Page 82 of The Boss

His desperate need to find anyone with information regarding his brother’s murder.

He didn’t care who he had to use or the method in doing so.

I dropped the bag by the car, still fighting an ugly level of emotions. My thoughts were all over the place, more so than days before. Was it because I’d placed some trust in the handsome Greek? I sat down near the fountain, struggling to make sense of anything. That’s what people experiencing serious grief did. Right? They processed. They second guessed. They hated themselves.

I definitely hated me.

As I stared into the water, I wished I had a penny so I could make a wish. Or was it a quarter now? A half dollar? The stupid thing was no wish I made would come true.

I closed my eyes, wishing anyway. What the heck. It couldn’t hurt.

A plopping noise caught my attention and I jerked toward the front of the house. My senses were usually electrified every time Dimitrios was close, but not this time. Maybe my fury and hatred were responsible for masking his arrival. I stared down at the water, realizing a Greek coin now lay at the bottom.

“Ta óneira tha gínontai pánta pragmatikótita an to epithymeís arketá.”

“I have no clue,” I told him. Nor did I really want to know. I was certain it was his notion of the truth.

“I said if you always wish hard enough dreams will come true.”

“Bullshit. Wishes and dreams are nothing more than fantasies, sick and twisted every time.” I jerked up, doing my best to avoid both the man and his usual heated gaze.

He caught my arm as he’d done a dozen times. “What’s wrong, little dove? You’re still concerned.”

“Nothing. Why should anything be wrong? Now that you’ve gotten your jollies, you can spend the rest of your time concentrating on hunting. I wonder if you’ll paint me with blood, so the animal is more attracted.”

I was surprised he didn’t challenge me, but he did shut down just as he’d done several times before. He said nothing as I stormed toward the car, jumping inside and slamming the door. But as he turned around to face the Solstice, I couldn’t help myself. I glanced at his face.

Hard. Cold.

Calculated.

Just like I thought.

CHAPTER 21

Willow

Another flight.

Another scare.

Another tight fit with a man I couldn’t… hate.

The reality of how I felt about him kept me on edge. Hate. Love. They were just two sides of the same coin. Right?

“You’re not as nervous,” he said once we were in the air.

“I figured I’m going to die at some point.”

His laugh sounded full of confusion. “We all will, but not today.”

“You’re so certain of that.”

“Yes, because I’m good at what I do.”

“Your confidence is infuriating.”

“Then I’m doing another part of my job.”

---