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Eleven
Aria stood up and stretched,her eyes drifting to the horizon. It was magnetic, and she found herself looking out over the sea every time she looked up from the computer Damian had given her before he left for Athens thatmorning.
She was half-surprised she was able to enjoy Greece after what had happened to her in Athens. True, Kythnos wasn’t Athens. With its sandy beaches and azure water, its sparkling stucco houses balanced on the cliffs and the scent of the ocean, it might have been a tropical hideaway off the coast of any country in theMediterranean.
Still, she knew Athens was just across the water. Knew if she made her way to the seedy neighborhood called Omonia, she would find the dingy apartment where she’d been kept prisoner for two months, where she’d dreamed of freedom and Damian, where she’d wondered if she would ever see himagain.
And yet, it felt a lifetimeaway.
She’d thought at first it was the water separating the island of Kythnos from the mainland, but she’d come to the conclusion that it had nothing to do withthat.
It wasDamian.
When he was near, she was home, and she knew she was safe. Even now that he was in Athens, looking for Anastos while she remained on the island with Cole, she feltsecure.
Damian was her talisman against everyevil.
She wandered into the kitchen and poured another cup of tea. She was stirring honey into it when Cole stepped into the house from thecourtyard.
She could only assume his many trips outside throughout the morning were the result of a security check. He hadn’t said two words to her since Damian and the others hadleft.
“Want some tea?” she askedhim.
“No, thank you,” he said, lowering himself to the sofa in the living room where he’d left a book whose title she hadn’t been able toread.
“Come on,” she said, pulling another cup off the shelf and making a second cup of tea. “Bring your book outside and have some tea. It’s beautifulout.”
He nodded and rose to his feet. “If youinsist.”
“I do,” she said, pushing the cup of tea toward him. “I’ve been staring at that computer screen all day,although…”
It suddenly occurred to her that Cole might feel obligated to keep her company. She was Damian’s woman, for lack of a better word. That meant that in a weird twist of fate, she was also Cole’sboss.
“Although?” heprompted.
Her face grew warm. This was a lot more complicated than sheexpected.
“You don’t have to keep me company,” she said. “I just thought it would benice.”
He picked up the tea. “You’re right. I could do with the freshair.”
She hid a smile as he made his way out to the terrace. He was probably as bored as shewas.
They sat around the table and sipped their tea. The silence was surprisingly comfortable. She knew Cole was a man of few words, but she’d only been alone with him on rare occasions since she’d gotten out of the hospital. They’d always been at the house in Westchester, and she’d usually been busy at the firing range or in thegreenhouse.
“I’m sorry you have to stay here,” she finallysaid.
“It’s not your fault,” hesaid.
“Yes, it is. If it wasn’t for me, you’d be in Athens with the othermen.”
“You act like this is a downgrade,” hesaid.
She looked up, wondering if she was seeing a hint of humor in his blueeyes.
“Isn’t it?” sheasked.
He hesitated, looked out over the water. “Do you know what my job is withDamian?”
