The Greek Tycoon's Tarnished Bride (Men of the Zodiac) (5 page)

“But Yannis can
’
t have been involved with people like that. He was a mature student doing casual bar work in Majorca. You
’
re trying to scare me.”

He was, and he wasn
’
t lying either. “I
’
m just telling you the facts. If Yannis had survived, he would be a very rich and powerful man. He didn
’
t survive, sadly, but if somebody wanted to bring down the Frangos empire, they did a very efficient job. He was part of that by virtue of his blood, and it
’
s only a matter of time before word gets out that he left a secret male heir.”

Her hands were now shaking. “So surely that
’
s a reason
not
to take Nick to Greece? Why don
’
t we keep him a secret?”

“The court findings and decisions in Athens have been made public. You named Yannis Frangos as the father on all Nick
’
s UK records so it won
’
t take a determined stalker long. You
’
re not suggesting that you can protect him here? Take it from me, you can
’
t. And besides, you will be going to the island of Crete, not Athens where the atrocity happened. It
’
s miles away over land and sea, and I have ears and eyes all over the island. I guarantee both of you will be safe there.”

Her expression became deadly as her hands formed fists. “My only concern is for Nick. I can look after myself.”

“There
’
s no guarantee you will be safe either, another reason why you should agree to marry me. I can protect you in Crete, and there will be no need for the immigration authorities to take any interest in your presence. You won
’
t need to find work, and the Frangos women won
’
t dare disrespect or ostracize you.”

Her gaze fell to her feet, and the long breath leaving her body made her shoulders sag in what he hoped was finally defeat. She looked up sadly. “I
’
ll get dressed, and then we
’
ll fetch Nick.
”

As what he presumed must be her bedroom door closed behind her, his own shoulders relaxed. Erica clearly adored her son, and if she were prepared to clean up her lifestyle she would be the best person to bring him up with the right kind of support. He would give her that support, and now he wasn
’
t sure if he was cold enough to actually separate mother and child in the end anyway. He had thought he could before he
’
d arrived in the UK and certainly before he
’
d met the real woman behind the Venetian mask. He had foolishly thought his ruthless business streak would help him see this horrible task through to the end. It hadn
’
t.

He knew Yannis
’
s remaining family wouldn
’
t see the situation his way. They would never be as open-minded as he and the majority of the planet
’
s inhabitants under thirty were. Even if they could be persuaded, it would take time and delicacy. Time they didn
’
t have if he was to get them both back to Crete, and safety, as quickly as possible. Yannis had saved his life on that cold, dark motorway in Berlin and now it was payback time whatever it took.

Marriage to Erica Silver would allow her to be with her son and not deny him the chance of a new, secure life in Greece. It was best for Nick and best for her even though she refused to admit it yet. Perhaps she was too stressed right now to even realize the twenty-four carat lifeline she was being handed. Marriage would also give him a formal connection to the child he had vowed to protect with his life the second he had read his best friend
’
s final wishes and would make it harder for her to back out of the arrangement at a later date. He smiled to himself as the other reason popped back into his head; his mother was going to go completely mad. All her strategic long-term plans for a society bride for him would be shot down in flames, and it would be a fitting punishment for all the years she had made him feel as unworthy as a sewer rat. He
’
d love to see her face when she found out about his entirely unsuitable English wife.

“Okay, let
’
s go.”

Her voice behind him caught him by surprise. She
’
d managed to get dressed in under two minutes; her hair was still damp.

“What are you staring at?” Her lips stayed slightly parted as the last word came out.

“Nice hat.”

She glared at him with eyes like blue ice. “It
’
s foul out there as you
’
ve already noticed. Not as nice as Greece.”

She tugged the gray beanie hat down over her eyebrows in what appeared to be an act of defiance, and her scowl made him want to kiss her. Kiss her hard so all that anger, chill, and fear melted away. Kiss her into forgiving him for putting her in the most difficult position of her life. Like a butterfly emerging from its grubby-looking chrysalis, she was a million miles away from the creature called Selina that he
’
d first seen. Part of him wished he
’
d stayed longer now and maybe seen a little more of her body while she acted out that cheap schoolgirl fantasy. But bizarrely she was turning him on now more than she ever could have with all that stage paint and laddered stockings. What the hell was wrong with him?

“We
’
ll take my car. It
’
s just outside.”

Erica fiddled with the catch on a cheap buggy and unfolded it. “Don
’
t think so.”

“Why not? You like this kind of weather?”

“No car, so no car seat in this household, sorry.” She let out a humorous grunt as she forced down the squeaky safety catches to make the buggy go rigid. “Shouldn
’
t think you
’
ve got one of those installed in your Rolls Royce out there.”

“
Range Rover Sport.
”

She shrugged and folded a crackly plastic hood over the hood of the buggy. “Makes no difference. It
’
s a five minute walk, and we
’
re perfectly well used to it. You can follow in your flash car if you like.”

“Oh come on, there
’
s stubborn and there
’
s stupid. Just get in the car with me and we can sling the pram in the boot.”

Her body stiffened, and she took a step backwards, not taking her eyes off him for a second. “We
’
ll have to walk back anyway, and I never accept lifts from strangers.”

Stealth and patience—he was a master at both of those, and he would soon get his way whether she liked it or not. But she was starting to behave like a nervous cat that didn
’
t want to go to the vet, and he needed her to climb willingly into the metaphoric box for him.

“Okay.” He gritted out a polite, tight-lipped smile to make her feel more at ease. “Whatever you say.”

A car seat had been installed in the Range Rover already, and a place of safety out of the city had been arranged, which was stocked with everything a one-year-old child could possibly need for the next few days. All they had to do was get there. He
’
d just made another snap decision: there would be no walking back to her place today, possibly not for a very long time. But what she didn
’
t know right now wouldn
’
t hurt her
…

Chapter Three

E
rica dipped her head as she marched into a bitterly cold wind that lashed her face with shards of rain. The droplets were so cold she could only feel the burn of icy fire on her skin because everything else was numb. It was pure stubbornness that made her refuse the Greek
’
s offer of a ride in his nice, big, shiny, warm car, but for some reason it gave her pleasure to sense his discomfort as he matched her step for step on the gray, slippery path. It also gave her an unhealthy feeling of being in control of a situation that was already spiraling in a direction she didn
’
t like, and she didn
’
t know how to stop it.

“I
’
m not sure what you
’
re trying to prove.”

His voice was harsh, and she caught a glimpse of his breath from the corner of her eye. “
I
’
m
not sure what you
’
re implying,” she said, knowing full well what he meant as she blew water from the end of her nose.

“
Walking. In
this
.”

“I
’
m used to it. We
’
re used to it.” She quickly checked the buggy
’
s rain hood was down and tightly secured. “Cars are a pain here anyway, even if you can afford one. Nowhere to park, and they
’
re a target for hooligans. I do hope you have good insurance on your lovely machine.”

“My driver can deal with most things,” he said flatly. “
I don’
t anticipate any problems with the paintwork. It
’
s hired anyway. I don
’
t do much business in the UK.”

She smirked but stared straight ahead. “Not as nice as Greece, huh?” And then, to her shame, she slipped and lost her footing on the greasy sidewalk. The front wheels of the buggy tipped over the curb into the road. The Greek
’
s hand shot out to save her and the strength of his grip on her upper arm was powerful enough to take away whatever breath she hadn
’
t already lost.
“That
’
s the first time that
’
s happened before you say anything.”

She felt his fingertips loosen, but he still gripped her by the elbow. “Do we have far to go?”

Erica pulled her arm free. “Round the next corner, about one minute away.”

Tito grabbed the handles of the buggy. “Just concentrate on where your feet are going, okay? I don
’
t want any broken limbs at this point.”

They walked for a few more yards in silence. “That one with the red door on the left,” Erica muttered. “With the privet hedge.”

To her annoyance he marched ahead and knocked on the door as if he was in charge.
It would serve him right if Kimmie didn
’
t open up
, she thought,
arrogant sod
.

“Yes?” Erica
’
s friend Kimmie
’
s eyes were as wide as saucers as they took in the handsome Greek on her doorstep, and then they softened as Erica came steaming up behind him.

“Hi, Kimmie, how
’
s Nick?” Erica injected a breezy tone into her voice in reaction to the questioning look she was being given.

“He
’
s fine,
” the other woman said and looked from Erica to Tito as she pulled the edges of her fluffy cardigan together across her chest. “As always. Um—”

“This is Tito,” Erica said quickly, knowing that an explanation was due.

“
Hello,
” Kimmie said in a coy voice that couldn
’
t conceal her interest in this ridiculously handsome stranger.

Erica coughed. “And before you ask, no, he
’
s not Nick
’
s dad.
” There was an awkward pause before the silence was broken by a small child
’
s cries. “And I recognize the sound of that particular set of lungs. We
’
ll take him off your hands so you can get on.”

“He
’
s no trouble, babe, you know that,” Kimmie said as she opened the door wide and warm air soothed her frozen cheeks. “A piece of cake compared to some of the little beasts I have sometimes.”

Erica could feel the heat of Tito close behind her as they stepped from the tiny hallway into a front room full of colorful toys and play equipment. Nick was sitting on the carpet chewing a set of plastic keys, saliva and snot slithering down his red cheeks as he grizzled and glared at them.

She felt Tito
’
s hand on her shoulder, and it was almost as if he was trying to ease her out of the way so he could get to Nick. She shrugged him off and felt the heat of anger burn her cheeks. “Do you mind?” she snapped.

His tone was also sharp. “Is he all right?”

“Of course he is.”

He took a step closer and to her annoyance held out his arms to the child. “So why is he crying?”

Her protective instinct went into overdrive, and she elbowed him out of the way to pick her son up before he could touch him. “Because he
’
s teething, and he
’
s probably getting hungry now he
’
s seen me.” She turned to see his gaze zone in momentarily on her chest. “Not hungry like
that
, but it
’
s our routine to have breakfast together at home when he
’
s stayed over with Kimmie.”

His voice became wistful. “He looks just like Yannis, apart from the hair.”

Erica considered it for a moment and shrugged. “It will probably be a lot darker by the time he starts school.”

“He looks like a cherub, golden, innocent…”

He had no idea. “You
’
ve not seen him when he has a temper tantrum.”

Tito took a step closer. “Can I hold him? Would he mind?”

“
I don’
t know, he
’
s never met a man before. But you can try.”

“There you go,” Tito said in a low voice as she handed over her warm bundle. “I
’
m not so scary now, am I?”

Erica took on board the alarmed look on the childminder
’
s face. “
Tito is
… Nick
’
s godfather, his moral guardian. It
’
s a Greek thing.”

Kimmie nodded warily. “I see. But—”

“
Yannis, Nick
’
s father…he
’
s dead. I just found out.”

The other woman
’
s hand flew to her mouth. “Oh my God, I
’
m so sorry. Um, would you both like some tea?”

Their eyes locked for a second, neither seemingly knowing what should come next. “Thanks, but not right now,” Erica said quickly. “We need to get back.”

“Could you get all Nick
’
s stuff together for us, Kimmie?” Tito smiled at the startled woman and passed the now wriggling child back to Erica. “
We won
’
t need you for a while. I hope that
’
s not inconvenient.”

“Um, no, but—”

Tito pulled a wallet out of the inside pocket of his coat and handed her a thick wedge of bank notes. “It
’
s short notice, sorry, but you
’
ve done a wonderful job.” He pushed the notes closer to her hands as she made no move to take them. “Take it, really, it
’
s okay.”

Kimmie
’
s jaw stiffened, and her eyes grew bright as she directed her gaze towards Erica. “Are you okay, Erica? You can see why I
’
m worried about you, can
’
t you? Worried about all this.”

She was annoyed at how the arrogant Greek had just paid off her childminder, that was for sure, but she wasn
’
t going to let it show. Not here, not now; she would have a go at him later. “I
’
ve not been okay for decades, love, so don
’
t worry about any of this.” She let out a sad laugh. “Nick is all that
’
s important here. It
’
s complicated. I
’
ll call you. It
’
s all going to be okay, I promise.”

“
You sure?
”

“Yes, I
’m sure.
” She dug into her coat pocket and took out a small black object. “
Look,
see, here
’
s my phone, fully charged with a fiver credit on it. No problem.”

“Okay.”
Her friend
’s face told her she wasn
’
t convinced. “I
’
ll get Nick
’
s things sorted, then.”

“That would be great,” Erica said as Kimmie left the room. Tito
’
s phone pinged with either an email or a text, and she was glad he had a distraction for a moment because she didn
’
t feel up to a small-talk–type conversation. She just wanted to get home and get rid of this man.

The tone of his voice changed dramatically. “I
’
m sorry but your apartment is no longer safe. You can
’
t go back there.”

Her arms tightened around Nick
’
s warm frame. “What?”

“Give me your keys. I will get my people to collect anything necessary like passport, birth certificates, that kind of thing. Where are they?”

Her heart began to pound. “I
’
m not sure exactly, but you can
’
t—”

“You have no choice in the matter if you want to ensure Nick
’
s safety, and the longer we stay here the more danger your friend here will be in.”

“
I don’
t believe you.”

“You don
’
t have the luxury of doubt.” He held out his hand. “The keys. Everything you own will be put into storage apart from the things you really need right now.”

Her head was spinning with panic. Control was being taken completely from her. “This is—”

“This is the way things are going to be. Give me a list of the things you need. You have five minutes, and then we must go. My staff will find your documents as they go through everything.”

Erica felt a sharp breath leave her body, as if she
’
d been hit by a very large wave. “
I don’
t want strangers going through my things! You have no right to do this. I want you to leave us alone. I want to go home and get on with my life.”

“It
’
s no longer your home, Erica, it
’
s not possible. There are people watching it, people who are not your friends. You have to trust me.”

“I can go through your things, honey.” Kimmie had appeared suddenly at the living room door with a tightly packed rucksack and a tiny blue hooded coat. “If it would help. Or…” She flashed Tito a suspicious look. “I can call a few friends for you.”

“A few friends” was their secret code for the police. Being single women in what could sometimes be a dangerous part of the city they had formulated backup plans for every eventuality, looking out for each other and their tight knit circle of friends. But calling the police would be pointless; Tito wasn
’
t threatening her.

Erica felt her blood rising and the fuzz in her brain began to clear. “I think it would be better if I called the police and told them everything, Tito. That way Nick and I can stay where we are and work out how to secure his legacy in a calm and logical way. There
’
s no need to rush into any of this now I think about it.”

Tito shook his head and his expression darkened like a stormy sky. “You would trust your son
’
s life to the British police? When no specific crime has yet been committed and there are no suitable boxes for them to tick on their bureaucratic forms?” The movement of his fists clenching caught her eye. “By the time they act it will be too little too late. Your enemies won
’
t abide by any rules. They move like shadows and leave no trace. Look what happened to Yannis and the rest of the Frangos men. Until they are caught, neither of you are safe, and you won
’
t stand a chance if they get to you. The most experienced detectives in Greece have had no luck in over a year, so what chance do the British guys have? And your community officers don
’
t even carry a gun…”

“What the hell is going on?” Kimmie
’
s face was pale as her words tumbled out. “This sounds really scary.”

“It might be,” he said. “But none of this will affect you. It
’
s Nick and Erica that these people may be after. It
’
s not certain, but it is a serious risk, a risk I am not prepared to take, and also a reason for not taking up your offer of going through Erica
’
s things. I
’
ve just been told there is suspicious activity connected to the house in which she lives, so my team of professionals will deal with it from now on. They know what they are doing.”

“And do
they
carry guns?
” Erica
’
s remark had meant to sound sarcastic, but once the words were uttered she realized she had just asked a question to which she didn
’
t want to know the answer. Tito sighed, and she suddenly noticed the dark shadows under his eyes. It appeared they were both sleep deprived. Her baby pushed his small warm head into the crook of her neck and began to whimper. She didn
’
t have long before he would be yelling his head off again demanding food and a nappy change. Her priority had to be her son
’
s safety—there was no doubt in her mind about that—so for the time being she would go along with Tito Makris
’
s plan. The matter of them having a ridiculous marriage could be dealt with later. “Okay, we
’
ll play it your way for now to be on the safe side. And I
’
m only doing this for Nick, you understand? Let
’
s get out of here.”