Page 74 of Caged By the Ruthless Thief

Nico’s lower lip purses out. His right shoulder shoots up to his ear. I’m sure he doesn’t even know he’s doing it. But then, this is Nico. He does. Who am I kidding?

“Are you going to tell me?”

“No.”

I nod. “I see.”

“No, you don’t.”

I purse my lips. “I suppose I don’t, but I’m going to find out.”

“I’d rather you didn’t.”

“You’d rather I didn’t. Or you’re asking if I don’t?” I ask.

“I suppose that’s up to you.” Nico shakes his head.

“If you could just try to be more—” I hold back my frustration.

“More what, Castor? Like you? One of you is plenty. Anything else? No, fuck that.” He glares at me. “You buy my mate one more fucking gift, and our friendship is over. I’ll see you around.” He shakes the block at me and pushes off the wall and heads back into the apartment. The door closes behind him with a click.

I stand there for a minute, staring at the door and contemplating how much easier my life would be without Nico in it. But no Nico means no Annabelle. Having a life without Annabelle isn’t something I want to risk, even if she can’t be mine. I need to get back to Athens. And there will be no messaging Annabelle. No way in hell Nico is letting her keep it.

* * *

The blinds are drawnon the view. I don’t want to see the ocean today.

“What are you doing?” asks my assistant Katerina. She’s human. And we both pretend she doesn’t know what I am.

“Going over the analysis for the metrics the team just sent me before the presentation to the board.”

“No, I’m not talking about that. The data is good. The young intern down there, he’s doing all the work, if you ask me. It’s brilliant. The figures next quarter have decent growth. The report was fine. That’s not what I’m talking about.” She goes over to the blinds and pulls them open. I flinch at the light. “This, this is what I’m talking about.”

I openly stare at her.

“Right. I got this job because—”

“Because you’re damn good at it.”

“True, but really, you gave it to me because I don’t ask questions. I’m married and middle-aged. I don’t ask about your home life or how you’re feeling or what you do when you’re not here. That doesn’t mean I don’t know things.” She stares out the window. “Or that I don’t care for you as a person.”

“I see.”

“Do you? You’re not okay. And when you go out there”—she points to the ocean—“you usually come back happier. But the last two times you’ve come back... you’re not okay.”

“I’m fine, Katerina.” I’m about to shut this down.

“You are anything but fine, Castor Drakos. And when a male like you is anything but fine, it’s usually because of a woman, a female in your case. Perhaps the one you had me buy clothes for? The reason Hagen Brakenridge security agency has been calling every day? Or how you’re obsessively checking in on them? I don’t care who you are. I don’t care what you are. But I do care for you like a much younger brother. And just like I would with a much younger brother, this is me kicking you in the pants. Get your shit together. If the female is causing you this much stress, making you lose your focus like this, there’s a reason. You either need more of her or none of her. So which is it?” Katerina places the remote for the blinds back on my desk. She straightens the picture of my mother and sister on my desk. She even hustles around chopping the pillows on my sofa so they have the peculiar shape she’s obsessed with.

“I don’t know, Katerina. But I won’t let it interfere with my leadership here. Thank you.” I glance from her to my computer.

When the door clicks shut, I lean back in my chair. My breath is rapid. My palms are sweaty. Katerina’s words echo in my head. It’s usually about a woman, or female. But in this case, it’s both.

Annabelle. I don’t want to give up on her. I can’t.

34

EROS

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