“Where exactly is that?”
“I told you. My home.My island in Greece.”
“I thought that was some sick joke! You can’t seriously consider bringing me to Greece!”
This time her voice was more of a growl. Nikos could definitely hear the threat behind the question.
“We will go to Greece,” he said firmly.
“No way!”
Her voice was loud enough that the driver flinched and swerved to the right. Nikos quickly grabbed Cassia so that her injured shoulder wouldn’t hit the door of the car. He cursed in his native tongue as he held her tightly but she pushed him away and he was forced to let go.
Nikos decided to vent his anger on the driver instead. He barked loud and low and told him to be more careful next time.
“There’s no way in hell that I am going to Greece with you, Nikos Demakis. No fucking way.”
She said his name with such disdain that he winced.
“Yes, you are. I will keep you safe there, Cassia Demakis.” He emphasized her last name and this time it was she who flinched.
He had hoped that she would sleep throughout the ride to the airport but it seemed as if the fight would have to happen early.
Nikos rubbed his temples and faced his spitfire of a wife.
“Cassia, we will go to Greece so that you will be better protected. I live in a private island so it’s much better. It’s safe and it’s built like a fortress.”
“I don’t care! I can protect myself, Nikos! I also have money! I can hire a team of bodyguards!”
“Their loyalty can be bought. When it comes to security, I trust only my own people and Alex’s. My home is in a small island that can only be reached by boat or by plane. It’s a convenient location.”
“Again, there’s no way I am going to Greece with you, Nikos. You hear me? No way!”
“Remember our anniversary dinner at the restaurant? Well, just think of this as the start of us spending time together,” he suggested.
The man truly had some nerve.
“I already told you no! Have you forgotten that I’ll be divorcing you?! Have you heard nothing of what I’ve told you?” Cassia seethed.
“Hearing and understanding are two different things. Yes, I heard you but I chose ignore what you said. I told you that divorce is out of the question. There will be no divorce, ever. Now, the only option left is whether you want to make the rest of our lives hell or if you will try and work with me to attain some sort of peace between us.”
Cassia glared at him and then threw her head back and gave a sarcastic laugh.“That’s never going to happen. In your eyes, I am a lying, money-grabbing, spoiled bitch.”
“I will reconsider all your past lies and behavior if you, too, would decide to bury the past so we could both move forward,” Nikos declared calmly.
“No.”
“Very well then, choose the hard way. We are still going to Greece. End of story.”
“I can’t just go to Greece! My life and my work are here! I have several social commitments!”
“We can always fly back for those if needed. My private jet is at your disposal. By the way, from your shop, I saw that you were already planning for a vacation. My assistant saw the list and the things you’ve packed. I asked him to bring all of it and to go back to your apartment and get the others so that you’d have everything you need when we land on Greece. I have several free rooms in my house and you can convert one of them into your office or studio.”
“Everyone will look for me!” Cassia shouted.
Nikos just raised an eyebrow.
“Then I’ll tell them you’re with me; that we are in our home in Greece. It’s natural for a husband and wife to get together.”
“But...but—“ Cassia spluttered.
“Ran out of excuses, agape mou?”
Her jaw fell open at the arrogance displayed by the man in front of her. She wanted to say a clever retort but the shock and fury going through her body seemed to also numb her brain. Instead, she looked out of the window and took several deep breaths to calm herself while thinking of another excuse.
“I can’t go to Greece because I have a vacation planned with someone.”
Nikos lifted a brow in query and then leaned forward and placed his chin in his hand.
“By all means, tell me. Is it with Hector Petrides?”
“None of your business.”
“It is my business because you are my wife and you are under my protection. You carry my name and everything you do has an effect on me and the company.”
“I didn’t give a shit what you did all those years, Nikos. I didn’t bat an eye when you dated all the supermodels in the world. I did not lecture you with ‘because you are my husband, every bimbo you dated reflects on me and the company.’ So don’t give me that reason. It’s bullshit.”
“I didn’t know you kept tabs on me all those years, agape mou. Contrary to popular belief, I did not date all the supermodels in the world. That would have been impossible.” Nikos grinned.
Cassia snorted, “Don’t think too highly of yourself.”
Nikos chuckled. She infuriated him unlike any other person and it was a refreshing change.
“We are still going to Greece. My word is final. There are things going on here that you don’t know anything about. Things connected to your attempted kidnapping and to your Hector Petrides,” the last few words came out as a low growl.
Cassia snapped at attention when she heard Hector’s name.
“What is it about Hector? What happened?” she asked in a shrill voice.
Nikos’ lips pursed into a tight line.
“This conversation will be reserved for later until you are well enough for it,” he answered.
“Don’t treat me as an invalid! I can handle anything!”
“I doubt it. Trust me on this one, Cassia. We’ll talk about this. There’s a proper time and place for everything. For now, rest and don’t do anything ridiculous. I’ll have you guarded all the time so there’s no use escaping,” Nikos told her as he crossed his arms over his chest.
Cassia grabbed his arm and squeezed.
“Please, Nikos. I have a right to know. I can handle it,” she swore.
He sighed and ran his fingers through his hair.
For a few minutes, he gazed out the window contemplating as to whether he should tell her or not. She had a right to know but he felt like he didn’t have the proper words to tell her. Then maybe evidence could speak for him at this point.
“Hand me my briefcase in the back, will you?” he asked the bodyguards who sat behind them. They handed it to him and he retrieved an envelope from it and handed it to her.
Fear raced down her spine when she saw several pictures of Hector.
“What is this?”
“Alex believes that Hector Petrides has been involved in several illegal activities. Years ago, his business was failing and in order to save it, he struck a deal with the devil. The devil was in the form of one of the drug lords from the one and only Greek drug cartel.”
Cassia’s hand shook as she flipped through the photographs.
“He’s been the instrument of this drug cartel to ship their drugs to the United States in return for their protection for him and for more and more money for his business.”
“No...”
“Alex is working on this case. He’s been tracking that drug cartel as one of his assignments. He stumbled across Hector’s involvement and further unearthed his involvement with you. Alex came and told me you were at risk.”
“No! This isn’t true! Hector is not involved with drugs!” she cried.
She tried to deny it repeatedly but deep down she knew there was some truth in what Nikos was saying.
About five or six years ago, Hector’s business had been failing. He talked to her about closing everything and he was so beat up about it. She even offered him a loan but he didn’t want to accept. One day, he told her he had the money to reopen his business and it flourished ever since.
But...
Also starting that day, Hector had less time for her. He was always away on what he said were business trips. When he returned, he was more stressed than before. When they went out on dates, he often received a call and then he would just simply disappear.
What baffled Cassia was that Hector was now at the top of his game. He should be able to always take a break and enjoy the money he got from his hard work! He had a highly competent staff to which he could delegate the running of his business for a few days so that he could go on a vacation.
But he always said no.
He always told her that there were things he should handle by himself and could never delegate. She did not understand it back then but she just assumed he was one of those people who were perfectionists and wanted to do everything themselves.
I could never be more wrong.
Tears filled Cassia’s eyes as her shaking fingers took hold of one of the photographs where drugs placed in boxes were being hauled at the docks then placed inside vans painted with the logo of his hotel. There was also a clear photo of him supervising everything.
It was truly damning evidence.
“This isn’t possible...” she whispered.
Her vision was already clouded by tears but she hastily wiped them away so she could gaze more at the photographs and the written report in front of her.
“Cassia...” Nikos’ voice shook. He frowned when he saw the tears in her eyes and reached out towards her but she slapped his hand away.