Page 94 of The Boss

Christos snorted then passed it to Havros. “Nice doctored picture of the two of you. You don’t look bad as the headless horseman.”

Another threat.

Father rose from his chair, first glancing at the cartoon before ambling toward the bar. He was in deep thought, taking time to refill his drink. “Clever. Just stay the course you’ve laid out, son. Willow is a strong woman. She will make an excellent partner. Both in business and in your personal life. When is the official beginning of this ruse?”

“Starting tomorrow at the funeral. After that, she’ll make another attempt at contacting her brother right after the engagement is announced. We’ll see what happens from there. Either her brother will come to her rescue, or he’ll remain in hiding. If that’s the case, we’ll know he is at minimum involved in planning something. Either way, I assure you I will hunt him down. He’s the key to every scrap of information.”

“I have no doubt you’ll be able to locate him. However, my guess is that your bride to be will manage to get through to her brother. It’s time our world changed, and grows into the future. Women are truly the strongest creatures. We need to allow them to work their magic.” He turned around, lifting his drink. “To a long and happy marriage and partnership. And grandkids.”

My brothers laughed, my men as well, but hearing my father’s desires to change business tactics was shocking.

Pleasantly so.

In a world where men ruled over women in every aspect, it was good to hear him talk that way. Yet Willow was still unpredictable and wild. Taming her wasn’t an option.

It was a requirement.

As my mind wandered to additional lurid places, the meeting was interrupted by a knock on the door.

“Yes?” I called.

Eleni slipped inside, closing the door behind her. “I’m sorry to interrupt, sir, but I was coming in from shopping and there were three men being… questioned by some of your men.”

“Who are they, Eleni?”

“Davit Ajernian?”

Her pronunciation of the Armenian leader’s name was difficult for her, but I knew instantly who was standing on my doorstep. I took a few seconds to glance at the other men in the room. My father had experienced a friendly relationship with Davit’s father, but I’d had little contact with Davit himself. There’d been no need.

We weren’t considered enemies, our worlds completely different. However, he was considered a powerful leader of an international crime syndicate. “Show him in.”

“Yes, sir.”

“And Eleni. If you will, please take the items you purchased upstairs to Willow.”

“Of course.” Her face brightened.

“And thank you. You went out of your way to make her happy and that makes me happy.”

She opened her eyes wide. Willow had been right. I rarely offered my employees a thank you. That needed to change.

“Thank you, sir. I enjoy making you both happy. And if I may, I really like Miss Winters. She’s good for you.” Without daring to say anything else, she left the office, closing the door behind her.

Christos laughed while our father smiled. “She’s right,” my brother stated with mixed emotion. “I also think Willow is good for you.”

“How so?”

“You’re becoming human,” Havros added.

I snarled at him just as the light knock was followed by the door opening again. Three men walked inside. I recognized Davit from photos that had surfaced on the internet. The other two were obviously his soldiers. Both stood behind him. He approached with a bottle of liquor cradled in his arm, his hand out.

First, he shook my father’s hand. “Boss Nomikos,” he said as he lowered his head.

“Davit. It’s been a very long time,” Pops said to him.

“I was a young boy the last time.”

“It’s good to see you and say hello to your father. Dimitrios.”

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