Master Of Games

by Sienna Snow

  I’d freed Amelia from the bargain. It was her choice to stay. Plus, it was more than a bargain; we both knew it but had no clue how it would end.

  I wanted her to stay, to pick me over her need to protect the Thanos name.

  I pushed the thought back and focused on the boy standing before me.

  “Let’s go over here.” I directed him to a set of benches near the locker rooms.

  Once we were settled, I said, “Now, what’s the secret?”

  “You promise that you won’t tell Mama or Yia Yia? Papa said it would make them sad if they knew the secret.”

  What the hell was he going to tell me? Thanos had been dead for two years. And what secrets could he have told a then-seven-year-old?

  “Okay. I promise.”

  He handed me the figurine of Poseidon. “Papa told me this belonged to my dad. He said one day I’d get to meet him.”

  My throat went dry as a ball formed in the pit of my stomach. “What makes you think I’m your dad?”

  “This belongs to you, doesn’t it?”

  I studied the figurine and could almost see Mama giving it to Christopher.

  “Yes, it’s mine.”

  “That means you’re my dad. Aren’t you? Papa would never lie to me.”

  Oh fuck, there was no way to answer without causing problems.

  “I…it’s…”

  “I know you and Mama loved each other before she met Papa. I saw the magazines and newspaper articles about it. She gets sad whenever anyone talks about her life in America. Just like she gets sad when people talk about Papa. He’s in heaven. Did you know?”

  I swallowed and nodded my head. “I did.”

  “I miss him.”

  “It’s to be expected. You loved him very much.” I thumbed the cut on Poseidon’s left arm.

  “He would fly kites with me. Will you fly a kite with me one day?”

  “I promise.”

  At that moment, Marie approached us, and I knew my unsupervised time with Christopher was over.

  I handed Christopher the wooden carving. “It’s time to go back to your grandma.”

  “Promise you won’t tell anyone the secret?”

  “I promise.”

  The next thing I knew, Christopher had wrapped his arms around my neck. “Thanks, Dad. I can call you that, right?”

  “Um…how about when we are alone you can call me Dad but whenever anyone is around, including your mom, you can call me Pierce.”

  He thought for a second and then nodded his agreement.

  “Bye, Pierce.” Christopher grinned. “I can’t wait to tell Mama we met.”

  I cringed inside thinking of Ame’s reaction when she heard the news. I turned to grab my suit jacket from the bench and came face to face with Marie Nephus.

  “I’d like a word with you, Mr. Lykaios,” she said in Greek.

  If she was switching languages, she had something to say that she didn’t want others to hear.

  “Call me Pierce.”

  “Let me get straight to the point. Do not use Amelia to get to Christopher. She’s been put through enough.”

  I glanced over to Christopher who was back to chatting with Jen while his grandfather watched over him.

  “I have no intention of hurting her.”

  Marie folded her arms across her body. “What, exactly, are your intentions? I know she’s sharing your bed. Even if she thinks she’s hiding it, I know.”

  Well, fuck. How was I supposed to admit to a very conservative old lady that I was boning her daughter every chance I got?

  “I plan to marry her.”

  Surprise flashed on her face. “Does she know this?”

  I nodded. “She’s the one who needs convincing.”

  “Her life is very complicated. Things have never come easy for her even if from the outside it looked as if it had. She had to adapt to a world that wasn’t meant to be hers and fill a role meant for another woman. Stavros loved her in the best way he could but not the way she needed.”

  “Why are you telling me this?”

  “Because it has taken me less than a day to see my old Amelia returning to me. The one who all but died when she left you. I can only attribute the change to you and being back in Las Vegas.”

  “Was she that unhappy in her marriage?”

  “No. She would never say she was. But she wasn’t the Amelia I’d raised. She allowed others to mold her into who they thought she should be. And the fact she married into the Thanos dynasty and to their heir made it harder. Then when Stavros passed and she had to take on his role, it was beyond anything one person should have on her shoulders.”

  Was this the reason she’d wanted to continue our relationship after I’d set her free?

  “What I want to know is if you love her the way she deserves? Not the girl from ten years ago but to the woman she is today.”

  “I never stopped loving her. What she makes me feel now is more than I ever thought possible.”

  My words seemed to ease the tension around her eyes. “Then, in that case, I give you one piece of advice. Don’t give up on her. She isn’t as strong as everyone believes. The reason she holds herself back is because it is all she knows.”

  “Would you move back here if given the opportunity?”

  She smiled. “Without thinking twice. Collin hurt our family, but I forgave him when he humbled himself for my girl.”

  Collin. The man was always there. How was I to forgive someone who all but threw me out, kept me from my dying mother, and ruined my relationship with Amelia?

  “Was it that easy to forgive him?”

  “Yes. He took responsibility for his actions. He never once blamed anyone but himself. And we know the truth behind who forced his hand. A man like that is as much a victim as we all were.”

  At that moment, I heard Christopher call to Marie. “Yia Yia, Pappous says it’s time to go.”

  “Coming,” she responded before turning back to me.

  “Will you tell Ame about my meeting Christopher?” I asked.

  “No, that is your job. After all, they are your family.”

  Amelia

  * * *

  “I have to tell you something,” were the first words I heard Pierce say when I answered my phone.

  I was nervous beyond anything I’d ever experienced in my life. The only thing I could think about since I woke this morning was how Christopher was going to react to Pierce when he arrived for dinner.

  “Pierce. Please tell me you’re still coming?”

  I saw Christopher peek his head up from his study of his Lego creation. I’d told him Pierce Lykaios was joining us for dinner when he’d gotten home from the Natatorium and he’d all but tackled me with kisses. I guess I should be happy that he hero-worshipped the athlete, so when he learned the truth of who Pierce was, he would accept it more naturally.

  “Yes, I’ll be there. I’m actually on my way there. I just wanted to talk to you about something before I arrive. Can you go to a room Christopher isn’t in?”

  Okay, that sounded ominous.

  “Sure. Let me go to the office.” I turned to Christopher. “Baby, Mommy needs to take this call. If you need me, I’m in the room next to your bedroom.”

  He nodded, half-distracted as he set his Greek-god figurines on the structure he’d created with Legos.

  I took the short walkway down the hall, shutting the door before I sat in the chair behind my desk.

  “Go ahead.”

  “Christopher knows.”

  The hairs on the back of my neck rose. “What do you mean he knows?”

  “Exactly what I said. He knows that I’m his father. I ran into him and your parents today. He was chatting with the athlete I’m trying to recruit.”

  Why hadn’t Mama mentioned it when I’d asked her how their first day in the US had gone? She’d smiled and said Christopher met a few of his favorite swimmers and played. Well, I guess she hadn’t lied, but she hadn’t told me who they were. I
was going to have to discuss this with her later.

  “Did you tell him?”

  “No. Stavros did.”

  “Umm. Say that again.”

  “Apparently Stavros told him that I was…” Pierce released a deep breath. “His dad. That the Poseidon he carries around belonged to his dad.”

  “But why would he do that?” And why hadn’t Stavros told me? I rubbed one of my temples.

  “I don’t know. Maybe he was trying to make it so the door was open to me.”

  “God. All these years, my baby held this secret.”

  “He doesn’t want you to know. He made me promise not to tell you. He said it makes you sad to remember the past.”

  I sighed. “It’s not the past but what happened between us.”

  “We’re changing things now.”

  I squeezed my eyes tight. Wanting so desperately to believe it was true.

  “Why did you tell me? You could have kept it as something between Christopher and you.”

  “Because I don’t want any secrets between us. You and Christopher are my family. I won’t hurt you like that.”

  Family.

  I swallowed as I thought about all the decisions about the future that were so uncertain.

  “I’m scared I’m the one who will hurt you.”

  “Why don’t we discuss that when we’re face to face. I’m pulling up. See you in five minutes.”

  The doorbell rang precisely five minutes after my call with Pierce ended. Butterflies jumped in my stomach. Why was I feeling nervous? Like I felt as a sixteen-year-old on our first date, so many years ago.

  “I’ll get it.” Christopher ran to the penthouse entry, grabbing hold of the door handle and yanking it open. He was literally bouncing up and down when he saw Pierce.

  “You came!”

  “I did.” Pierce stepped inside and crouched down, setting a box on the floor a second before Christopher threw himself into Pierce’s arms.

  A look passed over Pierce’s face that had me holding in a whimper a second before he wrapped his arms around Christopher.

  Pierce looked up at me, mouthing, “Thank you.”

  Dear God, I’d kept him from his son.

  “Is that for me?” Christopher slipped from Pierce’s lap and eyed the wrapped box.

  “Yes, it is. Here you go.” Handing him the package, Pierce stood. “Careful. It is super heavy.”

  Christopher swayed a bit as he held the gift. What the hell was under the paper? He shifted the box and moved to leave, but I grabbed him before he could go too far.

  “Not so fast. What do you say?”

  “Efcharistó poly…umm I mean, thank you.”

  Pierce gave him a smile that had my heart melting. “Parakalo.”

  Christopher’s eyes grew big and then his lips curved in an identical grin to Pierce’s. “You speak Greek?”

  “I do. Both my parents are Greek.”

  “You mean Pappous Collin and Yia Yia Rhea.”

  Pierce froze for a second but then nodded. “Yes.”

  “I like Pappous Collin. He buys me ice cream and tells me stories.”

  “Baby, why don’t you go open your present and let me welcome Pierce into our home.”

  Christopher nodded and ran to the coffee table with the box that was almost as big as he was. Within seconds the wrapping was history, and he was squealing with excitement as he opened the box, pulling out the giant instruction manual and various bags of pieces.

  It was the Lego Millennium Falcon.

  “Really?” I lifted a brow as I looked into Pierce’s cobalt-blue eyes.

  “You’re a Star Wars geek. I can safely assume any child of yours would be too.”

  “That’s not what I was referring to. That set is worth eight hundred dollars.”

  “Let me spoil him this one time. After all, this is the first time I’m meeting him.” He cupped my face, running his thumb over my lower lip. “Am I allowed to kiss you? I don’t wholly know the rules.”

  My hand covered his on my cheek. “Neither do I.”

  “Then let’s go with what feels right.” His lips grazed mine. When he pulled back, he tucked a stray hair behind my ear. “Hi.”

  I laughed at how silly I felt and lifted up onto my tiptoes, giving him another quick kiss, and turned to find Christopher watching us with fascination.

  After a few moments, he asked, “Are you going to marry Mama?”

  He did not just ask that.

  “Christopher. That’s not…”

  Pierce cut me off. “Yes, I am. But I may need your help to convince her.”

  Dear God, he did not just say that.

  “Okay.” Christopher nodded. “But I’ll warn you. Mama is stubborn as a mule. Well, that’s what Yia Yia says.”

  “I couldn’t agree more,” Pierce responded with a tone of humor in his voice and squeezed my waist.

  My cheeks heated in mortification. These two were definitely father and son.

  “Want to help me start this kit before dinner?”

  My heart felt like it would explode from the joy on both their faces.

  Chapter Twenty

  Pierce

  * * *

  “This is Lykaios.” I answered the phone without looking at who was calling as I pulled up to the Cypress.

  I was late to dinner with Amelia and Christopher because of some last-minute meetings before the craziness of the fight took over my life.

  The last month had been everything I could ever have imagined. I was getting to know my son and Amelia, and I had grown accustomed to the dynamics of our unique relationship. Rarely, if ever, would I spend the night at Amelia’s, and on the occasions I had, I’d sneak out of her place before Christopher woke. I didn’t want him ever to think I wanted his mother more than him.

  “Pierce, son. I have to talk to you.” My body stiffened, hearing Collin’s voice on the line.

  Why would he be calling me? I hadn’t initiated any contact since I learned the truth about the past from Hagen and the only connection we had was his relationship with Amelia.

  “Collin. What can I do for you?” I asked, stepping out of my car and handing the keys to the valet.

  “I’m sure I’m the last person you want to hear from, but I had to call you.”

  I made my way into the residential lobby and toward the elevators.

  Pushing the call button, I asked, “What’s going on?”

  “I just received word that Astros Dukas has leaked information about Christopher’s paternity to the Greek press.”

  My blood froze.

  I waited until the cab doors closed before I responded. “How would he know that I am Christopher’s father?”

  “Apparently, he collected hair samples from Christopher and had them run against a first cousin of Stavros. The results showed no familial relationship. He is pressing the Thanos family to call into question Stavros Thanos’s last will and trust.”

  “The hell he is.”

  “I’ve done everything in my power to keep this from getting out, but I’ve had no luck.” Collin sighed. “I even called Draco for help.”

  “You did what? Why would you do this?”

  From everything Hagen had told me, Draco would be the last person Collin would ever consider contacting. He had to have been desperate.

  “Because that boy is my grandson.” There was outrage in his tone. “You are my son, and Amelia is as much a daughter to me as Henna and Anaya are.”

  The mention of Anaya had my temper calming. Collin had proven he would do anything to protect those he cared for, even make an enemy of them.

  “What do you need me to do?” I asked Collin.

  “I need you to tell Amelia. She mentioned she was having dinner with you. I convinced her to leave Christopher with Marie so they could go see a new children’s show premiering tonight.”

  “Fuck.” I ran a frustrated hand through my hair. “This is all we need.”

  That bastard Dukas had to have pl
anned this. He annoyed me when he’d crashed our sponsor party, and what I’d learned about him from the conversation I’d overheard Amelia having about the board made me want to take care of him the way Hagen would have back in the day, with fists and the fear of God. And I’d have no regrets whatsoever in doing it.

  “Do the American outlets know?” I paced the short space of the elevator as it ascended to Amelia’s floor.

  As soon as I got a chance, I would call my media manager to get staff assembled for the inevitable media shitstorm that was guaranteed to descend on us.

  “I’m sure it will come out soon. The only reason I found out was because I still have friends in Greece with ties to various news agencies in Europe. They wanted to warn me about what was headed our way.”

  “Fuck.” I punched the polished aluminum of the cab, leaving a dent.

  “Exactly,” Collin agreed. “I’m going to move Christopher and the Nephuses to my house. It is the most secure. You keep Amelia with you. I don’t want her blindsided by the media vultures. They’re ten times more aggressive here in the States than they are in Europe.”

  “I got it. Now my only problem is convincing her to stay put. You of all people have to know she burns the candle at both ends. And with this fight around the corner, she has more shit than usual to do. Plus, I’m going to need divine intervention to keep her from handing me my balls.”

  “That’s what happens when you fall for a hot-blooded Greek woman. I should know.”

  There was a whimsy to Collin’s voice that I hadn’t heard before. It made me ache for a time that sometimes I believed I’d made up in my mind. I shook the thought away. I couldn’t go down that rabbit hole.

  “Thank you.”

  “You’re welcome, son.”

  I hung up the phone, feeling a sense of urgency, dread, and hope. Urgency and dread because I was going to have to cage Amelia, and from everything I’d learned, that was how she’d lived to fit into the world of the wealthy and elite.