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“And?” The single word was husky, packing a sensual tension.
I blew out a breath. “I’m going to find out what is on those ships.”
“You don’t have to be a Beaumont.”
At his words, I squeezed my eyes closed. “What does that even mean?”
“When you find out, let me know.” There was a click as the call ended.
My breath left my lungs in a whoosh. The surge of adrenaline came back, and I blinked out at the building once more. Nothing had come of my attempt on Drakos’s life. No one said Jason had been poisoned, the lucky fucker had escaped and I with him. But his words rang in my head, night and day, along with the insistence of my husband that my father was indeed a horrible creature. The most infuriating part was that Drakos refused to tell me what my father had done—what he was still apparently doing. It might be a noble streak on Drakos’s part, but he’d planted a seed, and I needed answers. I pushed out of the car and waved the driver off as he emerged.
Never had my father given me a firm promise of a stake in his empire. He’d only offered me vague promises and thinly veiled threats. My plan had always been to prove myself valuable to my father, that he would see his daughter as far more capable than his son, so that he would have no choice but to place me at his side.
But Drakos—he saw me. After only a little time together, he’d seen enough to offer me a stake in his own business. Because there was no way in my mind that this was a cruel power play. Drakos had no reason to lure me in with honeyed words only to crush me. He already held me in his hand and could continue to war with my father without me.
But what if he finds out I’ve been trying to kill him?I shuddered. He would pull the offer to sit at his table. Any smart person would.
Philip continued to follow me up the walk.
“I’ll be back in fifteen minutes,” I assured him. I didn’t need security service in here.
Philip looked over the apartment. “I’m supposed to guard you when you go out, ma’am.”
“Guard the car then,” I said, already moving swiftly toward the main door.
Pressing the intercom button for number 218, I waited—alone. Philip stayed where he was. I noticed he was on the phone, but I pushed that thought away. If Drakos ordered him to follow me up, he wouldn’t be allowed in Sandy’s apartment anyway.
“Hello?” the box chirped.
“Sandy, it’s the former Talia Beaumont, now Drakos. Can we talk?” I smiled to myself over the slip.
“Sure.” But the word came out slowly, full of uncertainty.
“It’s a professional question.”
Sandy laughed. “Oh, all right, dear. Come on up.”
The sound of heavy jogging followed behind me. I looked back and saw Philip racing up the walk. The door buzzed, and I held it open. “Come on, then. But she’s not going to let you inside.”
Philip scowled but straightened his jacket. I’d not spent much time with the driver, but unlike the man who drove my family around, I learned more about Philip in the last few weeks then I ever knew about my father’s chauffeurs.
It took no time at all to reach Sandy’s apartment. Philip was frowning as he took in the hall.
“I’ll be just a minute,” I told him.
“Very good, ma’am.”
I rapped on the door, but before the second knock, Sandy had already flung it open. She was wearing a satin robe that left little to the imagination. Her chocolate hair curled sensually over her shoulders, and her spray tan was damn near flawless.
Philip’s eyes widened as he took her in, but I was already scooting inside. Sandy tossed him a wink with her bright green eyes and then the door mercifully slammed closed.
“Talia—Mrs.Drakos,” Sandy purred. “So, tell me, what do you think of the man your father selected for you? His arch nemesis, isn’t it? You’ve seduced him into utter obedience, right?”
I laughed softly. “Something like that.”
“It’s been a few years since we had a lesson together,” Sandy noted, going to the fridge to pull out a pitcher of water. “Thirsty?”
“No, thanks.”
