Total pages in book: 164
Estimated words: 157003 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 785(@200wpm)___ 628(@250wpm)___ 523(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 157003 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 785(@200wpm)___ 628(@250wpm)___ 523(@300wpm)
“I’ll call you and we can make a date to do something,” Phoenix tells his sister as he makes his way to the stairs. “And I’ll let you know if I hear word on my father.”
As soon as he’s gone, Aris opens his mouth, but I wave him on. “Not now. We can talk later.”
Aris’s jaw flexes as he bites back his words and gives me a clipped nod. He storms up the stairs. I pull from Talia and walk over to Basil. When I poke him in the chest, he glares back at me.
“Loyalty is everything,” I remind him.
His brown eyes gleam fiercely. “I’m always loyal to you, Kostas.”
Not my brother. Not my father. Not the Demetrious. Me.
“That’s what I thought,” I grind out, dismissing him with a nod.
Basil leaves without another word.
“Kostas…” Talia’s hand clutches my shoulder from behind.
I shake off her hold and turn to stare at her, my icy gaze freezing her where she stands.
“You can’t undermine me like that,” I hiss, my anger still needing an outlet. I’d come here hoping to fuck up Niles. Instead, I made an alliance with his fucking son.
Her plump pink lips part. “I wasn’t undermining you. I was protecting my brother.”
“From your husband!” I roar, making her flinch. “You’re mine, not his!”
She recovers from my outburst and bravely walks up to me. Her hands are warm over my dress shirt as she runs them up over my pecks. “I’m yours,” she breathes, her blue eyes glimmering with conviction. “I took those vows, albeit against my better judgment, but I stand by them now. We weren’t meant to care about one another, but we do, Kostas. And because you care about me, you’ll protect the ones I care about too.”
I clench my jaw, burning my glare into her. She’s so fucking confident that I care enough about her that I’ll take care of the people she loves too.
Weak.
She makes me so fucking weak.
“Underneath all this fury and aggression, you’re gentle and loving. Beneath the mob boss is my husband.” She stands on her toes and kisses me.
Some of the anger melts away as my palms find her ass. I squeeze her hard enough that she gasps against my lips. When her hand slides down to my cock that’s hardening by the second, I groan. Too quickly she’s learning to play my body against me to get what she wants.
I’ve killed men for much less.
With Talia, it’s like she’s a seductress who gets inside my mind, no matter how dark and fucked up it is, and fills me with her sweet light. It’s maddening. And exhilarating too.
“I know you hate giving in to those who’ve angered you, but unfortunately, these people are a part of me.” She grips my dick and kisses me deeply before pulling her lips away. “Like my mother.” When she starts to kneel, her motive on giving me a blow job evident, I grip her hair tight to prevent her from moving.
“No,” I say lowly. “You’re not going to suck my cock into getting your way. It doesn’t work like that, Talia. I’m on to you.”
Rather than seeming afraid or panicked, she frowns at me. “So you don’t want a blow job?”
Why does she have to look so fucking cute when I’m pissed at her?
“Of course I want a blow job. But not when you’re trying to secretly get your way. You want your way then you negotiate for it like a real Demetriou. Out with what you want and what you’re willing to give for it.” I nip at her bottom lip before giving her a sinister smile. “Let’s make a deal, zoí mou.”
She purses her lips, studying my face for a moment. “Fine. I want contact with my mom.”
Anger coils inside me like a snake. “Your mother—”
“I know exactly what she did,” she breathes. “And I’m sorry. I’m sorry it was her who was the catalyst for what happened to Nora. But my mom was still a victim. She’d been cheated on.”
“You can’t go see her,” I bite out.
“I want her to come see me.” She lifts her chin, fire burning in her blue eyes. “Freely.”
“I don’t care to see that woman,” I growl.
“She’s my mom,” Talia bites out. “And if you care about me, you’ll give this to me.”
I narrow my eyes. “In exchange for what? We’re negotiating. I might bite. But I want to know what I get. And don’t offer me a fucking blow job.”
Her lips curve up into a half smile. “I’m inviting her to the grand opening of the restaurant when it’s done.”
“In. Exchange. For. What?”
“I don’t know,” she purrs, backing away from me. “I think you’re a smart man, Pluto, and can come up with that answer.”
A chase.
She’ll let me chase her down and fuck her like a god does for the one he’s laid claim to.