Page 38 of Wounded Angel

“You weren’t wary about it when there were bullets headed your way.” Ambros puts his hand up, calling the waitress over, and we pause our conversation. I’m having a really hard time biting my tongue right now as he puts in an order for some food to go, likely for us to enjoy while we’re in Greece. I did mean what I said about enjoying Greek food, and hopefully, this little scuffle we’ve gotten into doesn’t completely ruin our trip.

I finish my coffee, and we sit in silence until the waitress comes back over with the rest of Ambros’ order. He pays for our food and leaves her a hefty tip, then we’re on our way.

Rolando drives us in silence to the airport, where we board Ambros’ private jet and begin our journey to Mykonos. We don’t speak too much, and I know it’s from the tension of the last conversation we had while we were eating breakfast. At some point, I doze off as I sit next to Ambros and wake up with his arm around me, holding me close against him as the plane lands in Greece.

I’ve been on a couple of flights in the last year, and that had to, hands down, be the easiest one. “We’ll head to my home and rest for a couple of hours, then go to the charity event,” Ambros tells me as we exit the plane.

He has his own driver now that we’re in Greece, but Rolando sits in the passenger seat once he has our luggage loaded, and we sit in the back.

Ambros’ house is only a ten-minute drive away from the airport, and to access it, you have to input a keycode to get his gate to open. We roll up to one of the most extravagant homes I’ve ever seen. This is the kind of mansion interior designers and architects rave about. I know Emily would be mind-blown by how beautiful this looks.

Ambros proceeds to tell me everything he can about the mansion when he bought it, what he had done to it, the furniture he added, and every single little detail. I even meet his housekeeper, who is also his private chef. Her name is Marsala, and she had the biggest smile on her face while she was being introduced to me. Maybe she thinks I’m good for Ambros, or maybe she’s just happy he’s with someone.

Ambros shows me to his bedroom and says we need to leave within an hour for the event, so I change into my sexy yet stunning evening gown and touch up my make-up. My entire look is going to cause everyone to stop what they’re doing and look at us. By the time Ambros comes back into the bedroom and gets a good look at me, his jaw nearly hits the floor.

I’m in a sea-green skin-tight dress with a high thigh slit. The front of my dress doesn’t show much cleavage at all and is like a tight, straight line from spaghetti strap to spaghetti strap. We are attending a charity event, so I did want to be classy but still ensure I can keep Ambros’ attention.

“Wow. You look… breathtaking,” Ambros rakes his eyes up and down my body. I’m not even going to lie. I love the attention he’s giving me right now and really hope he doesn’t plan on stopping. Things might have been a little tense earlier today, but I know we can agree to disagree from time to time, and Rolando’s ability to protect me is something we will likely have different opinions on. Ambros has no say over it, so he’ll have to learn how to deal with it. It’s not like I’m going to toss Rolando aside because Ambros orders it.

“Thank you. You do, too.”

Ambros chuckles lightly. “I’m changing my shirt since you’re in this. I think I’ll go with a dark slate gray.”

“That would look really nice,” I add.

Ambros goes into his closet, and I keep my eyes glued on him as he slowly unbuttons his red shirt and tosses it in a clothes basket a few feet away. He picks his new dress shirt out of the closet and slides it over his perfectly toned muscles. God, I now understand why there’s always been a stereotypical notion that all Greeks are hot—because they are.

He’s quick about buttoning up his shirt, and once he’s finished, he grabs my hand and escorts me downstairs. Rolando and his driver are in the foyer and open the door as we walk through, but I can’t help noticing that Ambros has his eyes on Rolando. Is he really jealous? Does he think that I want Rolando sexually in some way?

I try not to focus on it too much as we get into Ambros’ vehicle, and then his driver sits behind the wheel, and we’re on our way. We go to the completely other side of the island, where we pull up to a mansion a lot like Ambros’, though it does have some differences. This mansion is a bit more traditional and isn’t so new and updated.

His driver pulls up to where there is a load of other cars, and then it’s our turn to exit the vehicle. Rolando and Ambros’ man tag along with us, keeping a few feet away. They’re close enough to be here if we need them but aren’t hovering. Though, I’m not certain why Ambros has anyone with him like this. He’s one of the best killers alive, and surely, he can handle himself.

“The one thing I love about this property is the beach access. Come, I have to show you.” Ambros takes my hand, and we walk across the backyard to the level area leading down to the sand. Just as he’s about to take me down the stone set of stairs, there’s a man’s voice calling his name from behind us.

We both turn, and as we do, I notice out of the corner of my eye that Ambros doesn’t seem too thrilled. “Ambros, my boy! I wasn’t sure you’d be here tonight.” The older man has strong facial features like Ambros and a jawline that’s just as strong as his. Their high cheekbones are nearly identical. The more I stare, the more I see Ambros in him. There’s no doubt in my mind that these two are related.

“Father, I told you I was coming,” Ambros comments, and bingo. I knew it.

His father sighs, “Yes, well, you’ve started to disappoint and lie to me a lot lately, but we won’t get into the thick of that mess. I do have someone who came a long way to meet you.” Ambros’ father hasn’t looked at me or even acknowledged I’m here once… which I find a bit odd.

Ambros clenches his jaw the second he spots a woman walking up in a long, white, flowing chiffon dress. I see the immediate recognition on his face, and he’s livid. The woman is drop-dead gorgeous. I guess it’s not just the men who are incredibly hot here.

“Zoe, you remember Ambros, don’t you?”

“I do. It’s so great to see you again. What’s it been, years?”

Ambros doesn’t bother to respond to her. Instead, he looks directly into his father’s eyes. “Why won’t you stop meddling in my love life? If you haven’t noticed, I’m extremely happy, and you’re being a rude fool in front of the woman I’m dating.”

I swallow hard, realizing I inadvertently stepped right into some family drama.

His father looks right at me, slowly dragging his eyes up and down my body. “Where did you get this one? From the club? She won’t be anything you need her to be, Ambros. Stop wasting your time with women this low on the totem pole.”

Zoe finds the perfect opportunity to butt in. “I hate to be rude, but you and I know an arranged marriage between us could bring such unity to our country. We’ll be a staple, Ambros. There’s never been another union like the one we could have… and this woman, while I’m sure she’s nice, isn’t what you need. She isn’t powerful, and you need a powerful, strong woman by your side when you take everything over.”

Okay, I don’t know what comes over me… but I refuse to stay silent right now. “An Umarova isn’t enough for him?” I blink at the woman and then look at his father. “I’m sure you both know my siblings. Ruslan. Lom. Nazyr. Eset. I can’t wait to go back home and let them know that you both think I’m not what Ambros needs.”

Chapter Fifteen

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