Page 28 of The Wrong Guy

The smell wins, and the heat wins. The smoke clogs my throat, and I can’t help it, but I fall to my knees.

Chapter Eighteen

Stavros

I’m walking to my car after making a deal with the devil. I knew the minute I agreed to his terms, I would give my life up to protect Audrina. I’m willingly returning to a life I had spent so long trying to run from to protect Audrina.

I felt she was becoming something special when I entered my father’s home. I went into the house of one of the most feared men in America and even across the sea to protect a woman with whom I had a romantic moment.

I would let her go if I were an intelligent and kind man. I wouldn’t have gotten involved and let her continue her life.

Maybe it would be easier for me to just settle down with someone.

Jesus, fuck. One afternoon with the don of one of America's most feared outfits, I’m thinking abouthisandhertowels.

My phone rings in the car, and I immediately answer it after seeing it is Andreas.

Armed with the information I need to put Derek in the ground, I’m waiting for the right time to start planning. This has to be done on the down low with no blowback on Audrina, as she doesn’t need this kind of heat on her.

As the presumed heir of the Greek mafia family, Bilias, I witnessed my fair share of men entering the home and leaving in pieces. There have been many times the men would be at dinner with us one night and then in handcuffs the next day.

I know how to manage the situation.

“Yeah?” I answered and started my car to pull out of the driveway. I take the circle drive so I don’t have to back out of the long driveway.

Andreas’s voice is choppy as he tells me what just happened at his sister’s. “Derek broke into Audrina’s apartment and set a fire. Then that rat bastard doused in her bleach. She’s being rushed to the hospital as we speak.”

My blood boils behind my skin. “What are the injuries?”

I want to ask more questions, but if being raised in the family I have been raised with taught me anything, all lines can be tapped.

“They won’t know until they get her to the hospital. Derek’s on his way, too.”

“He survived?” I ask.

Andrea’s attitude switched from remorsefulness and worry for his twin sister to pure rage. “I don’t know how he managed to get out, but the firemen got him out when they got out Audrina.”

I stop at the end of the driveway and rub the back of my neck. I wish we were in person so I could inform him of the information I just learned.

Audrina won’t have to worry about anything after these documents are handed over to the proper channels. Also, Audrina won’t have to worry about Derek attacking her after he’s dealt with her.

“What hospital are they going to?”

“Grace in the next town. Our local hospital is full because of a major accident. They didn’t have the space to deal with burn victims.”

Audrina’s been burned. Audrina’s been fucked with, and it is all that asshole’s fault.

My little flower.

I don’t say anything more to Andreas. There is nothing that can be said to ease his worry about his sister’s accident. I was almost close to telling him I would make things right. I’m going to make things real for me and Audrina. He just has to give me time to do it.

Of course, I remember my promise that I wouldn’t touch his sister. That promise flew out the window when I tasted her sweet lips. Also, the moment she came alive in my hands told me everything I needed to know.

It has been a couple of days since the mediation conference, and I have given Audrina the space I could give her. However, as of right now, none of those matters.

All that matters is ensuring she’s okay and that Derek is dealt with.

I’mat the hospital in about an hour and see Andreas talking to his parents in the corner. The same parents who used to step in for me at college when I was too embarrassed to have my father come. Also, he has the same parents he shares with Audrina.

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