“You don’t always know with your head. Sometimes your soul knows before your mind catches up. Sometimes, two souls that have been searching through time just… hear each other. Like echoes calling across the stars.”
Dani blinked, tears slipping down her cheeks. “Gramps, I didn’t know you were such a romantic.”
“I wasn’t—until that day,” he said gently. “She made me believe in things I didn’t even know I needed. Even after all this time… I still believe I’ll see her again.”
She bit her lip, touched to her core. “What do I do?”
There was a pause, then, “What does your gut tell you, sweetheart?”
Dani stared up at the ceiling, the beams overhead bathed in moonlight. “It tells me to trust him. But I’m scared, Gramps. What if he breaks my heart?”
“Then at least you gave it a chance to beat for something that mattered. You can’t live your life in fear, Dani. Love’s a risk. But it’s the only thing worth the bruises.”
She smiled, wiped her eyes. “You’re a smart man, Stuart Bouras.”
“You take after me.”
They spoke a little longer before she whispered, “Goodnight, Gramps.”
“Goodnight, pumpkin. Sweet dreams.”
She hung up, laying the phone on her chest for a moment before slipping it into her pocket. The clouds drifted outside the salon windows, their soft gray shadows stretching across the sky. Her thoughts swirled, too tangled for sleep.
With a sigh, she stood and turned toward the narrow stairwell leading below deck.
And froze.
A dark shape stood in the shadows—just beyond the edge of the moonlight. It hadn’t been there a second ago.
Her heart stuttered, her breath caught, her instincts screamed before her mind could react.
“Who—?” she started, but didn’t finish.
The shadow lunged. Arms—strong, thick, unbreakable—wrapped around her from behind. A hand clamped over her mouth, cutting off her scream.
Her vision swam as she kicked, clawed—but he didn’t budge. Her terror exploded when he pressed a rag to her face. An acrid and chemical burning filled her nostrils.
No!
She twisted, trying to scream, but the cloth cut off her breath. Her vision blurred.
Her heart pounded with terror.
A voice, hot and hateful, in her ear.
“Did you miss me,azziz?”
No! Please… no,she thought as the world slipped sideways.
Before darkness pulled her down into its greedy realm.
The rhythmic thump of the helicopter blades echoed across the rooftop helipad as the sleek black aircraft touched down atop the gleaming steel-and-glass tower in the heart of Athens. The rising sunpainted the Acropolis in golden hues in the distance, but Alexandros barely spared it a glance. His mind was miles away—back onboard theKallistratos Challenge, on a dock bathed in moonlight, with a woman who had turned his world upside down.
He stepped out of the chopper, his custom leather shoes clicking against the polished landing pad. The sharp Mediterranean wind tugged at his open collar and the edges of his tailored navy jacket.
“Welcome back, sir,” Julius greeted, walking briskly beside him. The ever-efficient PA fell in step without missing a beat, tablet already in hand. “Your brother has called twice. Your father once. And you’ve missed four meetings, two strategy calls, and I took the initiative when I didn’t hear from you to reschedule your breakfast with the Norwegian delegation.”
Alexandros grunted, his eyes fixed ahead as they crossed the rooftop terrace and entered the private elevator.
