Page 52 of Beyond Enemy Vows
She sighs. "Ares said you have to come. No excuses. But it'll be fun. I miss you, Calli."
The way she looks at me, I can't say no. That and Ares will probably drag me to the airport if I say no.
And maybe I can surprise Niko somehow. He's back there this week.
"Okay, girl," I say, putting on a smile, "You're right. I could use some fun!"
"Yay," Katerina says, lifting the baby up and down. Sweet giggles fill my room.
"Okay, I'll pack. When do we leave?"
"Car's coming in one hour. Jet's waiting for us," she says, making a sorry face.
"One hour?!"
"I know, I know," Katerina says. "Ares just told me this morning and then said he was going to tell you and I said I would, and, well, here I am," she continues with a big smile.
"Okay," I say softly. "I'll pack and be ready in an hour."
When we touchdown in Athens it feels a bit different. Normally we fly into Kalamata, but Ares has things to do here. Theo's meeting him and Dimitri might be as well.
It's to do with our dad's murder. Ares has decided for me that they're going to keep me out of everything until they know who did it for sure. It's fine with me, especially now. I've got my own stuff going on and I don't need to be looped in on every little detail.
Because, I don't even know how I could help.
It's mid-morning when we pull up to the hotel and get out. It's warm and blindingly bright. The kind of sunlight that makes even the most heavily graffitied walls look romantic in retrospect.
The air smells like bread, grilled meat, and old stone. And for a brief, blissful moment, I forget everything that's running through my head.
Our hotel is tucked just a few blocks from Plaka, the old historical neighborhood of Athens, overlooking the Acropolis. The view from the suite's balcony makes it feel like we're living inside a postcard.
We get settled in quickly. Ares wastes no time. Within an hour of checking in, he's already on the phone, organizing whatever mysterious business pulled him here.
Meanwhile, Katerina's going over last minute details with the nanny.
I don't know what we're doing, but I'm sure we'll be leaving soon. I suppose that's good. Issues follow you no matter where you go, so I'll worry sitting here in Athens just as I would back in Chicago.
"Come on," Katerina says, interrupting my thoughts. "We're doing the full tourist circuit today. Nanny's got the baby, and I want a sweaty selfie at the Parthenon."
I laugh, but my stomach's twisting in a thousand knots. Still no period. Still no answers. And now I'm back in the same city as Niko, who has no idea the secret I may have growing inside me.
And even if I wanted to avoid him, I can't. Being so close, my need for him will grow and I'll break and text him. I've almost done it three times since landing.
We exit the hotel and make our way through the people and head up the path and stone steps. The Parthenon looks beautiful against the cloudless bright blue sky. Tourists crowd around, snapping photos and listening to guides explain the ancient history.
Katerina drags me to a spot with the best view, pulls me close, and raises her phone.
"Gosh it's hot," I say, brushing the hair out of my face to get ready for the shot. "Looks like you'll get your sweaty pictures after all."
She laughs. "Smile."
We take a dozen selfies, Katerina meticulously checking each one.
"One more," she says, adjusting her angle.
I oblige, but my mind is elsewhere, scanning the crowds. Is he here somewhere? Watching? Does he know I'm in Athens already?
He's pretty good at showing up just when I least expect it. It's actually one of the things I find exciting about him.
