Page 63 of Mafia Obsession

“Elani manages the house for me,” Ares says proudly.

She and Daria are probably the only human beings on this planet that he actually needs. What a responsibility.

Ares speaks to his staff in Greek. I assume he’s delivering further instructions and details of our visit. The two men behind Elani move into action as Ares steers me up a set of three wide steps and opens the front door himself.

Thanks to television and social media, I’ve seen enough luxury estates that the sheer opulence doesn’t shock me. But in person it’s pretty impressive.

Ares watches me as I take it in. Everything here is beautiful. But none of it matters. I won’t be here long. Sandrine needs me.

Though it’s very warm outside, the temperature inside the house is comfortably pleasant thanks to marble floors and high ceilings lined with fans. All the arched windows are open, framing the Aegean Sea. The view is unreal.

“This is the main salon,” he says about what I would consider a living room.

We keep walking and stop at one of the many terraces that overlook fragrant rose bushes. A table has already been set beneath an umbrella for shade against the strong sun.

“You’ll eat a proper meal.” Ares gestures for me to sit. “Then you’ll rest.”

“There you go, ordering me around again,” I say, gripping the table as I take a seat.

Ares sits next to me and doesn’t comment on my gripe.

I sharpen my gaze on the horizon and see several men dressed in green camo with rifles on the perimeter marching back and forth on top of a retaining wall.

Without addressing the small army he has, Ares pours chilled wine. “This is from a local vineyard I invested in. I need to pay them a visit while I’m here.”

“You own a vineyard?” I ask.

Ares is using his time here wisely. This trip wasn’t on his schedule. “Yes. And you will join me on my visit.”

I narrow my eyes. “Look, if you want to show me off as?—”

One hand winds around my throat. His thumb brushes my jaw, keeping the hold sensual. “You are not a trophy. Not to me. I command respect and awe for myself, my own achievements, not who I lure into my bed. I always want you in the same room because…” He stops. “Because my heart doesn’t beat the same when you’re not with me.”

Throat dry, I take that in. But once he gets his fill of me, then he’ll let me go. Like Eden said.

I nod, accepting his explanation. And it’s a vineyard. I’m sure I’ll enjoy it once I get my bearings and sanity in check.

Elani appears with two dishes of grilled fish over a bed of crisp greens, olives, and freshly baked bread.

“The weather for the next few days will be warm, but there’s a storm expected later in the week.” Ares goes on to fill me in with more facts about Santorini.

When he pauses, I ask, “Is there any place in the house or on the grounds you don’t want me to go?”

He cocks his head at my question. “If you come across a locked door, it’s closed off for a reason. Mostly your protection.”

“I don’t know how to handle a gun or a knife.”

“I wasn’t talking about weapons.”

Right. Secrets.

We eat more before speaking again.

“It feels like New York doesn’t even exist,” I say to break the silence. “It feels so far away. I can see why you come here to get away from it all.”

“Only, it all comes with me,” he responds, a smile softening the complaint.

“Right, the phone calls.”