Page 16 of The Lieutenant

She whispered my name and the syllables looked delicious flowing across her rosy lips. “Alright, Havros. I would like to ask you some preliminary questions before we establish a timeframe for our conversations. If you agree, of course.”

“Timeframe. How long do you think this is going to take?”

“For a thorough interview, several days. I assure you I will be mindful of your… business needs.”

She was quite formidable.

“My business needs are important, Kara. But so are my personal requirements.”

At least Kara allowed herself to smile, although she turned her head away when doing so. “Very well, Mr. Nomikos. I mean Havros. Are you willing to continue our conversation today?”

“Yes, I believe I can find time in my schedule.”

As she pulled a folder from her briefcase, I did my best not to allow my mind to wander, but it seemed she’d awakened an internal level of yearning and darkness that had no intention of being shoved aside.

“I look forward to your honesty,” she said in a pointed reference.

“I will give you no less than one hundred percent accuracy. As long as you promise that to me as well.”

She lifted her pretty little head, her eyes full of questions. There was a moment of uncertainty, even a hint of fear since she was sitting in front of someone she undoubtedly believed dangerous. Yet her tenacity won out and she leaned forward, locking eyes with mine with the determination of a beautiful bulldog. “I assure you that I will. I have nothing to hide. The question is, do you?”

I leaned forward as well, wishing the desk wasn’t a hindrance. “We all have something to hide, Kara. We all feed on a level of darkness that keeps our minds active and our desires alive. I’ll be very eager to learn your secrets.”

Whether she knew it or not, she was going to offer them to me freely.

Just like she would her voluptuous body.

CHAPTER 5

Kara

Come here, Kara. Drop to your knees and be a good little girl for your master.

What the hell?

A single bead of perspiration trickled down my back. I had a twisted sense that’s exactly what Havros was thinking.

What I knew for certain was the man was undressing me with his cold, possessive eyes.

Suck my cock, little one. I need to feel your hot lips wrapped around my dick.

Jesus. I had to assume the long flight and lack of sleep was driving the madness.

Or maybe it was that one of the world’s most eligible yet predatory bachelors was undressing me with the most insanely gorgeous pair of green eyes I’d ever seen. In this light, they appeared forest green with flecks of luminous gold rimming hisirises. I was captured not only by their beauty, but also by the way his long dark eyelashes skimmed across his chiseled cheeks.

While I did enjoy seeing his smile, he was the kind of man whose scowl was the perfect representation of a bad boy. And he was the epitome of one. I tried to remind myself of that instead of gawking at his good looks.

Of all the godforsaken luck, I’d shared a drink and a moment where I’d lost my mind with the man I was now tasked to interview. I must have done something wrong in a former life. How had my luck suddenly dropped into the toilet? Memories of our meeting had plagued me all night long.

Visions had become my frequent friend, including on the short cab ride to the corporate offices. This was the punishment I deserved for my filthy fantasies.

I’d done my homework, although most of my research had been done on his older brother, the man considered the Boss of the family-based syndicate. Sadly, what I knew about Havros’ personal life was based on the few tabloid articles I’d read. He’d been considered a playboy as well as a heartbreaker. While he’d dated some of the world’s most beautiful women, from what I remembered, he hadn’t been photographed with anyone in a long time.

Why was I bothering to make note of that to myself? I couldn’t care less about his personal life. I was after the nitty gritty, the kind of business information that would provide a stylish, terrifying, and painfully accurate glance into the real life of a mobster.

Somehow, I doubted he saw himself that way. My guess was that he fashioned himself to be a suave and very astute businessmanwith a penchant for collecting millions of dollars. Or in the case of the Nomikos Empire, closer to billions. He dressed the part with his ten-thousand-dollar suit likely hand stitched in Italy and a watch that cost more than four years of my college tuition.

While I didn’t appreciate his arrogance, I did agree that everyone had secrets. I made it my mission to discover his. I would consider this the ultimate in interviews had I not been so attracted to him.

---