds before he had a chance.
At least one was a direct shot, but the driver wasn’t stopping. Yet I felt the pressure of Kara’s body close and I’ll be damned if she didn’t attempt to get up. The moment her face appeared above the roof of my car, the asshole took another shot.
I pummeled her to the sidewalk, collapsing on top of her. Tires screeched again, the driver gunning the engine.
Gasping, I lifted my weight. Her eyes were closed, her head lolled to the side.
“No!”