Total pages in book: 92
Estimated words: 84544 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 423(@200wpm)___ 338(@250wpm)___ 282(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 84544 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 423(@200wpm)___ 338(@250wpm)___ 282(@300wpm)
Isidore was on his feet the second Kairo was shoved into the room. Anxious eyes scanned him from head to toe. The worry retreated as soon as he likely determined that Kairo was fine.
“Shit,” Kairo muttered under his breath.
Isidore lurched forward a step while Kairo remained standing just past the closed door. “What?”
“I should have grabbed you a cool, damp washcloth for your face.” Now that some time had passed since their encounter with Vanko, Isidore’s handsome features were beginning to darken and swell. Ice would have been ideal, but a cool washcloth was better than nothing.
“Oh.” The hushed sound was barely more than a puff of air from his lips. His hand lifted to his chin and cheek before he turned away from Kairo. He sat on the edge of the bed, his mouth lifted in a crooked smile as he shrugged. “It’s nothing. That-that wasn’t a big deal compared…” His words drifted off.
Kairo crossed the room and stood directly in front of Isidore. Very carefully, he placed his fingers under Isidore’s jaw, putting enough pressure to make him lift his face so that he could have a closer look. The new bruises were overtaking the old ones. From this angle he could also see what appeared to be some old bruises on his throat as if someone had tried to strangle him.
“Compared to?” Kairo prodded, turning Isidore’s face one way and then the other. As he did, he noticed that Isidore avoided his gaze while still clinging to that uneven smile.
“Earlier. Vanko wasn’t pleased when I refused to help him. I guess he was hoping he could knock me around a bit and I’d agree to whatever he wanted. What’s a little physical discomfort compared to potentially ruining the lives of millions? Besides, it’s like I told you, I don’t have access to what he wants.”
“And you refused to bend until your sister was dragged into this.”
Those gray eyes snapped to him now, but this time he caught a glimpse of what lay behind the happy-go-lucky façade he kept in place. Fear and pain. Desperation and guilt. There was something about Isidore. Kairo wasn’t sure if Isidore’s happiness and naïveté were all fake, but rather things he clung to like a security blanket against something darker that resided inside of him.
Kairo was usually so fucking good at reading people. It was all part of his job. Reconnaissance was all about getting the vital details of a region, person, or task before the rest of the team arrived. It was gathering the information they needed in order to plan and execute a mission. Not only did he need to know how to take apart a security system, but he had to determine the weakest points and the best targets.
Isidore Panopoulos was a walking target, but for some reason, Kairo was having trouble getting a good bead on him.
Dropping his hand to his side, Kairo stepped back and sat on his bed while Isidore slumped. A wince dug lines in his face briefly, and he shifted his position to lean to his left.
“Ribs?” Kairo inquired.
The smile was even brighter this time and fully formed. “They’re better now. At first I thought one or more was broken. It hurt to breathe. But after a few days passed, the pain lessened and breathing got easier.”
Kairo grunted. “Badly bruised. How long have you been here?”
Isidore’s expression scrunched up with thought until he finally answered, “About nine days.”
“And no one has noticed that you or even your sister is missing?”
“Unlikely. During the summer months, I tend to take off and travel. I recently told all my executives and managers that I’d be out of the country through most of August, traveling with Athena. She’s supposed to return to school next month, and I wanted us to spend some time together before she gets wrapped up in her studies.” He shrugged one shoulder. “Besides, I’m more of a…a figurehead for the conglomerate. The presidents and board of directors are running things. They need me to cast final votes or to show up at events to smile at the press. No one needs me to actually make decisions. They’d probably prefer it if I didn’t meddle in things.”
Kairo sighed softly. Nine days and little chance of anyone searching for the Panopoulos siblings anytime soon. But nine days meant that it was likely Isidore had seen more of the house than this room.
“Have you seen any other parts of the house? Can you describe the layout to me?”
Isidore’s expression immediately brightened, and Kairo’s heart flopped painfully in his chest. It was as if Isidore glowed from the inside out when he smiled like that. Kairo hadn’t noticed it because of the clouds in his eyes, but now it was like standing in the summer sun.
“I can describe the house in great detail if you’d like. This is my family’s winter house.”