“I do not know. That is the truth, but I believe your brother does.”

  “Shane? How? Why?”

  “That’s a good question. Or maybe the appropriate question to ask is who is he working for?”

  “You cannot believe he’d have my parents killed. He’s not a bad man.” I heard the attitude in my tone and so did he.

  He chuckled. “You mean like me?”

  “I don’t know you.”

  “But you do remember me.”

  I couldn’t lie to him. I had a feeling he’d know if I did. “Yes, but I remember you as kind and generous. Not kidnapping a woman who has no fucking idea what’s going on. Do you realize my life was just destroyed?”

  “You’re alive. You should try and remember that, peristeráki mou.”

  “What did you just say to me?”

  “I called you my little dove.”

  I threw out my hand. “I’m not your anything, except your prisoner. Release me.”

  His sigh was heavy as if he had more on his mind. He moved slowly toward the single chair in the room, sitting down and placing his arms on his thighs. “There’s much more going on here than just your parents’ murder.”

  Unable to see his face clearly, I headed around to the end of the bed, my arms folded out of some sense of protection. “Meaning?”

  “Meaning I lost someone too. My brother Leandro was murdered.”

  I immediately put the pieces together. “My God. You think Shane killed him.” I’d met his three brothers as well, all of them as gorgeous as him.

  “Yes, I do.”

  “Not possible. He’s a foreign diplomat, following in my uncle’s footsteps. He’s done nothing but good for our country.”

  “Are you certain about that, Willow? How well do you know your brother?”

  His question was as pointed as his eyes were piercing. The truth was not well at all, but I didn’t want to tell him that. “He’s my brother. I know these things about him. He’s a good man. I’m telling you that he is.”

  “Perhaps he’s just used to keeping secrets, hoping to protect you.”

  “This doesn’t make any sense. None.” I was more exasperated than before. “I’m not a part of this. I need to… Go home.”

  “Why were you at the club?”

  “To dance and have fun with my friends.” What was he getting at?

  “You weren’t there as a lookout?”

  “You’re a twisted man. I just graduated with honors from the master’s program. Why would I risk everything I’ve worked so hard to achieve?”

  “Another good question.”

  Another lurch of my stomach almost caused me to double over as I’d done before, but showing him weakness wasn’t going to happen. “Where are they?”

  “The police took them to the morgue. I don’t know what’s going to happen from here.”

  “They’ll need to contact the next of kin. You have my phone and you have me. They won’t be able to do that. Release me.”

  “You’re not in any position to make demands.”

  “Well, get used to it. I’m not going to remain under your thumb.”

  “And just how do you propose to handle this by yourself? Don’t you think the police will want to ask you some questions? Don’t you think they’ll wonder why you were out at the time of your parents’ murders? They’ll likely impound your passport until they find their answers, which could take a very long time.”

  He was trying to scare me and he was succeeding.

  “I’ll figure something out.” I was scared, more so than I’d been before. What I could tell was that he was destroyed by his brother’s murder. I knew nothing about his life or his world, but I certainly understood being a member of a crime syndicate offered no life insurance plan.

  “I’m sorry about Leandro. Losing someone hurts.” My words could never capture the full truth. The feeling of this kind of loss murdered something inside of you that would never return to life. I could see the pain in his eyes, but I couldn’t be fooled by the fact we’d just both suffered a tragedy. Or that I knew him a little.

  And certainly not because I’d crushed on him.

  Dimitrios was still a merciless man who undoubtedly had dozens of enemies.

  When he stood, I resisted backing away. With me in my tennis shoes, he appeared huge, dwarfing my five-foot six-inch body. Every step he took seemed methodical or maybe calculated. I could tell he was trying to determine how to handle me or maybe what to say.

  I inhaled sharply and his scent reminded me of the exotic place where I’d first met him, a beautiful island setting where the Aegean Sea had formed a perfectly blue arc around the perimeter. His eyes were suddenly hooded, his electrified gaze slowly sliding down from my face to my chest where they remained for a few seconds. But he continued down to my tennis shoes, now stained from the blood I’d stepped into.

  When he returned his eyes to mine, his look was deeper, searching my very soul with a clear indication he wanted to devour me. I was thrown into a haze, blindsided not only by the life-altering horror but the intense attraction that seemed to fuel itself.

  I reminded myself I had to think of him not as the kind, handsome man I’d remembered, but as the devil dressed in debonaire attire.

  There were few options left, but he was right about the police. I was in a foreign country. I had limited rights and without a passport, I’d never get back home. But if I could get help then maybe I could sort this out.

  Athena.

  When he reached out, gently touching my cheek, I took a deep breath and held it. His touch was tender, so much so I almost found myself lured into a web for which there would never be any freedom.

  “Eísai ómorfi gynaíka, peristeráki mou.”

  “What did you say to me?”

  “I said you are a beautiful woman, my little dove. Now, I need you to do something for me.”

  “What? What do you want?”

  When he pulled my phone from his pocket, I cringed. “Contact your brother. Right now. I know you have his number saved.”

  “Why should I do that? You’re so certain he’s the reason your brother is dead that you’re going to kill him. Aren’t you?” When he didn’t answer, I pummeled my fists against him. “Aren’t you?”

  “I must do what’s necessary to protect my family both alive and in memory.”

  “You bastard.” I shifted my hate-filled gaze to the wound on his face. “Why do you think I’d follow your fucking orders? That’s my brother.”

  He smiled. “Because you have no other choice.”

  “Oh, you don’t know me and what I’m capable of. You are the reason my parents are dead. I will never forgive you. For as long as I live. May you rot in hell.”

  I had to try. I needed to escape before it was too late. When I backed away, he didn’t try to stop me, but for those intense seconds, I could feel his pain.

  Undaunted, I lifted my chin in another act of defiance. The man wouldn’t break me. But I snatched the phone from his hand, toying with the screen.

  “Good girl,” he told me.

  I’d never liked that term. It was childish and implied the other person was so much better at everything, but hearing him say the words affected me differently.

  I was thrown into another crazy haze where for a split second I wanted to be his very good girl. No. This wasn’t right. I couldn’t trust him.

  Breathe. Inhale. Exhale. Repeat. You got this, girl.

  Only I wasn’t certain I did.

  With the phone firmly clutched in my hand, I turned and fled the room.

  No one was going to stop me from finding out what happened to my parents as well as saving my brother’s life.

  CHAPTER 8

  Dimitrios

  I allowed Willow to race out the door. Perhaps a small part of me wanted her to try to escape. I needed to see what she was made of.

  She was fire and brimstone, awakening something that shouldn’t exist. She was forbidden in more than one way. Reminding my mind of that was easy. But my body had other desires. The longing was more intense than could be allowed.

  She’d taken the phone, which would mean I’d need to determine if she called anyone.

  My cock was twitching as I walked to the door, taking my time. She was going nowhere, but it was something she needed to learn for herself. Eleni was at the bottom of the stairs, her face full of the same fear I’d caught earlier. The front door was open with no alarms going off. I sensed her shock and uncertainty as well.

  “No need to worry, Eleni. I’ll handle this.”

  “Yes, sir.”

  I walked outside and Nico was immediately by my side. He nodded toward the right, which would take her into the garden with no way out. The entire property was surrounded by an eight-foot wall, something my parents had installed after an attack many years before. It was another reason I preferred the beach house. “Do you want me to go after her?”

  “Not necessary. I could use the walk. Besides, how far is she going to get?” Granted, Willow was resourceful and that could cause a problem. If she did find a way out, hunting her down would take time.

  But it would be enjoyable.

  Still, there were too many risks involved, including the possibility she could have a price on her head. I couldn’t ignore the various possibilities, including the idea Shane had nothing to do with the murders. That didn’t suit either one of my brothers, but I’d been in business long enough to know there were two sides to every story.

  In business and in pleasure.

  I still required her help. She would give into my demands or learn to appreciate being locked away for an extended period.

  If I could tolerate doing so.

  He chuckled. “Be careful or that woman will be the destruction of you.”

  He had no idea how true his words truly were. “Noted.”

  The day was beautiful, even though the sun was already waning in the sky. Soon, there would be music coming from any number of establishments, every small restaurant catering to this time of year. The crape myrtles were in full bloom showering the curved, hilly streets and walkways with a fusion of fuchsia. Almost every business was adorned with colorful awnings, sidewalks sales attracting tourists in droves.

  Athens was truly a beautiful place to be in the spring and summer months. The place for lovers. At least in my mind.

  As I rounded the side of the house, I took a deep breath of the air and allowed the time before I found her to try to clear my head.

  While Havros wasn’t convinced, I knew Frankie had been the target. The bastard had died because he’d been stupid enough to open his mouth. He knew shit about the Stalker, only whatever he’d overheard, which wouldn’t be much. No one knew enough about the person behind the proverbial mask.

  Man. Woman.

  Greek. Italian. Chinese.

  There were as many rumors about the assassin as there were about JFK’s murder. I’d learned that during time spent in America.

  There was no trace of her, but I had a good sense of where she’d end up, the location one of my mother’s favorites on the grounds.

  Even with the wall surrounding the property, there was lush greenery everywhere. It had been a long time since I’d walked the grounds or admired the setting. It had been my mother’s hard work that had brought the estate to life. I followed the path leading to the gardens, still taking my time.

  When I noticed her sitting by the fountain, I breathed a sigh of relief, although she was holding the phone to her ear.

  Still, I didn’t rush. There was nothing that couldn’t be undone.

  I did own the city.

  I was also reminded that for all the advantages I’d had in my life, she was right to assume I was nothing but a savage. Humanity had embraced the darkness dwelling deep within all of us.

  There wasn’t a person alive who didn’t harbor a seed that once planted could grow into something less than human. I’d seen that in my brothers. My father.

  Maybe my friendship with Gregory had all been because he and his family had seemed like the light to that darkness. Good versus evil. Now I was beginning to wonder if there was such a thing in this world or if everyone would eventually cross that line.

  But Willow was different. I felt it in my bones. She was innocent without being naïve. She also had a lust for life, a requirement to discover things for herself.

  The fact she’d turned into such a beauty nearly stripped me of the very humanity I was thinking of. I had never been this attracted to anyone and it was forcing me to think differently.

  To handle her differently.

  She could be nothing more than a black widow, although I continued denying it. As I approached, I could tell she was leaving a message, likely for her friend from the club. As soon as she saw me, she jerked up. At this point, there was nowhere to run.

  I held out my hand as I closed the distance, providing her with the opportunity to hand over the phone herself.

  Her defiance remained.

  “There’s nowhere to run, Willow. I’m certain you’ve noticed that. Hand me your phone or I’ll need to take it from you.”

  She smiled, but I sensed her duplicity. She didn’t try to run, but I caught her the second before she smashed the phone on the stone walkway. As soon as I thwarted her action, she reared back and punched me under the jaw. “You damn bastard.”

  I shoved the phone into my pocket with one hand, grabbing her arm with the other. “That wasn’t something you should have done, Willow.”

  “Yeah, well, I don’t follow your rules and in fact, I don’t follow anyone’s.”

  “As I told you before. You’re wrong. I think providing you with a lesson in who’s keeping you alive is in order at this point.”

  “Keeping me alive?” she countered. “You mean keeping me prisoner. Don’t you?”

  “In this case, little dove, they are one and the same.” I didn’t want to hurt her, but the incessant bickering needed to stop at least for now. Hating me was one thing. Attempting to escape was costing valuable time; that wasn’t acceptable.

  “Let go of me.”

  “I’m afraid I can’t do that.”

  “I contacted my friend. She will come and get me.”

  As I dragged her close to the fountain, she almost freed herself. “Your friend won’t be effective in freeing you.”

  “Yes, she will.”

  “Were they the ones with you at the club last night?”

  She seemed shocked. “What did you do to them?”

  “Nothing, Willow. I don’t hurt women. No matter what you think of me, that’s not going to happen unless I am pushed past the point of no return. I’m certain they told you who I was.”

  “They mentioned you were mafia. That means you kill people for a living.”

  The girl could make me smile with her spunk and the kind of verve I’d missed in my life, which suddenly seemed like drudgery. As I pulled her as close to my body as possible, her eyes opened wide. Her scent was as lovely as she was, fresh and clean.

  “You’ve been watching too much television, my little dove.”

  “Let me guess. You’re nothing but a businessman.”

  I laughed. “Exactly.” Her closeness was difficult, the lure of her feminine wiles far too captivating. It would be easy to lose control with her, but that wasn’t going to do either one of us any justice. She knew me as the man she’d once thought kind, not as the one she feared would hurt her brother.

  “It doesn’t matter. I know what you are deep inside. I can read your soul like a book. And it’s all black.” Her voice was suddenly nothing more than a sweet whisper.

  But not of innocence or vulnerability.

  She would do everything in her power to crucify me.

  Willow

  “Be careful, peristeráki. As you said, I have no soul, which means I won’t hesitate to do what’s necessary to keep my family safe and alive.”

  “So will I,” I told him.

  I had no idea what he was going to do and the craziest thing about being around him was that I’d wanted him to kiss me. My mind was obviously fractured.

  He exhaled, his long, dark eyelashes skimming against his cheeks. I was suddenly very aware that he was in full control of me.

  After sitting down on the stone surrounding the fountain, he rubbed my arms then jerked me over his lap.

  There was no understanding of what he was doing until he yanked down my shorts and thong, peppering my bottom with savage strikes of his hand. One came right after the other, stunning me and leaving me lost of breath.

  The pain was there, but the shock was more out of humiliation. I was out in his yard and he was disciplining me? Were there cameras everywhere? Would the men I’d noticed while trying to find an exit enjoy the entertainment later?

  I wiggled and punched his leg as I tried to get away. He was simply too strong for me, bringing down his hand over and over again.

  When I shifted back and forth, I felt his hardness and shuddered. Was he attracted to me, or did he just get off by disciplining helpless women?

  My mind whirled from lurid possibilities, my hunger the only thing I could concentrate on. It was crazy. I hated myself, but there was no denying my feelings. My uncle would be incensed, maybe even hating the man he’d called his best friend. How could Dimitrios betray him this way?

  Three additional hard cracks finally brought a cry of despair. I tried my best to numb my mind as the spanking continued, but I was failing.

  Badly.

  He’d been so close, his lips appearing so soft. I dragged my tongue across my lower lip before being forced to bite it to keep from crying out again.

  Every muscle twitched and I had difficulty breathing normally because my throat felt as if it was closing.

  He said nothing. Not a single word, just continued the childish spanking as if he knew I accepted the punishment.

  Like a good girl.

  My mind was still blown, but my body reacted not just from the hint of agony but from the same desire I’d felt before. How could my attraction explode from having my bare bottom spanked over his knee? This wasn’t just about lust, but about how much I enjoyed being around him.