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“You’re kidding me.”
He shakes his head and laughs. “Blame my Greek heritage. I had no say in my name, but that’s about the only thing in my life I don’t control.”
Wow! I’m in awe of this Greek God and words fail me as he lowers his voice.
“I am here to fill you in on the predicament you are now in. My job is to provide you with enough information to defend yourself.”
“I don’t understand.”
I set the panini down and stare at him with a troubled expression.
“Why would you help me?”
“Because your family asked me to.”
“My parents sent you.” I’m struggling to understand any of this because if my parents took one look at this man, they would be locking the doors and pulling in the shutters. He is giving off serious bad boy vibes and I’ve never met anyone like him before.
“No.” He shakes his head. “Your grandparents.”
The food turns to dust in my mouth as the tears well behind my eyes and I whisper, “Why are you being so cruel? My grandparents are dead.”
He doesn’t even have the grace to look ashamed and shakes his head. “Your mother’s parents are alive and well and there is some information they need you to understand.”
I think about Grandma June and Grandpa Boris and know he is lying to me. They died when I was twelve years old, and I am still devastated. This man is obviously playing a cruel game and I push my food away and say in a voice that sounds as if it’s tripping on broken glass.
“Okay, I don’t know what your game is, but I’m not interested and if you come near me again, I’ll call the cops.”
I stand and make to leave, and he reaches out like whiplash and grips my wrist hard and growls, “Eight pm and Iwillfind you if you don’t show up. I am here to protect you and there is much you don’t know. Say nothing to anyone if you value your life because I’m serious now. I’m here to help, and only a fool would walk away from that.”
I snatch my arm away and hiss, “Fuck you.”
Then I turn and walk away as fast as I can in these ridiculous heels that came with the wretched suit.
CHAPTER 10
TROY
I’m a busy man. I always have been, and I soon forget about my latest project. I am only reminded when she delivers my coffee and I make sure to ignore her every fucking time.
My plans for her must wait because business always comes first, and I am tied up with zoom calls and spreadsheets for most of the day.
When it comes to seven, I’m looking forward to grabbing something to eat and heading home, and as I pass by her desk, I can tell Laura is exhausted.
Her shoulders are slumped as she leans back in her chair, and as she gazes at the computer screen it’s obvious she’s not registering what she’s staring at. She doesn’t notice me and yawns loudly and runs her fingers through her hair that has spilled from the ponytail. Her make-up is long gone, and I notice the shoes have been discarded under her desk, which makes me smile. Why women wear those is a mystery to me and I have never met a woman who doesn’t seize the first opportunity to kick them off.
“Laura.” I straighten up and inject some fierceness into my voice, loving how she gasps and jumps, sitting up straighter as she spins around.
“I’m leaving. You may finish up and go home. I’ll see you tomorrow.”
“Thank you, sir.” She appears relieved to be let off the hook and I snap as I walk away, “Do better tomorrow.”
As I enter my private elevator, the doors close on her furious face, and I lean back against the wall and smile. There is something about my new assistant that intrigues me. She is definitely easy on the eye, and I suppose it’s because she’s so innocent that I’m intrigued. If she knew where she came from, who she really is, I’m not sure she could cope with the knowledge.
I’m relishing the moment when I reveal the truth, but only if I’m pushed. If the Vieris agree to my demands, she will carry on existing in blissful ignorance. Dragging her family through public humiliation is a means to an end because to stay in The Dark Lords, you must be whiter than snow. The Vieris are trying to create that image by raising their game in society. Killian Vieri has married a virtual angel who is the talk of the town. She is beautiful, pure, and innocent, and together they donate huge sums to charities and work tirelessly for good, not evil.
However, if you scratch the surface, the paint runs thin, and Shade Vieri runs a mafia operation that strikes fear into the bravest heart. Good versus evil, and I am somewhere in the middle. Ruthless, unemotional, and intent on only one thing. World domination.
Securing my family’s heritage, so there will never be another threat of losing it all. I want to live safely in the knowledge that none of my family will ever place a gun to their head again from shame and humiliation. My father may have pulled the trigger, but the Vieris loaded the gun, and I will make them pay forwhat they put our family through. I will take their treasured organization and discard them like the trash they are, and I will use their own flesh and blood to wield the knife.
