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“Oh, hey girl. I didn’t recognize your number.”
“What? Oh yeah, I’m calling from Z’s phone. I’m afraid I have bad news.” I try to breathe when I get the chance—hoping to calm my nerves. I don’t think it works. I pray that Liberty has heard enough and plays along. So far, I think I should get an Emmy for my acting performance.
“What’s the bad news, girl?”
“Our meeting to pick the pieces you want in the gallery, I’m afraid I’m going to have to cancel.” I hold my breath. I’m lying out of my ass. Liberty will know that immediately. I’ve already given her the name of an art gallery in Tucson. I sent them pictures of her work and even the sales we’ve received from them. They’ve been calling her every other day to get her to bring them her work and I know she’s in the process of inking a deal with them. Zervas didn’t know any of this because he has no reason to. At first, I kept it quiet because I didn’t want him to know that EZ had basically told Liberty that Zervas was dirty. Hell, I wasn’t even sure I believed it, but I wanted to protect Liberty in case. That shows how stupid I am.
Now I know Zervas is definitely dirty and that he is an asshole. I was thinking he probably was before Liberty told me what EZ said. I just wish I had tried to protect myself along with Liberty. I also wish I had begged Marco to come get me sooner. Or hell, rescued myself and flew back to Athens and begged Marco to forgive me for running away. Either would have worked at this point, damn it.
“Oh darn. I was looking forward to that,” Liberty lies, letting me breathe easier. “Is something wrong?”
Zervas drops his hand down over my free one. His large fingers encircle my wrist and squeezes unto the point of pain. It’s all I can do to keep my whimper—that wants to escape—contained.
“Nothing,” I deny, while internally screaming the opposite. “Z is just taking me to see a new gallery he’s hoping to open. He says it’s awesome. We could put that painting you’re working on there. It’d fit right in considering the location of this new gallery.”
God, I think I probably suck at all this 007 shit. Still, Liberty told me about the painting she was doing of a small wedding chapel in Vegas. I’m hoping like hell my lame-ass hint isn’t as lame as I think it is.
“Where is the new gallery?” she asks.
I start to answer, but suddenly Zervas twists my wrist in a way that I know he’s going to break it if I don’t shut this down.
“Oh shoot. I have to go, Lib. Z’s getting another call. I’ll phone you tomorrow and reschedule,” I add and click to end the call.
He immediately yanks the phone out of my hand, tossing it on the dash.
“Zervas—”
“We have about five hours to get to Vegas. You keep your mouth shut unless I say something to you. I have enough on my plate without adding your hysterics to the mix.”
I open my mouth to say something else, but snap it shut. I need to come up with a plan. A five-hour trip, I should be able to come up with something.
Maybe.
God, if I survive this, I’m never leaving Greece again.
Chapter 37
Marco
“I guess I don’t have to ask what kind of mood you’re in,” my brother, Sebastian, asks.
“Don’t start.”
“Christ, Marco, if she’s worrying you that much go and get her.”
“I plan—”
“Exactly! Go and get her!”
I look up to see my sister come in, DeLuca at her side.
“Son of a bitch,” I mutter under my breath. I shake my head and then, speaking louder this time, “Melina, you don’t need to start on me either.”
“Someone needs to. Do you know that creatin wants her to go out of town with him next weekend.”
“I know,” I mutter, and I do.
Helena told me during last night’s conversation. She also made it clear that Zervas is making her uncomfortable. This trip is supposedly to look at another gallery that he wants Helena to oversee. She told him that she would be returning back to Athens, but he seems intent on making her want to stay in the US. I know why. I doubt Helena truly understands. The damn woman has never seen her appeal. I’ve been breaking my back here and taking in meetings all hours of the night so I can get away. She’s not going to see the gallery. Helena told him she wouldn’t. She’s coming back to Athens. I plan on leaving to be in Arizona tomorrow evening and she’s coming home with me. I leave first thing in the morning, and I would tell them all of this—if they would let me get a word in.
