The Summer Deal

by Aleka Nakis

  She sat on the sunflower rocking chair, and rested her elbows on her knees. “I guess you’re right. It just seems too extreme, too fast.”

  “When Demo gets into these moods, I’ve learned to listen. Just go a few days early, and he’ll be happy. We won’t have to endure his lectures on responsibilities or unnecessary dangers.” He flashed a charming smile, and then laughed.

  “You both are overbearing, even with your good intentions.” She shook her head and smiled. “Are all Greek men as headstrong as the Lakis brothers?”

  “No, only the smart ones. We’re the only men that can handle women like you.” He teased. “When I get to Crete, I’ll introduce you to the beautiful doll attempting to tame yours truly. You two will get along well. She’s stubborn too, so I can feel for my brother.”

  “That’s different. You have a personal relationship.”

  He pursed his lips, nodded, then smirked, but didn’t say a word.

  In truth, Samantha wanted to leave New York as soon as possible. She was scared and didn’t trust Brad. The horrific night she’d seen the monster in the man she’d been planning to marry had changed her whole life. She lost a part of herself, and she had erected a tall barricade around her emotions, allowing no one access. She knew what Brad was capable of and it terrified her.

  She hurried into the bathroom and dumped half of the counter’s contents into a make up bag and was back in less than five minutes. “Ready.”

  Tony gathered her two suitcases from the front door and waited patiently for her to lock up. Walking down the stairs ahead of her, he shook his head and lifted his shoulder as if agreeing with an internal thought. “Little Red, you’re going to love Greece.”

  Settling into the back of the limousine, Samantha’s confidence and determination drained out of her. Reluctantly, she acknowledged feeling safe with Demo looking after her. She swallowed her pride, licked her parched lips, and asked Tony if the offer still stood to leave tonight.

  “Of course it does.” He grinned and nodded. “Am I correct to assume you don’t really need to go into work?”

  Patting her briefcase, she confirmed his beliefs. “I have everything Demo asked for right here.”

  “Good. Then use the car phone to call your mother and tell her we’re heading over so you can say good-bye. We’ll pick up some fresh bagels on the way.”

  Samantha looked out the window at the people lounging at the cafés lining the streets of Astoria. Soon, she’d be far from this and in the place that inspired it all. Safe, happy, and on the adventure of her life, she’d have control again and the opportunity to set her life straight.

  After a few minutes, she turned to look at Tony. “Thanks,” she whispered sincerely.

  Tony called Teddy and instructed him to meet them at the airport. Then he called his brother to confirm the flight details. When he was done, he tapped Samantha’s shoulder and passed the phone to her.

  “Hello?” Her voice cracked as she fought back tears.

  “Samantha, are you all right?” Demo’s concern was apparent in his tone. He spoke sharp and fast, requiring a quick reply.

  Staring at nothing in particular, she attempted to focus. She was more shaken than she’d thought, but she’d find the strength to handle it. “Yes, Mr. Lakis. Tony came over, and we’re going to my mom’s now. I have all the files you’ve requested with me, so we should make it to the airport with plenty of time to spare.”

  “I don’t care about the files, Samantha.” There was a long pause on the line. “Work isn’t a priority at this time. I care about how you are. You’re safe, and he can’t get to you.” Another pause. “I know it’s hard, but please trust Tony and Teddy.”

  “I do trust them, and I appreciate your concern. Thank you for easing my mind and moving the trip forward.”

  “There’s nothing to thank me for, koukla mou. Things will be better when you get here. You’ll like it, and you’ll be able to relax.” His voice was now controlled and even. She could tell he was trying to reassure her and take her mind off the threats, but for once, she didn’t mind.

  “I’m surprised you didn’t give my brother an argument about leaving early. I thought I’d have to come get you myself.”

  She fought to suppress the smile forming on her face. How did he know? It didn’t matter, because listening to his strong voice calmed her nerves. She felt a blanket of security settle around her and the tears threatening to spill dissipated.

  “I’m very excited to see Greece. It’s always been a dream of mine to walk on the same paths people used three thousand years ago.”

  “We’ll make a point of seeing some of the better known places,” he promised. “The Acropolis and the Parthenon in Athens will be one of our first stops. We’ll go to Knossos in Crete, where the mythological Minotaur was held. And, we’ll hike into the cave where the ancients believed Zeus was born. That was here in Crete, too.”

  If he was trying to distract her, he was succeeding. It wasn’t that she was fickle; it was that she was certain Brad would never confront her if she were with Demo.

  “That sounds great, Mr. Lakis. I hope we get to do at least some of those things. But please don’t feel obligated on my behalf. You’re busy, and I don’t want to impose.”

  “I’m looking forward to it. I’ll be waiting for you tomorrow. Now just relax and have a good trip...”

  Did he hesitate in finishing the conversation? It sounded like he had more to say.

  “See you tomorrow,” she said, flipping the phone shut. She sank into the seat, then turned back to Tony who looked at her with an amused smile. “What?” she asked.

  “Don’t you think that ‘Mr. Lakis’ stuff has got to go?”

  Chapter Six

  Samantha’s skin tingled, and she sensed him before she saw him. Just past the automatic doors from the customs area, Demo paced the marble floor with his hands tucked under his arms. He looked up, and she waved. He returned the greeting with a handsome grin.

  Walking toward the arrivals hall, she could see there was something different about him, but she couldn’t quite place her finger on what it was.

  “Welcome to Greece.”

  His long legs quickly closed the gap between them as she exited the doors. He bent to rest a hand on the curve of her waist and placed a kiss on each of her cheeks. “How was the trip?”

  “Fine, thank you, Mr. Lakis.”

  “We’re not in the office, Sammy. We’re in Greece and there is no need for formalities. Please call me Demo.” His dark, enchanting eyes caressed her face as he spoke.

  “If you insist, Mr. … uh ... Demo,” she stuttered. Just like that, Samantha became Sammy, and Mr. Lakis became Demo. “I’m surprised to see you in Athens. I thought Teddy and I were traveling on to Crete direct from here.”

  He laughed and slipped the carry-on bag off her shoulder. The touch of his fingers sent ripples through her body and ignited a flame she tried hard to douse. He stepped behind her, further warming her back with his heat and extinguishing any of her fire-fighting attempts.

  “Teddy is. I thought we’d spend a few days in Athens and take in the sights,” Demo said. His eyes sparked with mischief. “The Parthenon has been waiting a long time for you, and we have tickets for a concert at Herodotus Atticus on the south slope of the Acropolis tomorrow night.”

  Sammy’s mouth fell open, and she felt like a little girl on Christmas morning. “Wow. That sounds amazing. But what about work?”

  “Work can wait,” he said, and then turned to thank Teddy. “Efharisto, I appreciate it greatly. Say hello to your parents for me.”

  “No problem, Demo. You sure you don’t want me to hang around for a little? Just to be on the safe side?”

  “It shouldn’t be an issue. They have him under surveillance. Go home to the family and enjoy your vacation. We’ll see you for dinner soon.”

  The two men hugged, and Teddy kissed Samantha farewell on each cheek. He left and hurried down the corridor to make his conne
cting flight to Crete.

  “You know his family?” Samantha asked surprised.

  “Of course, Teddy is my cousin. That’s why I trust him. When he left the military and accepted my offer for chief of security, I was thrilled and relieved. There is no better man for the job.”

  Her eyes traveled up his tailored black slacks, past his crisp black cotton shirt, and over his sculpted face. The resemblance between the two men in the muscular body type and the defined jaw line was now apparent. However, their personalities were at opposite ends of the spectrum; Demo gave orders and Teddy followed them.

  “Where’s your luggage?” Demo asked.

  “It didn’t make it.”

  He gave her a quizzical look. “How could that be? It was only the two of you on the plane.”

  “Actually, they said it probably got confused with Teddy’s and was sent to Crete after it cleared customs. Your cousin wanted them to pull it from the baggage compartment of the commercial jet because we never placed a tag on it in New York. But the woman at the counter assured us she’d send an email and to have it met on the tarmac in Crete. We filled out a claim and they said—” She put her hand over her mouth as she realized what had happened. “Oh no, I gave them the address in Crete.”

  “Don’t worry, koukla. They’ll leave it at the reception if we’re not there. Unless you want it right away, then we’ll have them pull it immediately.”

  “Not necessary. I’ll be okay for now,” she said, waving a dismissive hand, and then patting one of her cases.

  “Always prepared.” A large smile crossed his face. “Anyway, the stores are open late tonight. I guess there is no rest for you now. We must go shopping.”

  Placing his hand in the small of her back, he led her outside and they walked towards the uncovered jeep in the parking lot across the drive-by lane. Demo put her carry-on in the back, and then helped her climb into the passenger side. Folding his legs behind the steering wheel, he turned to her with a look of accomplishment gracing his handsome features.

  “I’m glad you’re here, Sammy.” His gaze brushed her face, and he reached to move a strand of hair whipping across her cheek. “Your hair looks like it’s on fire. I like it loose and down your back.”

  Was he flirting? She couldn’t tell.

  Putting the car into gear, he pulled onto the expressway. The wind carried the scent of the blooming wild flowers lining the road, and blended with the fresh smell of the sea. It picked up her hair and blew it wild. She was tempted to pull it back into her collar, but she didn’t want to stop Demo from reaching over every few minutes and smoothing it away from her face.

  *****

  Opening the door to a penthouse suite overlooking the sea, Demo waited for her to enter ahead of him. “We have an hour before the stores reopen. You can freshen up while I arrange for a snack.”

  Thankful for the private bathroom in her bedroom, Sammy took a few moments to wash off the effects of the nine-hour flight. When she was done, he gave her a quick tour of the apartment, explaining this was where he stayed when time allowed him to leave headquarters in downtown Athens. They were about half an hour out in the southern suburbs.

  “Come on, I’ll show you the water.”

  The view from the balcony stole her breath. She watched as the sun laid a golden path on the Aegean. The cool breeze picked up her hair again, and she inhaled the sweet-scented air, simultaneously enjoying a sense of excitement and tranquility. She could stay here forever.

  “Have you heard from him?”

  She felt the warmth of his words on her nape as he spoke. Too bad her enjoyment of the setting was a short-lived experience.

  “Him?” Turning, she found herself only inches from the perfectly chiseled face. He had leaned down and was grasping the balustrade behind her. His eyes were darker than usual.

  “Has he threatened you again?” Demo asked in a deep controlled voice.

  “No. Your brother had me turn off my cell phone, so Brad had no way of contacting me. I don’t think he will try to either,” she answered, her gaze darting over the tense male body standing in front of her, her voice growing smaller as she spoke. “It’s weird. He seems to harass me in phases, as if he’s on some sort of high when he does.”

  “You’re probably correct about the high. Daniels has developed a significant drug dependency in the past year.”

  Her heart skipped a beat at the news. Demo stood tall and pulled her against his chest, easing the impact of his words. Stroking her hair, he spoke low, but very firm.

  “Koukla, you can’t have any contact with him. He’s under investigation for drug trafficking and running a prostitution ring.”

  She pushed off his chest and out of his hold. Looking up, she saw the grave look on his face, and fear thrust through her body with a vengeance. “How? I mean, I don’t understand.”

  “According to information we’ve received, the authorities are about a week away from arresting him. In the mean time, Daniels is a walking time bomb.” He stepped closer, as if to shield her with his body.

  Sammy’s breath labored, and her heart beat fierce. How could she have ever loved Brad? How could she have been such a blind fool?

  Her palms covered her ears and she turned away from Demo. She came here to escape from all the harm Brad had done to her self-worth. Needing to reclaim her confidence, her laughter and to be at ease with others, she didn’t want doubt clouding her last chance to open herself to fun.

  “Drugs do things to a man. Sammy, you saw he was changing, and you got away. You did the right thing.”

  She dropped her shoulders and pivoted on her heels to face him. He was so good. So admirable and honorable. If only he knew the whole story.

  Demo’s arms gently wrapped about her again. She laid her cheek against his chest, welcoming the security his mere presence offered and fought the tears threatening to stream down her cheeks.

  “What do you think he wants from me?”

  “It doesn’t matter. He’s currently in Miami and under surveillance, and he has no idea where you are. He’ll be in custody by the time we return to New York.”

  Demo’s strong and steady heartbeat lulled her into calm. Sammy sighed and stayed close, secure in his embrace. Realizing he had more information than she’d have thought, she wondered how he got it. But she didn’t care. She just wanted to stay against him. It wasn’t until his hand came to rest on her nape and massaged her sensitive skin did she realize that she was in her employer’s arms and not the arms of the man she dreamt about each night. She shouldn’t do this.

  The intimacy was very inappropriate. She pulled away.

  “I’m sorry for blubbering all over your shirt. The truth is, I feel safe in Greece. I don’t think Brad would put the energy into following me. He really has nothing to gain from it. It was over between us months ago.”

  “I don’t think that’s all there is. He’s been threatening you all this time and wants something. Do you have any idea what it is?”

  Bumps formed on her skin, and she rubbed her upper arms. There was no way she could explain the motive behind Brad’s actions. She’d never told anyone what happened that night or discussed what Brad wanted from her. He was twisted in thinking he could replace a life. Maybe his guilt drove him.

  It didn’t make any sense because a sick mind probably didn’t comprehend guilt. But even if she wanted to, she couldn’t put herself in that position again and never in a hundred lifetimes with a beast like Brad.

  No one knew how much she’d lost in one night.

  “The world owes him, or at least that’s what he believes.” Dropping her gaze, she fiddled with her bracelet and rubbed her fingers. “He’s a control freak, and he thinks he can run my life. But he can’t, and he won’t. Everything will be fine. Thank you for the warning, Mr. Lakis.”

  “Demo,” he corrected.

  “Excuse me?”

  “Please don’t call me Mr. Lakis. It’s Demo. Okay, Sammy?”

  A knock a
t the front door interrupted their conversation. Motioning for her to have a seat at the balcony dining set, he went to answer the door.

  Sammy needed to sit. She’d almost told her boss about the ill-fated control Brad held over her. Dropping her head into her hands, she rubbed her aching forehead. How could a five-minute discussion of a man thousands of miles away affect her like this?

  No, she didn’t owe that delusional man a thing. She’d pay for his actions for the rest of her life. Damaged was now her middle name.

  A waiter emerged from inside, carrying an old-fashioned scale-like tray with two frappés, glasses of water, her favorite soda, a variety of sandwiches that looked like grilled cheese, and a plate of local cookies.

  “Kalispera, good afternoon,” the young man said, and arranged the tray’s contents on the table. He then turned and asked Demo something in Greek. Demo shook his head negative and sat in the other chair. Saying goodbye, the young man let himself out.

  “Where’d he come from?” Sammy asked, wondering if there was more to the penthouse than she’d seen.

  Demo set an iced coffee in front of her and arranged her soda with a straw. “There’s a café downstairs. It isn’t uncommon for people to deliver in Greece.”

  “Yeah, but what about the dishes and glasses?”

  “He’ll pick them up when we’re done.” Demo lifted a hand and made it clear he didn’t want to waste time discussing the food. “Please, koukla mou, put something in you for energy and put your shopping face on. We’re on an important mission in half an hour.” He reached across the table and caressed her hand. His thumb wandered over her wrist as he continued. “Glyfada has great shopping. You’ll find anything your heart desires here.”

  “Oh, I only need some basics to hold me over until my suitcase arrives. Maybe I’ll splurge on a swimsuit, if you can show me how to get to that beautiful beach.”

  She needed the distraction. The mistake of Brad Daniels didn’t mean she had to sentence herself to a life of misery and horror.