“Don’t look at me as though I’ve killed your puppy,” Father snaps. “She’s one woman. A beautiful woman you’ll no doubt enjoy every second with once you break her in. Hell, give me some grandkids for all I care. But I need this transaction to take place. I want to destroy Niles.”
“Why?” I bark out. “Why do you hate that weasel bastard so much? I get it, he’s fucking weak. But why? You’ve always been straight with me.”
Father shakes his head. “Every man has secrets he holds onto. My hate for Niles is one of those. Just trust in my judgment. Do what you have to do when it comes to Talia, but make sure you dangle her in Niles’s face whenever you can. Don’t let her charm her way off this island. You’ll marry her, and I’ll continue to torment her father in every way I see fit. Are we clear?”
“Absolutely,” I growl, fisting my hands, barely keeping my anger in check. “Perhaps you should go home, Father. I have important matters to deal with.”
“You’ll understand one day, Kostas.”
Unlikely.
“Of course, Father.”
He sighs and exits the veranda, slamming the office door closed on his way out. I look up and watch a plane jet across the bright, cloudless sky. After a few moments, I make my way back inside and place a call to a Greek jeweler. My beloved fiancée will need an engagement ring.
Jesus Christ, I could kill my father over this shit.
A sinister part of me, though, takes silent pleasure in the fact I’ll soon own the gorgeous, innocent blond. She may be a Nikolaides, but soon she’ll be a Demetriou. I have a feral need to chase this woman much like Pluto did with Proserpina, so I may pin her down, shove her pretty dress up her thighs, and sink my cock into her warm depths. I love when life imitates art.
A monster wouldn’t be a true monster if he didn’t hungrily sink his teeth into the offering he’s been given by the lesser mortals. And, fuck, do I ever want to sink my teeth into her.
Talia.
Sweet Talia.
You’ll learn to like it rough.
Proserpina sure did.
Talia
This has got to be a goddamn dream…no, a nightmare. This can’t be real. There’s no way anything that was said during that bullshit breakfast can possibly hold any merit. We no longer live in the eighteenth century, for crying out loud! One cannot simply tell someone who she is to marry. We have rights!
A manic laugh escapes my lips as I remember my conversation with Kostas last night. Oh, the irony, that not even twelve hours ago we were debating over The Rape of Proserpina, and now here we are in a similar situation. My father giving his consent for me to marry a man who is apparently hell-bent on kidnapping me and forcing me into some underworld! I might not know everything that goes on in my father’s business, but I’ve overheard enough over the years to know the men he does business with are part of some illegal crime organization. And my father is literally handing me over to them on a silver platter! As if I’m available for the taking. And to save his own ass. It’s one thing for him to get himself into trouble, but now he’s involving me in his mess.
Grabbing my phone off the nightstand, I consider calling Alex but stop myself. As much as I want to hear his voice and seek comfort in his words, how do I explain to him the ridiculousness of the situation I’ve found myself in? What would I even say? Hey, Alex! I have a slight problem. My father screwed over some crime boss and has handed me over as payment.
Ugh! No, there’s only one person to call. I pull Mom’s name up on my contact list, but just as I’m about to hit call, there’s a knock on my door. Without even bothering to look, I swing the door open and find Dad and Phoenix standing on the other side. My father at least has the decency to look upset. Phoenix looks pissed, which tells me he didn’t know any of this was going down.
“What do you want?” I hiss.
“Can I please come in, sunshine?” Dad begs. He takes a step forward, without waiting for me to answer, and I block the entrance.
“No, you can’t,” I tell him, clenching my fists at my sides. I am not a violent person, but right now, I’m desperately trying to keep from pummeling my father to the ground. And judging by the way Phoenix’s jaw is clenching, I bet he’d hold him down for me.
“Please, I’m so sorry,” Dad says. “If you would just let me in, I will explain.”
“What the hell is there to explain?” I seethe, my tone dropping low as venom drips from it. “You sold your own flesh and blood to pay off a debt!”
Dad’s back goes straight. “Don’t you speak to me like that. I am sorry for what’s happened, but I’m still your father. You will speak to me with respect.”
“Respect?” I yell, fury bubbling up inside of me like a volcano preparing to erupt. “Fuck you and your respect!”
Before I see it coming, Dad raises his hand and slaps me across my cheek. My face whips to the side from the sheer force behind his slap. Instinctively, my hand comes up and rubs the sore spot.
“Dad! What the hell!” Phoenix roars. He shoves our dad up against the wall and gets in his face. “You did this shit! You lied about how much you owed and how bad it was. You don’t get to demand respect, and you sure as fuck don’t get to lay a goddamn hand on her.” Phoenix cocks his fist back and punches Dad square in the jaw. Blood spurts from Dad’s lip, and he folds himself over in pain.
“I’m sorry,” he cries. “I’m sorry!” He glances up at me and wipes the blood off his chin. “Please forgive me, sunshine. You are everything to me.”
Everything?
He thinks I’m everything?
Apparently so since he sold me.
Well, Dad, I hope it was worth it. I hope you can buy a new yacht or a bigger home or whatever it is you chose over your own daughter.
“I am nothing to you,” I say, my tone flat, defeated. There’s no denying his betrayal runs deep. “And you are nothing to me.”
I turn to Phoenix, not giving that man another glance. “Is there any way of me getting out of this?”
Phoenix’s eyes gloss over, and I already know my answer. He bridges the gap between us and pulls me into his arms. “I’m going to do everything I can to try to figure this out. I promise you. I won’t stop until they let you come home.”
I nod into his chest. “Thank you,” I whisper, my voice overcome with emotion.
When he pulls back, he gives me a sad smile. “I love you. Be strong.”
“Sunshine, please,” Dad begs again.
“Take him away,” I tell Phoenix. “I never want to see him again.”
Phoenix nods in understanding, then grabbing Niles by his arm, pulls him down the pathway and out of my life.
Closing the door behind me, I press my back against the hard wood and take several deep breaths, needing to calm myself. My face falls into my hands, and my cheek throbs, reminding me I was just hit. I walk into the bathroom where the mirror is and check it out. My cheek is bright pink but doesn’t show any signs of bruising.
With my heart thundering inside my chest like a war drum and my head pounding to the beat, I head back to the main room, needing to call the one person who’s always had my back. My mom.