Chapter 28
CHAPTER 28
H avros
Deals were made all the time. Business. Pleasure. Even criminals could venture into a working relationship as long as strict parameters were established. The French weren’t necessarily keen on having Greek partners, but Dimitrios had proctored a deal that included providing a small percentage of the company’s profits if they allowed the land to be sold to a foreigner.
Parisians were prickly bastards.
I’d reluctantly agreed to the deal, although I’d advised my brothers against it long before. I always followed my instincts and they’d told me in no uncertain terms Alexander Dumas and his clan would renege. Perhaps it was time to change plans to suit our needs. I had my eye on other countries, locations that would provide perfect gateways into expanding other aspects of business.
“What are you thinking?” Kara asked.
“That we should have a little fun with this since we are working together.” Emphasis on the single word. She’d been determined, even pigheaded about it.
She wrinkled her nose. “Are you going to let me in on what you have in mind?”
“No. But I think you’ll know what to do. My intuitive little kitten knows when to use her claws as well as her feminine wiles.”
“Now you’re testing me. So you know, flattery will get you nowhere. I will get you back.”
I was able to laugh. “I’m entirely certain you will. I look forward to it.”
The office building in the heart of Paris was quaint, almost unassuming. But inside three of the most powerful land developers worked their magic, purchasing land in several European countries years before. They’d held onto them, waiting until the perfect opportunity came along. They also used strongarm methods of keeping their fingers in the pie.
I would have admired them if I hadn’t become so irritated. We weren’t puppets, yet we were acting as though they were allowed to pull the strings.
Months of meetings with them had come down to this final conversation prior to signing the contract. It was supposed to be a formality, but with our stocks in a severe slump, the news presenting our family as monsters, the entire purchase was up in the air.
We’d already paid millions of dollars to ensure the project would be successful. From architectural designs to hiring a Parisian interior decorator, we were ready to break ground as soon as the ink was dry on the contract.
The fact the men had kept us waiting in a conference room only fueled another round of anger. The stakes were high, failure not an option.
“Are you okay?” Kara asked. She remained in one of the conference room chairs while I stood at the window, staring at the very sight that should belong to the Nomikos regime. Yes, we were paying top dollar, the market and location the reason, but both brothers and I were confident the location would fuel our diamond sales. Parisians did love their gems.
“I’m fine. We will be leaving in five minutes if this meeting doesn’t start,” I told her.
She was suddenly right behind me. “Patience. Something you need to learn. No matter what happens today, remember that this isn’t the endgame. Only a blip in time. Nothing will stop the powerful Nomikos Empire.”
I laughed softly and forced her beside me. “From your mouth to God’s ears. Or as my father would say: Min afínete kanénan na statheí empódio sto megaleío .”
“What does that mean?”
“Allow no man to stand in the way of greatness.”
“A very wise saying. If this doesn’t work out, you and your brothers will find the perfect place. I can see it in my eyes. Neon lights. A huge dance floor. Rooms that cater to more than just boring meetings.”
“Are you suggesting we enter into the kink realm?”
“I am.”
I brushed my fingers across her face. I truly admired her resilience after what she’d been through. So much of me wanted to head to the United States, having a long discussion with the man who’d caused her pain. I knew she wouldn’t allow me to learn his name. She’d made that very clear. “You confirmed the meeting.”
Kara laughed. “With Don Coppola’s assistant. Incidentally, she’s very nice. In other words, don’t be an asshole when you burst into the meeting.”
In my world, there was honestly no place for being nice to the opponent. The attribute was only another weakness. I laughed. “I’m never an asshole.”
She gave me a hard look. “Tell me another lie.”
“We’re headed to the private airport after this meeting.” I knew she was attempting to keep my spirits high. The anger dwelling inside of me was more about the thought of losing. We could purchase another piece of land anywhere in the world. We had enough power and money. However, to find ourselves embroiled in a bureaucratic war was demeaning to the entire family.
“And from there?’ she asked.
“Then we’ll see.” I sensed she needed to tell me something. She’d received a phone call from her agent during the flight. She’d seemed pensive, saying very little. While I couldn’t be certain she wasn’t hiding something from me, my instincts were primed for what I sensed our future would bring.
She opened her mouth as she wrapped her hand around my arm. “I need to say something that you’re not going to like.”
The door opened as if on cue, only two men walking inside. One I knew to be Alexander Dumas, considered the richest man and most austere businessman in France. The other man I didn’t recognize, but he wore a contemptuous expression that immediately irritated me.
“I’m sorry to keep you waiting,” Dumas stated. He was old world money much like I was, a man who was a notorious womanizer. While I had a memory bank full of blackmail items I could use, Dimitrios had encouraged me to resist showing all our cards.
I looked at my watch. “We only have ten minutes before we’re leaving to catch a flight. I suggest we don’t waste any additional time.”
“Yes, of course. Please.” Dumas didn’t bother introducing his colleague, but with Kara insisting we work together, my plans were to use her credentials to my benefit but only when necessary.
“This is Kara Banning. She will be sitting in today.” I pulled out her chair, my eyes never leaving the space across the table.
“Ah, yes, the esteemed New York Times reporter,” he said as he sat down.
“Journalist, and I’m currently working freelance.” She had a brilliantly perfect smile on her face, her expression a further indication she was a consummate actress.
“And you’re very close to Mr. Nomikos.” He was goading her.
“Close? Oddly enough, you are correct. Only not in the way you’re thinking. Tabloids are such… pieces of trash. However, I do trust him implicitly since he saved my life. Very few men have the courage to fight during moments of adversity.”
I sat down beside her, sliding my hand under the table to squeeze her leg. “As you can see, gentlemen, she has a way of insisting I provide all my trade secrets for a very special exposé she’s working on. I’m eager to see what she comes up with.” I couldn’t help but give her a longing look. In turn, she dragged her tongue across her bottom lip just for emphasis.
They laughed.
I didn’t.
Except inwardly. They believed they were about to play me. Soon, they would find themselves scratching their heads.
“Now, to get down to business. We need to discuss the contracts.” The hesitation was exactly the same as it had been with the Greek officials. I could tell by the look of satisfaction in Alexander’s eyes that we’d been blacklisted, and he was more than thrilled to provide the news.
“Unfortunately, the piece of land was sold to another party only two days ago.”
Now Kara squeezed my leg, a reminder to me not to fly off the handle. At this point, my need to win against all odds had turned this into a more enjoyable game. Why not toy with the fuckers, forcing Dumas to have a few sleepless nights? She kept a smile on her face and I sensed eagerness to learn what I had planned.
Perhaps she would end up being proud of me at this point. I could barely keep a wicked smile off my face.
“Then there is no need for this meeting. I’m glad things worked out for you,” I told them, already starting to rise from my chair. “For both our companies actually. We’re thrilled with the recent deal we made.”
“Wait a minute. Does that mean you purchased from someone else?” Dumas jerked to his feet.
“I won’t belabor the point. We were offered an opportunity we couldn’t refuse. I’m certain as a businessman of high esteem, you can understand we must do what’s best for our company, including all our employees. I came here in person to share the news because I thought it was the right thing to do. Burning bridges is never in anyone’s best interest, nor is spreading false claims.”
The two men were stunned. Their expressions also allowed me to realize that entering into a contract with them wouldn’t have worked to our benefit. While I hadn’t told either Dimitrios or Christos my plans, I was happy with my decision. They’d learn to appreciate my thoughts of wisdom.
I smiled at both as I stood to my full height, buttoning my jacket. But not before allowing them to see I’d brought a weapon in with me. It was a subtle threat, but a threat nonetheless. “Shall we?” I asked Kara.
“Absolutely. We should celebrate your good fortune.”
She was damn good at what she did. “I agree. Gentlemen.” I headed for the door, shocked I’d floored both. I stopped just before walking out, winking before turning toward them briefly. “Oh, and a wire transfer returning our deposit will be fine. With ten percent added for our handler’s fee of course.”
Kara could barely contain herself as we walked out, forced to place her hand over her mouth to keep from bursting into laughter. By the time we were inside the elevator, Alexander was running from his office, finally released from his moment of shock.
I had a smirk on my face as the elevator doors started to close. When they did, Kara smacked my arm.
“You continue to surprise me. No, you shocked me this time. I didn’t know you had such conniving bones in your body.”
“That wasn’t conniving. That was just about good business.”
“You knew they were pulling the contract.”
I nodded. “I did.”
“I was certain you were going to threaten them as I’ve already witnessed you doing.”
“Well, my kitten,” I told her as I turned and crowded her space. “I did, but with a more professional gesture.”
“What made you change your mind how you were going to handle the meeting?”
The elevator doors opened and I wrapped my arm around her as we headed for the main doors. “Well, a highly intelligent individual reminded me that sometimes the best thing that could be done was making lemonade out of lemons.”
“Oh, she did, did she? She is highly intelligent. And an amazing partner.”
Another laugh roared up from my throat. “Yes, that too. I think it’s time to call Milan and tell them the meeting is off.”
“With what explanation?” she asked as we strode into the sunshine.
“None. Let them wonder and come begging. I assure you that will happen soon enough.”
For once, it felt good that violence wasn’t needed. Perhaps I was turning a new leaf. All because of one feisty journalist with a spitfire attitude and a heart of gold.
“Come here,” I told her. While we were sitting across from each other, Kara wasn’t close enough.
And I had a craving.
“I’m right here,” she answered. She’d been going over her notes since we’d left almost two hours before. I knew she was nervous, admitting she felt this was her last chance to discover any information about her mother’s death. Too many years had passed and if the assassination had been a syndicate order, opening that can of worms after all this time still had the potential of bringing heat and unwanted questions to their organization.
There were some eliminations that simply weren’t discussed. Besides, the Sicilian Don wasn’t going to eagerly provide a newspaper journalist with any information he didn’t want exposed to the public. He couldn’t care less about her awards or accolades. I was shocked he’d agreed to take the meeting at all.
With him, there was always an ulterior motive.
“Not close enough.” As soon as she stood, I pulled her into my lap.
“You’re such a controlling man.”
“You’re just figuring that out?” I held her close, her perfume pushing my buttons all over again. “You’re going to do fine.”
“I don’t know why this time I’m more nervous than any other. I’ve been in dangerous situations before, some more than others. You’re with me.”
“Because you’re determined to learn every scrap of information you can about your mother’s murder.”
She sighed. “It’s important to me. I feel maybe if I know at least who’s responsible I’ll finally be able to let go.”
“As I’ve mentioned, be careful what you ask for. Often learning the truth will only prolong the demons living inside.”
“Leandro?”
I was rubbing her arm aimlessly. “Yes. It hurts knowing Bernardi was involved to this day.” I’d finally told her the story of why our families were at odds. As she’d done with telling me about the scuba diving incident, sharing one aspect of my past, including the horrors my brother had gone through, had provided a sense of peace. A weight being lifted. I’d never shared as much with anyone other than my family in my life.
“I know the risks, Havros. But I need to know. That’s the kind of girl I am.” She was even trembling, which wasn’t like her.
“I promise you that I’ll find the truth regarding your mother. Don’t set yourself up for a sharp fall with the Sicilian Don. He’s not the most trustworthy person in the world.”
“It’s funny. I’ve said that about you.”
Chuckling, I couldn’t help myself, pinching her nipple. “Yes, you have. I will remind you of that.”
At least I was given a smile. “Just do me one favor. Don’t make promises you can’t keep.”
“I never do. You’ll learn that about me.”
“Maybe I need a drink to calm down. And you can tell me again when you’re planning on popping into the room.”
I continued caressing her arm until an idea shifted into my devious mind. “There’s something that will help you more than a drink, something that will relax you.”
“Hmmm… What do you have in mind, bad man?” She turned her head, catching my eye.
When I eased her from my lap, she looked at me skeptically. “Exactly what you need.” As soon as I started unfastening her pants, she immediately threw her head over her shoulder.
“You are so bad. Someone will see us.”
“So what, kitten? You have a beautiful bottom. Why not show it off to the world? Or in this case, the pilot.”
My words gave her a hint of what I intended on doing. “No, you are not.”
“Yes, I am. You need a stress reliever.” I yanked down the linen past her hips, taking her sexy thong with it. There was no reason my pulse was racing or to feel such an ache in my heart. Very little had fazed me over the years, Leandro’s death the only exception. I wasn’t a man with emotional needs, but caring for her, protecting her had almost become a mission in my mind.
Kara didn’t fight me as I gently pulled her over my lap. Just touching her this way created an intimate world around us that no one could ever shatter or erase. I caressed her bottom, carefully avoiding falling into the trap of my hunger.
She needed reassurance, not a man taking her like a brute.
I brought my hand down across her flesh and immediately realized the truth was that I wanted to mark her as mine, creating a permanent attachment that went far beyond the surreal need for total domination that continued to plague me when I was around her. She’d stripped away all my defenses.
The way she wiggled on my lap brought me back to reality. I brought my hand down several times, moving from one side to the other. I was methodical in everything I did, but with her, everything felt chaotic.
“I don’t think this is relaxing me,” she moaned.
“Give it time, kitten. You know this is exactly what you need.” I continued the spanking, bringing my hand down fast and hard. My heart was thudding, which meant I was far too aroused, but she made me that way. I bit back a smile, tugging her against my chest the moment she almost drove herself off my lap. “None of that or I’ll have to start over.”
“You are insatiable.”
“You’ve yet to find all my fabulous traits.”
“Did I say you had any that were fabulous?”
I didn’t answer her right away, enjoying the heat building up in my fingers, the slight blush of her skin and her loud panting. Of course, I also heard a few curse words tossed in here and there.
She groaned and tried to push off me several times, which only fueled me to continue the round of discipline. It took a devil to enjoy inflicting pain on such a beautiful woman. As her scent of desire floated to my nostrils, I was reminded that she thrived on the connection we shared. The submission she was required to offer.
With four additional brutal strikes of my palm, I felt satisfied she would breathe a little easier. Although it was quite possible I was doing this for me, not only needing the closeness, but a sense of relief prior to forcing myself into a meeting I hadn’t been invited to. I returned her to my lap, feeling more controlling and protective than ever before.
When she lowered down, allowing part of her body and head to nestle against mine, I smelled her fear, but there was more to her reaction that I couldn’t place.
“What did you need to tell me?”
Every time she sighed, it felt as if she was fading further away. “It’s not important right now. Let’s get through the meeting. You know, stay focused.”
Sweet Kara was stubborn, refusing to budge on opening up to me more than she’d already done. Pushing her wasn’t going to help. Right now, I would take her advice and concentrate on business and nothing else. Barging in on a meeting wouldn’t win me any favors, but extending an olive branch would.
As long as Don Coppola accepted the offer.