Page 40 of Onyx Realm

Shaking off the rush of homesickness, I tucked the passport back into the satchel, replaced itexactlyhow it was, and scrambled to the edge of the boat, nearly slipping in my haste.

“You two are in big trouble.” Markos’s stern features matched his words.

“It was all me!” I rushed to say, hopping onto the dock.

Markos crossed his arms over his chest, pinning me with a hard look. He didn’t even spare a glance at the quaking Evangelia as he spoke.

“Eva, go back to the bait shop and close up.”

Her eyes darted nervously between Markos and me. I gave her an encouraging nod. When she scampered away, I planted my hands on my hips and faced the beast of a man.

“You didn’t have to scare her.”

“What did you find?” Markos countered.

Surprise flashed through me. “Nothing really. Just that he’s on a fishing expedition with a fake name.”

“Who is he?”

As if this mobster really cared.... “Look, it was just a hunch. I followed it for my own sake. I’m not trying to escape or—”

“Who is he, Serena?”

“David Parker,” I said quickly, glancing back at the Lady Luck. “He’s a land developer.”

Markos nodded. His face was an unreadable mask. “And are you in the habit of sneaking around?”

I gave him a shrug. “What can I say, I’m bored. When that happens, I get nosey.”

My attempt to downplay my actions seemed to have the opposite effect. Markos took a step forward.

Which made me scoot backward.

His voice was rough and husky. “Why would a guest of the village—”

I snorted and took several more steps back.

“—take it upon herself to see who charters boats here? What are you up to, Serena? Hmm?”

“Nothing!” I insisted.

Merda!I needed him to believe me. What would he do if he believed I was a threat? So far, my captors had done nothing worse than make me prepare bait and weed gardens, but when mobsters felt threatened...oh, madonna!

Markos continued to prowl forward, and I kept the distance as I moved away. Until my foot met with air instead of dock. Windmilling my arms, I wailed and tipped back.

Markos pounced, catching me around the shoulder and...throat. His grip was gentle, but the touch was pure dominance.

“There’s no leaving, prinkípissa. You’re stuck here,” he said with menace in his voice.

My stomach did a little flip of excitement—the opposite reaction to what it should have had.

“Okay,” I croaked. “I’m not going anywhere.”

“Wrong. I’m taking you to town.” Markos’s thumb pressed against my pulse, feeling the thunder of my heart. “I might have use for you after all.”

I wet my lips.

His gaze dropped. Those blue eyes darkened, the sea blue turning stormy.

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