But I did.

  “You’re in love with him,” I told her.

  A warm flush swept across her cheeks, and she nervously gave me a quick glance. “I have been since tenth grade, but don’t tell Phoenix that. He was my first and always love.”

  “They hit the hardest and never leave. You’re going to be forced to marry someone else?”

  Her face beamed. “Maybe not. My darling brother gave me the okay to explore a relationship with Jonas.”

  “That’s who you’ve been texting all afternoon?”

  She placed her finger against her cherry-stained lips. “Don’t you dare tell on me.”

  “It’s our secret.”

  My reward was another bright smile. “We have shopping to do so drink and be merry. No more discussions about family. We have plenty of time to discuss the good, the bad, and the terribly ugly about living the life of a Greek princess.” She was making fun of herself and in that instant, I knew we’d become fast friends.

  I took a sip of champagne, enjoying being able to spend time with another female. I missed Elizabeth; her spunk and attitude had always kept me on my toes. “What can you tell me about your brother?”

  “Which one?” she asked coyly as she ran her manicured fingernail around the rim of the glass. “Stavros is an arrogant bull with a penchant for violence. Nico is sweet and kind, far too good to be a part of our family. Then there’s Phoenix, a man who thinks the sun rises and sets on him. The question is. What do you think?”

  “I think he’s exactly as you described, but all huff and puff.”

  “Oh, he backs that up.”

  “Maybe so but he’s a creampuff in the middle.”

  She burst into laughter, her voice loud enough several tables glanced in our direction. “Trust me that you will be in some kind of trouble if you say that to anyone, especially Phoenix. He’s a good man, Whitney, but he’s also as feared as he is respected.”

  “I know he has two sides, but I’ve seen what he can do, the devastation he can create.”

  As she leaned over the table, the pointed look in her eyes caught me off guard. “Translation. Because he’s a killer. Right? He’s a criminal. In fact, according to everyone in this city the entire family is. Do my father and my brothers engage in certain questionable tactics? Yes. That’s what the family had done for generations. That’s all they know.”

  “And the children will be brought up the same way. I don’t see how that’s acceptable.”

  “The majority of the Diamondis Empire is entirely legitimate. That’s where Phoenix is taking the organization. But that can’t happen overnight. He’s in control of a billion-dollar empire. If he loses that control, there will be immediate chaos. Besides. Do you honestly believe that there’s more than a handful of men and women in high powered positions who haven’t used their share of shades of gray to reign supreme? What do they call it, morally gray? You’re not that naïve, Whitney. I can already tell.”

  “The information my father stole was to gain power? Is that what you’re saying?”

  “If he really did, I don’t think it was about him wanting control but about staving off some form of retaliation. That meant he had a weakness and if I had to guess, I’d say his weakness wasn’t gambling. It was you. Maybe your life was threatened. If my brother found you, don’t you think someone else could?”

  Her frank words forced a shiver down my spine, but she was right. I needed to get my hands on that information. “I’ll admit to the possibility.” Which made me feel even worse.

  “Just don’t think the worst of your father. Trust in your instincts. Listen to your heart. That’s what my mother always taught her daughters.”

  “And her sons?”

  “They’re too hardheaded. Or as Mama would say, gemátoi apó ton eaftó tous.”

  “Which means?”

  “Full of themselves.”

  We laughed easily, as if we were old friends.

  The way she continuously glanced toward Jonas was endearing. There was so much love in her eyes, need that transcended their differences. Maybe the fairytale could come true.

  If the obstacles weren’t too significant.

  “Phoenix was in love before.”

  “Yes.” The one-word answer was a clear indication the subject was dicey.

  “That’s why you’re so protective.”

  She shrugged, fingering her phone. “One reason. I don’t want to see him hurt again. I know he’s a big boy, but he is my brother.”

  “What happened?”

  She instantly shut down. I could see it in her eyes. “That’s a story my brother would like to see forgotten.”

  “So don’t ask.”

  “He needs to tell you. Hell, he needs to talk about it. He completely shut down, going into a dark place, so much so that I didn’t recognize him any longer. But you know what’s funny?” She slowly turned her head. “When he mentions you, he lights up like a firecracker. You brought the light back into his life.”

  A slight tremor in my stomach made me feel warm and fuzzy. “Maybe he brought a taste of darkness into my life, something that was sorely missing.”

  “Then I deem you perfect for each other. Don’t forget to ask me to be a bridesmaid if not your maid of honor at the wedding.” She laughed again, her eyes glistening not from the sun, but from the love she felt for a man she wasn’t supposed to feel affection with. At least we could share in similar stories.

  “I won’t forget.”

  “I don’t mean to be rude but…” She gave me a wicked look. “Do you mind terribly if I have a short discussion with one of the soldiers? I need to ensure that they are following orders to the letter.”

  “Of course, I don’t mind. We do need to be safe.”

  I thought she was going to turn over the table when she jumped up. I pulled out my phone, curious if Phoenix had left me a message. The blank screen was a reminder that I had no family. Could I learn to love a group of people I didn’t know? Just hearing Elena’s laughter made me smile. Maybe it was possible.

  As I placed the phone on the table, I closed my eyes, trying to remember what my father had said during the last message. I’d tried to talk over him, ignoring the urgency in his voice. God. Then I’d hung up on him.

  Why did you do it, Dad? Why? Did you really have a reason other than a selfish one?

  Where was the package?

  As I tapped my fingers on the table, it suddenly dawned on me that my downstairs neighbor had picked up two packages that had been left in the lobby. I’d been forced to track them down.

  Shit. What if Mrs. Miller had it?

  Maybe I could contact Elizabeth to go to my building. No one knew who she was so she shouldn’t be in any danger. It was worth trying.

  I glanced over my shoulder at the swooning couple. The last thing I wanted to do was let anyone know what I was doing. I needed a diversion.

  My father’s words pushed into the back of my mind once again. I concentrated, my brain telling me that he’d managed to let other clues slip before I’d ended the call.

  He’d moaned, which hadn’t been like him. “Please listen to me. I sent you something. You’ll know what to do with it.”

  “Did you not hear me? I don’t want to have anything to do with you.”

  “There are some irreputable people hunting for me. Be careful with the information I sent you. But you’re a smart girl. You’re my beautiful daughter and I love you.”

  What else? I rubbed my eyes, taking several deep breaths.

  Then I remembered.

  “There is someone about to betray a person I care about. She reminds me of you.”

  “Stop. Just stop.”

  “No! I tried to help, to tell her, but she refused to listen. I took it. You need to give it to the rightful owner before it’s too late. You can help. You’re strong. You’re invincible.”

  That’s when my brain had shut down completely. The word invincible had struck me hard, the notion leaving a bitter taste of bile in my mouth. He’d wanted me to carry on where he’d left off? The man was… betrayal. That was the one thing that Phoenix couldn’t tolerate. His family meant the world to him. That was one of the main reasons I’d fallen so hard for the man.

  I had to find the package my father had sent. How? How?

  Elizabeth might be the key. I had to take the chance. I just had to.

  Sighing, I looked across the street, noticing a brightly colored tee shirt. For some crazy reason it came into my mind that I’d never seen Phoenix in anything other than a fancy button-up shirt. Hmmm… I did have a credit card.

  Without thinking about the consequences, I got to my feet, using a group of people being shown their table to slip away without the other guards paying any attention. They were too busy gawking at the two lovebirds cooing over each other. Trying not to panic, I rushed across the street, barely avoiding being run over by an oncoming truck. When I reached the other side, I quickly escaped into the closest shop.

  As I dialed Elizabeth, I kept my eye across the street. So far, no one was the wiser. I prayed she would answer. On the third ring, I was about to give up hope.

  “Hey, girl. I was getting worried,” Elizabeth said as if she didn’t have a care in the world.

  “I need you to listen to me. I don’t have much time. This could be dangerous, but you’re the only person I can trust.”

  “God, you’re scaring me.”

  “There is a neighbor in 3-B of my condominium building. She’s a busybody but she’s collected packages dropped off before. Her name is Mrs. Miller. Find out if she grabbed some mail that would have arrived a couple days ago.”

  “O-kay. Should I open it?”

  “No. Take it to your house and let me know. Hide it and whatever you do, don’t let anyone know what you’re doing. If you see anyone lurking around the building that doesn’t belong, get out. Okay?”

  “Tell me what’s going on.”

  I noticed one of the soldiers had finally realized I was missing, already moving up and down the area in front of the bistro. “I don’t have time. Just trust me. This is vital.”

  “Jesus. Whatever you’re involved in, you need to get out of there.”

  “I can’t. I just… please do this for me.”

  “I will. I’ll go later today.”

  “Thank you. I owe you one.” I didn’t wait for her reply, ending the call and quickly heading to the sidewalk, grabbing one of the tee shirts, immediately pulling out my card. As I headed to the cash register, I cringed seeing two soldiers had spotted me, one pointing. At least I had a decent excuse.

  The girl rang up the purchase successfully and by that point, they were in the middle of the street. I plastered on a smile, my nerves getting the better of me. I moved to the curb, waiting as a line of traffic rolled in front of me. When the light changed for pedestrians, the unthinkable happened. A large, dark vehicle rolled around the corner, tires screeching. Within seconds, the sound of gunfire permeated the entire street. Screams could be heard, people running.

  Everything became a blur. As the vehicle roared to a stop, I took off running toward the bistro, panic slamming my system. I couldn’t see the soldiers any longer, people pushing and shoving as another round of gunfire peppered all around me. I could tell at least a couple of people had been shot, others trampling over them.

  Hands grabbed my arms from behind, and my body jerked backward. Then another explosion of activity came from two sides, more hands pulling me in the opposite direction.

  Two quick pops from a weapon much closer and the momentum of the person yanking me pitched my body forward.

  That’s when I recognized one of the soldiers. He covered my body with his, firing off at least two more shots but by that point, everything was a horrific blur of energy and damnation. He quickly rushed me toward one of the two SUVs belonging to Phoenix, tossing me inside the back.

  “Get in. Stay down!” he commanded before shutting the door.

  “Oh, God. Are you alright?” Elena exclaimed from beside me.

  After taking gasping breaths, I lifted my head. Then the driver jumped inside, not wasting a second before gunning the engine.

  “I think so. What happened?” I asked, lifting my head by another few inches.

  “Don’t. Just do as they say,” she told me. “The men will get us to safety.”

  While her words were encouraging, they didn’t make me feel any better.

  “What the fuck?” Jonas snarled as he jumped into the front passenger seat. “Get us out of here. Now!” He peered into the back, shaking his head. “What were you doing?”

  His demand was directed toward me, his entire face full of fury.

  “Just… It doesn’t matter.”

  “You almost got yourself taken. Jesus Christ.”

  The driver lurched into the crowd, and I could still hear screams even through the thick metal of the SUV.

  “She doesn’t understand our world, Jonas,” Elena defended me.

  “She was told not to venture off. How the fuck much clearer can that be made to be?” he retorted.

  “She didn’t cause this. They were going to try and kill us whether or not she’d followed the rules.” Elena was livid, her passion undeniable.

  “Are you both okay?” His voice had softened.

  “Yes,” we said in unison, and I was thankful she wasn’t hurt.

  I remained crouched low as the driver made a series of turns. Then I heard Jonas making a call and gritted my teeth.

  “Phoenix. There’s been an incident. You need to send a team to the Demarcus Bistro on third.”

  The silence during the next few seconds was almost as horrific as the incident.

  “Yeah, they’re fine. Rattled but fine,” he said in a low voice. “No, we didn’t lose anyone, but they did.” He ended the call seconds later, throwing a look over his shoulder. “You can sit up now.”

  When I did, I was still holding my breath, shaking all over.

  “Hey. Everything is fine,” Elena said, obviously trying to comfort me.

  “How can anything be fine? This is the life you’ve chosen to live? How can you stand it? Always on guard, always requiring a soldier to protect you. That’s insane!”

  She exchanged a look with Jonas then shifted in her seat. “Why do you think I wanted no part of the family business? But here’s the thing, Whitney. I didn’t choose my parents or my brothers. I didn’t know who or what they were until I was almost twelve. They protected me. My brothers protected me and continue to do so. They mean the world to me just like Phoenix does to you and you can’t tell me that you don’t care about him. I see it in your eyes.”

  I looked away briefly, half laughing. “But what happens when love isn’t enough?”

  “Is there danger in the Diamondis world? Absolutely. But it doesn’t happen every day. This is rare, two enemies fighting for control. I know it seems horrible, but I promise you that I’ve lived a wonderful life. My parents taught me respect and honor just like any family should. They also taught me the importance of family and I almost allowed myself to forget that. If you don’t love my brother, then tell him. But do it quickly because he doesn’t deserve to live through what he did before. He’ll die in order to protect you. That’s the kind of man he is.”

  Her deep love for her brother was admirable. And I did love him. There was no denying it no matter how many shades of black and white I tried to drive through the heart of it. “I understand.”

  “I hope you do because I won’t allow him to get hurt a second time.”

  Seeing the conviction in her eyes brought a smile to my face. “Neither will I.”

  She studied my eyes for a few seconds then smiled. “You’re perfect for him.”

  Perfect. Maybe someone would need to explain the word in the lifestyle of the brutal and damned.

  CHAPTER 20

  Whitney

  Anger resonated from every cell in Phoenix’s body. He wasn’t the kind of man who could hide his rage easily. As he paced the floor of his office, even the scent of his testosterone was stronger.

  “There are no witnesses willing to come forward,” Jonas said from the other side of the room.

  Phoenix didn’t bother looking in his direction.

  A full two hours had gone by and other than dragging me against his chest, his hand firmly planted on the back of my head as he held me, he’d said nothing.

  I’d felt his ragged heartbeat, had sensed his heightened anxiety, but he’d offered no words of thankfulness I was alive and safe, nor did he express his obvious rage.

  And the silence was killing me.

  I remained in the chair where he’d pointed as soon as we’d walked in, my nerves getting the better of me. What I found so strange was the moment I’d seen the disappointment in Phoenix’s eyes, sheer guilt began to riddle my system. I held the stupid tee shirt in my hand, as if he’d ever bother wearing something so garish. Yet it somehow gave me comfort, as ridiculous as that seemed to me.

  Everything Elena had said to me continued to play over and over again in my mind. Somehow, the broken record never managed to make any sense of the aspects of the life he and his family led. But my heart continued to ache, the need to have him wrap his arms around me something that never left my mind completely.

  When he finally stopped moving, he was in front of the window peering out at the late afternoon sky. Twilight would be settling in soon, the last vestiges of sunlight peeking through the shadows. From where I sat, I could see the lights shimmering in the pool, the water tranquil.

  “Casualties?” Phoenix asked without any inflection or emotion in his voice.

  “Other than the three assholes we gunned down, injuries only,” Jonas answered in the same flat tone. “All signs we were there were removed prior to the cops getting there. I sent some men searching for Zakaryan. It would appear he’s gone into hiding.”

  “He knew exactly how I’d react,” Phoenix huffed. “We need to smoke the fucker out.”

  “Just let me know what I need to do,” Jonas said. I could tell Phoenix’s lieutenant was just as antsy as I was, shifting from foot to foot. I was certainly no expert in mafia politics, but I had a feeling the punishment he’d receive would be severe.