Chapter 22
Stephanie sat in the back of the black SUV that Chris had driven to the warehouse, a blanket wrapped around her shoulders and a bottle of water in her hands.
Chris stood in the open doorway, his back to her, protecting her from prying eyes of the media and others as the Greek authorities finished interviewing Ries and investigating what had transpired in the warehouse.
She’d already answered their questions, identified Angelo – who had thankfully regained consciousness, albeit it with a horrible headache, and she had been assured by the federal detectives that he would be facing multiple counts for smuggling, attempted murder, and other illegal activities.
In their own words, “Angelo would be going away for the rest of his life,” once the courts finished prosecuting him.
For the first time in months, Stephanie felt satisfied. The threat against Ries, at least from Angelo, was over.
Angelo had adamantly refused to answer any questions relating to his working for Dmitrius Yttrios, so that was still a threat against the Kafatos brothers that would have to be dealt with in the future.
But she felt better knowing that she and Ries could now work as a team.
He had promised never to shut her out again, and she had promised to abide by his safety advice – as long as she had useful work to do at the same time.
Chris had received information from his informants that Dmitrius had left Stavros, and his yacht was no longer within Greek waters. What that meant for the future, no one quite knew. But for the moment the threat against Ries and his brothers seemed to have retreated.
“Thank you, Detective,” Chris said, standing between Stephanie and the mob of enforcers. You know where to find us if you have any other questions. I’m going to take Stephanie away from here now. She’s been through a lot.”
“That’s a good idea,” the detective responded, nodding respectfully to Stephanie and tipping his hand. Then, Chris moved out of the way to admit a more welcome visitor - Ries.
Stephanie lunged for him, crawling into his arms as Chris shut the door. She just wanted to go home with him, to lounge quietly somewhere while her body recovered from the day’s trauma.
“Shush,” he hushed her softly. “It’s all over now.”
“What will happen next?” she asked, pulling herself up so that she was sitting on his lap, her arms wrapped around his neck.
“They will search the warehouse, Angelo’s residence, and his other buildings scattered around Greece. I imagine they will find enough evidence to charge him with even more crimes.”
“Are all of the others dead?” she whispered. Stephanie had never seen anyone die before. She knew that the memory of Angelo staring up into her eyes as she strangled him would haunt her for a long time, even though he had lived.
“Yes. But you don’t need to worry about that.”
Chris had started up the SUV and they were now headed away from the warehouse and the emergency lights.
Ries was quiet for several minutes and then he added, “You might be interested to know that the police officers you originally made your reports to, about the stolen artifacts, are going to be fully investigated. They’ve known there was collusion within the department for a while now, but they’ve never been able to prove it.
Your testimony just gave them enough information to launch a full-scale investigation into those officers and the department here in Stavros. ”
“Good,” Stephanie told him, relief flooding her. “They were an embarrassment to the badges they wear on their chests.”
“I agree. Now, I have already heard from Nicolai and Damon that they expect me to return home. Immediately. The family jet is currently being fueled and readied, and I expect you to come with me. We are a team now, and I’m not letting anything come between us again,” Ries spoke with a commanding voice, but looked cautiously at Stephanie, as though for permission.
“We are going to meet your brothers?” Stephanie asked. The ‘we’ was never in question. Whether she wanted to meet Damon in person, on the other hand...
“Yes. I want you to meet them and I want us to begin to put this behind us.”
“What about…Ries, I can’t just leave Stavros today. My things...”
“You can. Chris had the housekeeper pack up your belongings and they will be brought to us at the airport.”
“Wow. Does everyone do what you say?” she smiled a little.
“Everyone but you,” he told her, grinning, and kissed her again.
He kissed her until they reached the private airfield, and then he quickly escorted her up into the plane. After greeting the pilots and the steward who would be with them during the flight, he directed her back to the bedroom and attached bathroom.
“Take a shower and then you can rest until we arrive.”
“A shower? On a plane?” Stephanie looked at him dubiously.
Ries tapped her on the nose and opened up the door to the luxurious bathroom. “Money can buy all sorts of things. I never truly appreciated them before, but seeing them through your eyes, I realize how blessed I’ve been. Get used to being pampered, Stephanie. Kardiá tis kardiás mou.”
“What does that mean?” she whispered, staring at the marble bathroom fixtures.
“Heart of my heart. My heart belongs to you, now. It beats when your heart beats. It hurts and rejoices when yours does.”
Stephanie’s eyes filled with tears of love for him and they kissed once more before Ries gently pushed her toward the shower with a smile. “Clean up and then rest. I’ll shower in the other bathroom and then join you.”
She smiled at him and then suggested, “We could shower together.”
Ries nodded, “We could, but then neither one of us would get cleaned up nor would we get any rest.”
Stephanie nodded and then shrugged, “You’re probably right about that.”
“I know I am. There will be plenty of time for loving. Right now, you and I both need rest.”
Especially me, Ries thought. I’m going to have to face Damon once we arrive and I can’t say I’m looking forward to that. I need to be rested so that I can provide a buffer between Damon and Stephanie. She doesn’t deserve Damon’s censure or biased judgments.
“I’ll be back shortly.” Ries left the room, took a quick shower and changed into fresh clothing before returning to Stephanie’s room.
He’d asked for a light snack to be prepared for both of them, but then he waylaid that order when he opened the door and found her curled up on the bed, a towel wrapped around her wet hair, sound asleep.
He retrieved a light blanket from the closet and then draped it over her, removing the wet towel from her head and replacing it gently with a dry one.
He crawled onto the mattress with her, shared her blanket and spooned his chest against her back, his arm wrapping around her waist to keep her close and safe.
He closed his eyes and finally, relaxed in the knowledge that they were both safe and free to explore the future. Together.
They arrived in Thessaloniki a short time later and were ferried to the estate of the Moustakas brothers immediately. Stephanie looked around, wide-eyed, as though she were not quite used to being ferried around in high-end black cars just yet.
“Is this where you live?” Stephanie asked him as she surveyed the massive estate that drew nearer outside of their window.
“No. This is the home of our cousins who have agreed to help us fight the attack against our company. They are also in shipping.”
“I thought we were going to see your brothers?”
“Damon and Nicolai are here. They wanted us to meet them here, instead of Cyprus. I will take you to see my childhood home sometime in the future.”
“I would like that,” she murmured, thinking of the stories he’d told as the limo came to a stop and Chris opened the doors.
She allowed him to help her out and then Ries was standing beside her, his arm around her waist as he escorted her up the steps to the house.
She felt incredibly valuable as he accompanied her up the stairs, prepared to present her to his family.
Alexi Moustakas greeted them inside the cavernous main hall. “Ries. I’m glad to see that no further harm came to you.”
“Thank you, cousin. May I introduce Stephanie Harris from the United States.”
Alexi bowed slightly and smiled, “Welcome to Greece. I’m sorry my countrymen have been so inhospitable. I hope you will not color us all with that same brush?”
“I love your country. And trust me, I know that every country has scoundrels living in it.”
“A wise woman. Please, we are just sitting down to a light brunch. Join us. Ries, your brothers arrived a short time ago and should be joining us as well.”
“Thank you for your hospitality. I hope we are not putting you out?”
“Family takes care of family. As I told you and your brothers the first time you came to us, we are at your service. We’ve been on the receiving end of attacks that wanted to destroy us. Whatever we can do to help identify and stop these criminal activities…you have our full support.”
“Again, thanks.” Ries nodded respectfully.
“Now, come and meet my wife and the rest of the family. Stephanie, I believe you will find you have much in common with my wife and sisters-in-law.”
Stephanie glowed at this thought. Maybe she really could belong here, after all. “I look forward to meeting them.”
“And I look forward to getting you alone later today,” Ries whispered in her ear just as Alexi entered an elegant dining room, putting a becoming blush in her pale cheeks. Just as he intended.
God, I love this woman. No matter what happens with Damon, she’s mine and she’s going nowhere.