“Don’t underestimate her tenacity. She’s not used to being told no.”
“Duly noted. But for the record, unless she’s got information useful to my purpose here, I’m not interested.”
He wasn’t sure why he felt the need to tell her that, but the fact that he did seemed to mollify her somewhat. He decided to change the subject to something he was interested in.
“Tell me about Virginia Miller.”
She looked up at him through her eyelashes, the hint of a smile playing about her lips. They were pretty lips. Pink. Soft-looking. Probably the perfect combination of savory and sweet.
“You probably know more about me than I do, Commander.”
“Humor me.”
“Hmm, a test,” she teased, her eyes sparkling. “All right. What do you want to know?”
So many things. Where she grew up. Where she saw herself in ten years. The kinds of sounds she made when she came. A brief fantasy flared to life in his mind that involved her lifting up her skirt and quietly straddling him right there in the gazebo. Her hands on his shoulders, his hands on her ass as she took him inside her body and rode him to mutual climax—
Stop. Right. Fucking. Now. Michaels. You’re fifty goddamn years old, not eighteen.
What was it about this woman that tested his control so thoroughly? Did she have any idea what she was doing?
He searched her eyes, looking for intent, finding none. This wasn’t an attempt to seduce him. This was a woman simply enjoying being with someone who didn’t treat her like a pariah. Once again, he felt a flare of irritation—both with himself for misreading the situation and with Kristikos’s people for treating her that way.
He cleared his throat and wrenched his thoughts back to something more appropriate. She was looking at him expectantly, waiting for him to answer. What was the question again? Oh, right. What he wanted to know.
“What was the name of the dog? The one you have a picture of in your office.”
She seemed surprised by that question. “Hans.”
“Hans?”
“Yes. My father was a breeder, and trained German Shepherds for police and military service. They all had names like Fritz or Gunther. Hans was mine, though. I wish I could remember more about him. Unfortunately, the accident stole a good part of my memory.”
That was news. “So, you don’t remember much before that?”
“No, not really. Bits and flickers, mostly. I remember helping my dad clean the kennels, for example, but not when or how he died. I know my mother was a hugger and made the best peach cobbler, but nothing about the house I grew up in. I have memories of lying in the cool grass in the middle of summer, watching Fourth of July fireworks, but I couldn’t tell you where I saw them or who I was with.”
“That’s why you bought the kaleidoscope,” he said, realization dawning.
She nodded. “So much of my past is lost. All I really have is the present.”
“What about the future?” he asked before he could stop himself.
“That is the question, isn’t it, Commander?” She smiled sadly. “I guess a lot will depend on what your investigation reveals.”
Virginia’s words remained in Gabe’s head long hours after they walked back to the estate and parted ways, as did the lost look in her eyes. His past kept him grounded, provided direction for where he wanted to go. Not having that, he reasoned, was like being dropped blind into a hot zone without a map or a clear directive.
Well, he now had a better understanding of why an intelligent woman would remain in Christos’s employ. It was more than just gratitude or a sense of loyalty; it was one of the few anchors she had.
Part of him, a strong part, wanted to give her more. To show her she had plenty of other options.
But that wasn’t his place. She had to find her own path, and the only thing he knew with certainty was, it wouldn’t include him.
Chapter Twenty-Seven
Gabriel
Gabe left the estate early the next morning to meet with his team and get updates. Even though Pixie had assured him of a secure connection from the estate, he preferred to err on the side of caution and use it as little as possible.
“Tell me you found something,” he commanded Mancini after giving his own status update.
“Yes and no. That access road I mentioned the other day? Fresh tire tracks, consistent with that of a town car. However, no luck on finding the entrance itself. I’d like to get some 3D laser images of the area, the kind they use to map out underground mines. Ten to one they’ll show tunnels around there.”
Gabe nodded his approval.
“I think I might have found something,” Simon Levine piped up. “It seems like the estate manager, Daskalakis, has been quietly transferring funds into an offshore account over the last few years.”
“How much are we talking about?”
“Five million, give or take.”
Dawson whistled. “That’s a hell of a nest egg for a glorified butler.”
“That’s what I thought, too. Turns out, Daskalakis isn’t the only one who’s been feathering his nest. Someone else has been chipping in with occasional deposits. Big ones.”
“Who?”
“Working on it. Whoever it is, they don’t want to be identified. But I can tell you, the amounts have increased substantially over the last six months. The biggest was made a little more than a week ago.”
“Let me guess—the night Christos disappeared.”
“Close. The day after.”
“All right. I’ll try to get into Daskalakis’s office tonight, see what, if anything, I can find.”
“Do you really think he’s stupid enough to leave anything lying around?”
“No, but he is arrogant enough to believe he’s too smart to get caught.”
Mancini was shaking his head. “No offense and no disrespect intended, Commander, but they’re going to be watching you pretty closely, especially since your upgrade to on-site status corresponded so conveniently with the arrival of Darius’s men.”
Mancini had a point. “What do you suggest?”
The spook’s eyes glistened. “Leave it to me and Dawson. You just keep their eyes on you.”
Chapter Twenty-Eight
Virginia
Virginia sighed and shut down her desktop. She wasn’t accomplishing much of anything. Not that there was much to do. On the best of days, she could expect a few hours of busy work, but with Chris gone, she didn’t even have that.
Being PA to a man like Chris wasn’t exactly what she’d call fulfilling, but Chris had created the position for her specifically, not anyone else. He’d done so much, and she’d pleaded with him to let her do something to attempt to repay that kindness. It had taken nearly a year before he’d agreed. She’d started out by making appointments and travel arrangements, then answering emails and handling his social media presence as well. Over time, she’d gained his trust and became not just useful, but indispensable. He’d even been planning to take her over to Greece with him on his next visit. Now she had to wonder if that would ever happen.
Her thoughts wandered to Gabriel Michaels and his investigation. She’d seen him and Fred leaving early. Did that mean he’d found some leads?
She wasn’t sure what to expect now that Gabe was staying at the estate, but she had hoped they’d form an alliance. That they’d work together. Especially after their dinner in the gazebo last night.
It hadn’t been much—just some pizza and a bit of casual conversation—but it was the nicest evening she’d had in a long time. For a few hours, she hadn’t been alone and, more importantly, she’d felt as if someone had actually enjoyed her company.
She’d certainly enjoyed Gabe’s. Fred’s, too, if she was completely honest. It was refreshing being around someone who wasn’t pretentious or condescending. To be around a man who didn’t put on airs or pretend to be something he wasn’t.
And if she was attracted to him, well, that wasn’t a crime, was it? F
or a few moments, she thought he might have been entertaining similar thoughts, but that was probably just wishful thinking on her part. It had been so long since a man had shown any interest, she’d forgotten how to read the signals, possibly mistaking simple kindness for something more.
Gabriel Michaels had a job to do and he had no qualms about doing it. She was a resource to him, nothing more. It would do her good to remember that.
Unfortunately, the odds were stacked against him. What could one SEAL Commander, even one with a laundry list of medals and commendations, accomplish that the resources of a man like Darius Kristikos could not?
Yes, she had used some of her free time to look into the man tasked with the job of finding Christos. That was what a good personal assistant did. They researched, they vetted. There wasn’t a lot of information publicly available, but everything she did find reinforced her theories about him. Her conclusion: Gabriel Michaels was the best possible choice for finding Chris.
And a really bad choice for any of the other things she had in mind.
Virginia stepped out onto her small veranda, looking at the dark clouds building along the horizon. A cool breeze whipped around her, making her shiver. They were running out of time; she could feel it.
Chapter Twenty-Nine
Gabriel
Keep their eyes on you. Mancini’s words echoed in his head as Gabe made his way back to the estate.
Yes, he could do that.
The first thing he was going to do was have a little chat with Daskalakis about their most recent houseguests, followed by a visit with Sander Argyros. As luck would have it, Argyros was in Daskalakis’s office, and by the looks of things, they didn’t appreciate his interruption. Their tune changed, however, when Gabe showed them pictures of Darius’s men arriving at the airport. Both men denied having seen or heard from them.
Of course, they didn’t know that Gabe’s team had tapped into the front gate cameras and knew better.
Gabe didn’t call them on their bullshit. It was better to let them believe they were still operating under the radar. With instructions to inform him immediately if Darius’s men made contact, Gabe left Daskalakis’s office satisfied with what he’d accomplished. Not only had he rattled their cages, he’d also managed to plant a listening device in there as well. Hopefully, they would continue whatever conversation they’d been having prior to his unwelcome drop-in and would provide something useful.
Unsurprisingly, he found himself heading toward Virginia’s office. He hadn’t seen her since the night before, and figured he was allowed a little fix. There was nothing wrong with that, right? He could ask her if she’d seen any new faces skulking around, or noticed anything different or unusual, maybe grab another bite to eat.
Fate wasn’t on his side, however. The lights were off and her door was locked. Fred put his nose to the bottom of the door and sniffed, then looked up at Gabe, his soulful eyes mirroring the same disappointment Gabe felt.
“Maybe she went for a walk in the gardens,” Gabe told him. Fred’s ears perked up at the word “walk,” so they headed there next. She wasn’t there, either, though that might have had something to do with the weather. A storm was nearly on top of them, whipping leaves and twigs into mini-cyclones that made a pleasant, leisurely stroll impossible.
Thankfully, he and Fred made it back inside before the skies opened up. Gabe didn’t think the housekeeping staff would take kindly to muddy pawprints or the funky smell of a wet coonhound.
They headed toward the kitchen next. Virginia wasn’t there, either. He hoped she hadn’t already retired for the evening. Crossing paths with her in her office or the gardens or the kitchen was acceptable, but Gabe couldn’t rationalize a trip to her private rooms, however much he might want to.
He could call her, though, and if she wasn’t busy, perhaps they could meet up someplace that didn’t include a bed as part of the furnishings. He smiled to himself. Many of the images floating through his head involving Virginia Miller did not include a bed. Her desk. The railing of the gazebo. The nearest convenient wall . . .
“Looking for me, Commander Michaels?”
Fuck. He recognized the sultry purr. Althia must have come in behind him while his thoughts were elsewhere. As a SEAL, he knew better than to let his guard down in enemy territory.
“I’m looking for Ms. Miller, actually. We were supposed to meet earlier and I was delayed. I don’t suppose you know where I can find her?”
Althia’s eyes flashed, her dark red lips formed a pout. “No, I don’t. But perhaps I could be of assistance?” Her eyes raked boldly up and down his body.
“I don’t think so,” he replied, but in his head, it sounded more like no and hell, no.
Instead of being offended, she smiled. “I like you, Commander. I like a challenge even more.”
She moved past him, making a point to deliberately brush against him in the process, laughing softly.
“A word of advice, Commander, stay away from that one. Nothing but trouble.”
Gabe turned to the woman who’d emerged from the walk-in pantry. She held a large pot in her hands and was scowling at Althia’s back. Anna Baros, if he remembered correctly. He’d interviewed both Anna and her husband. She worked in the kitchen and he was a driver. Gabe wondered if Anna’s husband had been one of Althia’s challenges.
“I was looking for Ms. Miller.” Unlike most of the others, Anna’s face didn’t flash in disapproval at the mention of Virginia. Gabe’s opinion of the woman rose slightly.
“Check the solarium. Down the main hall and to the right.”
“Thanks.”
He and Fred headed there next. The room was filled with plants, so many of them that it reminded him of an indoor greenhouse. Three of the four walls were primarily composed of glass, with slanted skylights over half the ceiling providing plenty of natural light. The scents of rain and damp earth came into the room through two sets of French doors opened on either side, leading out into one of the gardens. Calming music played through unseen speakers, combining with the steady patter of rain and filling the room.
But none of that was what captured his complete and absolute attention.
Virginia was on a mat in the middle of the room, facing away from him, her ass wrapped in form-fitting black and pointed toward the ceiling.
Gabe watched, transfixed, as her body moved smoothly from one pose to the next, each more graceful than the last. She had great balance and incredible flexibility.
He nearly swallowed his tongue when she went down on all fours, arched her back, then curled with a soft hum. He could so easily see himself behind her, grasping those shapely hips and plunging deep while her back arched in pleasure, just like that.
His cock grew rock hard, the image just a little too clear.
He slipped away before she or anyone else saw him, giving himself a stern talking-to as his long strides put as much distance between them as quickly as possible.
You’re here on a mission, not to get laid.
No reason you can’t do both.
Mixing business with pleasure is a bad idea.
A bit of seduction might yield better results.
Virginia Miller is trouble.
You’re a goddamn SEAL. You live for trouble.
Not that kind.
He growled silently, frustrated with himself. He needed to focus. He and Fred needed to . . . where was Fred? He’d been by his side a minute earlier.
Suddenly and with a sinking heart, Gabe knew exactly where the hound was.
Sure enough, when he looked back into the room, Virginia was sitting on the mat, right-side-up, and there was Fred, placing himself in her lap and shamelessly nuzzling up to her.
“Fred!” he barked, making them both turn toward the doorway.
Virginia laughed and mock-whispered, “Uh-oh. Looks like you’ve been busted, buddy.”
“I’m sorry about that. Fred, come!”
“It’s okay. I’m done. This damp weather ma
kes my joints ache and yoga helps.” Virginia got to her feet and raised a water bottle to her lips. Her hair was pulled back at the nape of her neck, exposing that lovely curve. “Was there something you wanted?”
Oh, yes, there was something he wanted, all right, but he would be damned if he was going to go there.
He decided to be honest with her—well, about the latest developments in the investigation, anyway. “We’ve received word that some of Darius Kristikos’s men flew into Dulles yesterday and expect they’ll make their way here, if they haven’t already. Has anyone come to talk to you?”
She frowned. “No, but Gregory did ask me earlier for a copy of Chris’s calendar. Have you spoken with him?”
“Yes. He said he hasn’t been contacted.”
“You don’t believe him.” Her eyes were too penetrating, attempting to look beyond the mask he presented. He neither confirmed nor denied her claim.
“I wouldn’t, either,” she murmured quietly. “I wish I could help, but no one has come to see me beside Gregory, and you, of course.”
He wished she could help, too. “I’ll let you get back to your yoga. If you see or hear anything out of the ordinary, let me know.”
“I will.”
“And, Ms. Miller?”
“Yes?”
“Be careful.”
Chapter Thirty
Virginia
After Gabriel left, Virginia rolled up her yoga mat and went back to her room. What was Gregory thinking, lying about something like that?
Clearly, Gregory either overestimated his own bullshitting skills or underestimated the commander’s intelligence. Gabriel wouldn’t have confronted Gregory with something so specific unless he had reliable information Darius’s men were headed here or had already arrived.
No wonder Gregory had been so out of sorts earlier. Estate manager he might be, but anyone sent directly by Darius would outrank him. She wasn’t sure what that meant, though. Had Chris been expecting them? Or did their sudden appearance have something to do with Chris’s sudden disappearance?
SEAL Out of Water (Silver SEALs, #7) Page 12