Page 76 of King of Malice

For her safety.

For Elena’s well-being.

And for the good of the family.

If the Armenians were endangering the Santos territory, it was entirely possible their expansion included several cities. It was worth the discovery effort.

Several strong arms might prove beneficial.

As well as deadly if necessary.

I was beginning to believe it was good to have friends.

CHAPTER18

Phoenix

“Another meeting?” Whitney asked skeptically.

I adjusted the cuffs on my sleeves before grabbing my jacket. All the while I couldn’t take my eyes off her. She was entirely different, more self-assured in a world that she’d wanted no part of. Almost two days had gone by since the event at the restaurant. There’d been no police at my door, no reporters standing outside my office.

My soldiers had done an excellent job of removing evidence, ensuring the owners of the fine eating establishment wouldn’t say a word to anyone. As of tomorrow, the restaurant would be back in business, their bank account stuffed.

There’d also been no word of warning, no undue threats from Zakaryan. I knew it was only a matter of time.

There was unrest in the city, people worried a war was ready to start. They were extra cautious, which had stalled some of our business operations. Even our wine distribution sites had slowed, but I refused to allow it to bother me.

The fact she was going to be my wife didn’t change the requirement to remain cautious. She studied me with her doe eyes as if caught by a storm. I’d tried to tell her that she was, offering her a single way out, but she’d refused.

Then she’d acted as if it was her destiny to take care of me after handling rough business. The fact she’d cleaned off the blood was a gesture I wouldn’t soon forget. Just thinking of her as my bright light was disarming. It was as if she was desperate to save those condemned to the darkness, ultimately forced into the flames of hell.

If only she could.

While she helped temper my rage, she would see the worst part of me in days and weeks to come.

Would that ultimately tear us apart even if only in spirit?

“A necessity in my business,” I told her as I walked closer. “I’m also going to the hospital to see my brother.”

“You never told me his name.” Her expression was soft, comforting, but her eyes always searched mine.

“Nico. Then there’s Stavros, Alexandra, and Elena.”

“Very Greek.”

“I’ll just say holidays remind me of a Mardi Gras.”

“At least you had big family celebrations. It was just my mom and myself all my life.”

“Whether you want it or not, you have a family now, a huge one that will annoy you after time.” Her laugh forced my balls to tighten. I wanted nothing more than to take care of her, providing everything she’d missed in her life. The fact her father took her for granted was another reason for me to loathe him.

Whitney immediately took the opportunity of fixing my tie, giving me her heated look. She’d told me more than once I had no clue how to knot the tie appropriately. “I am assuming I won’t need a change of clothes waiting for you when you return.”

Chuckling, I couldn’t resist easing a strand of hair behind her ear. “Not this time. A meeting with some friends of mine.”

“Let me guess. They all look like you and carry big weapons.” Her tease was followed by a slight pout of her lips. She still hadn’t bombarded me with questions about the night, but I sensed they remained in the forefront of her mind. She also hadn’t inquired about the previous woman in my life. At some point, maybe it would be time to bury the past.

“Let’s just say our power is unequaled.”

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