Page 101 of The Boss

“Of course. I already told you I was. She’s a special woman.”

“This deal you made. Does that mean she will be placed in danger?”

Continuing to lie to him wasn’t going to help mend our relationship.

If that was possible.

“Yes, potentially. However, you have my word that I will protect her with my life if necessary.”

This time my words seemed to cause an entirely different reaction. He faced me, his eyes darting back and forth. “If you allow her to get hurt in any way, a fucking scratch on her pretty head, I will kill you myself. I hope that’s clear.”

“Absolutely. I am a man of my word.”

He took another swallow, his face expressing all the pain I felt deep inside. “Fine. She’s a big girl as she said. And she’s right. I abandoned all of them out of the need for some glorified bullshit in my life. Maybe if I’d been there, my brother wouldn’t have…”

“Don’t beat yourself up, Greg. We don’t know exactly what Winslow was into. With your help, we’ll find out together.”

There were so many questions in his eyes including if he could trust me. “Yes. I need to know. I’ll do anything I can to help.”

“Then let’s get started.”

CHAPTER 26

Willow

Fear.

I should be grateful to be back at the estate in Athens, protected by dozens of burly looking soldiers, but I was calculating how to approach my brother when Dimitrios allowed me to make a call. I knew my tone and whatever I said needed to sound convincing.

I’d occupied my crazy mind, able to dispel the worry by writing a couple of poems. I’d been shocked I’d managed to unlock my creative side, worried that everything I put down on paper would come out in a jumbled mess.

Somehow, I’d managed to speak from my heart through my fingers and imagination. Doing so felt good.

The activity felt normal.

Even if nothing in my little life really was.

Seeing my uncle fighting with Dimitrios had sparked something deep within. I wasn’t entirely certain what emotion it was, butI felt it all the way to my core, like a sharp blade stabbing my intestines. Hearing that he cared about me continued the wave of confusion. I wished the man would make up his mind.

He’d been so sweet at the hospital, worrying over me like a mother would her child. But he’d been so quiet, distraught in a way I’d never seen him.

The entire situation kept me on pins and needles. What I’d spouted off left nothing to the imagination. My uncle not only knew I cared about Dimitrios, he’d also gathered I’d slept with him. Why should I be embarrassed? It was my life and my body.

Groaning, I turned in a circle. I was exhausted and hungry, frustrated and feeling just about every emotion possible. The next few days wouldn’t just be difficult. They’d be heartbreaking. I wasn’t certain if I was a good enough actress to pull off what we’d cooked up. A ruse. The need was almost devastating.

Eleni had delivered several packages to my room, clothing to replace those lost during the recent adventure. I didn’t know what else to call what we’d been through. My side ached, the ugly bruise already starting to turn yellow. Yes, I knew I was lucky to be alive. I also understood that being with Dimitrios meant the possibility of extreme danger.

That didn’t make it any easier to conform to his rules or even to be able to comprehend the danger enough to shake off the fear. Dimitrios knew how to deal with that kind of life. Not me. I preferred quiet times spent with a book on the couch to wild partying. And what the hell was wrong with my uncle? Did he really think I was still a little girl?

I guessed so.

The bags remained on the floor by the dresser. I’d seen the excitement on Eleni’s face and had indulged her with pulling out a few items from the colorful bags. She was still intent on feasting on whatever fantasy she had about Dimitrios and me.

If only our romance was everything she imagined.

As I sat down on the bed, the pad and pen I’d used for creating the beautiful poems slid toward me. I snatched the pad into my hand, reading the heartfelt words I’d written. I’d scribbled down two poems, both of which were sappy as hell. Did they honestly reflect the way I felt?

Yes, I wanted the fantasy. All of it. The romance. The flowers. The sunsets walking hand in hand on the beach. I even wanted the special guy to bend down on one knee while asking me to marry him because I was the love of his life.

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