Master Of Games
Page 21
It took Hugo thirty minutes to clean up and give a few small one-on-one interviews before we made it up to the main media stage.
The second Hugo climbed the steps, Apollo approached, shaking his hand and pulling him into a bear hug. From the smiles on both their faces, there were no hard feelings after the beat-down poor Hugo had taken. My guess was that Apollo was going to take the young fighter under his wing.
I remained a little off the stage, as did Amelia, letting the fighters and coaches go through a play-by-play and Q and A with the reporters.
As the session was wrapping up, a reporter stood and asked, “Apollo. We need you to clarify a rumor. Was this your last match? Are you officially retiring?”
He remained quiet for a few moments, before speaking. “Yes. As of today, I will no longer fight professionally. I feel it is an honor to be part of such a prestigious community, but it is time for me to pursue other ventures. Plus, I believe my body has taken enough abuse.” He rubbed a bruise forming on his jaw and mock-glared at Hugo, causing the audience to laugh.
“Apollo, one more question. Now that you’ve announced your retirement, what are your plans? Are you leaving the sporting world altogether?”
He glanced over at Amelia, and I felt as if they were sharing some special communication.
After she nodded, he answered.
“No. I’m actually going to still be in the thick of things, but on the opposite side. You are now looking at the Chief Operating Officer of the European division of Thanos Sports.”
I stiffened, and the crowd erupted in a plethora of questions. I couldn’t have heard him right. I shifted and saw Amelia watching me.
The intensity of her gaze made my heartbeat accelerate. Was she staying? Was she giving me what I wanted more than anything?
Once the noise lowered, another reporter asked, “Would this have to do with the reports that Amelia Thanos’s son is, in fact, Pierce Lykaios’s?”
Oh fuck. This was not the time or place.
“We’re here to discuss the sports world, not tabloid fodder.” Apollo glared at the man who posed the question.
I moved to end the press conference, but Amelia walked up next to Apollo, setting a hand on his back. They spoke in hushed tones and Apollo sighed, stepping to the side.
“I’ll answer the question. Actually, I’ll make a statement and then I will never respond to questions on this subject again.” There was an authority in her voice I’d never seen her use and made me realize this was how she’d made her company into a powerhouse.
“As a teenager, I had a relationship with a young swimmer, Pierce Lykaios. We fell in love and were together for two years. Through circumstances that I won’t go into, we broke up. I kept the fact I was pregnant from him.” She turned her attention to me as another murmur went through the crowd.
She was letting the world know the truth. She loved me. Anyone who looked at her would see it in her eyes. I swallowed, trying to push away the emotions locked in my throat, and forced myself to stay where I stood.
“Shortly after I left Pierce, I met a wonderful man who I married. He loved my child as if he were his own. However, he passed away in a tragic accident. A few months ago, Pierce and I rekindled our romance with him knowing he fathered a child with me. We planned to keep the news a secret until the time was right for our son, but others took that choice from us.
“Now we are here today focusing our energy on a personal family issue instead of these remarkable athletes sitting before us. And for the record, Pierce Lykaios is my family.”
Her words had all the blood rushing to my head.
“The next time anyone asks me a non-business-related question,” she continued, “you will be ignored. The sporting world is no place for tabloid drama.”
She stepped away from the microphone and moved off the stage, coming toward me.
She stopped a few feet from me, a blush warming her cheeks. “How did I do?”
“You’re pretty formidable when riled,” I managed to say after I got my throat to cooperate.
“I guess some of Yia Yia Syl’s traits rubbed off on me.”
The flashes of the cameras brought both of us out of our stupor.
“Let’s go somewhere private.”
She nodded, and I led her toward a hallway that opened into an area filled with arena offices. After punching in the code, we entered the bright and aesthetically pleasing area.
It hit me then. Collin hadn’t change the code. It was his wedding date.
I could still remember running through this building as a child when there was sawdust everywhere and the happy laughter of Mama and Collin’s banter as they discussed colors that made a pleasing work environment.
I pushed the memories back and focused on the beautiful woman before me.
“So what happens next?” I asked, leaning against the closed door, folding my arms.
She set a hand next to my head and the other on my chest, moving forward until her mouth was a hairsbreadth from me. “I assumed it was obvious.”
I resisted the need to touch her. Her scent was intoxicating, something I couldn’t stop craving.
“Spell it out for me, so there’s no confusion.”
“I want you.” She nipped my bottom lip. “Mind, body, and soul.”
“And?” My voice was thicker than I wanted it to be. This woman had me twisted in ways no other had ever done to me.
She bit down hard this time on my lip, licking the place where her teeth had grazed, and making my cock jump in response. “And I’m going to keep you.”
“Tell me what that means.” I gripped her waist. I couldn’t help myself.
“It means I want us to be a family. Like the one you imagined having. You, Christopher, and me. We’re not going back to Greece.”
Hope bloomed. This was really happening.
“And your businesses?” I threaded my fingers into her hair, tugging her head back, and stared into her caramel-hued eyes.
She smiled up at me. “Well, you see, I signed over my role as Chairman of Thanos International to Lucas and Olivia Thanos. They were born for managing the empire. They’ll only call on me if I need to make critical decisions.”
“And what about your promotion company? It’s your baby.”
“I’m not sure if you heard the news, but I just hired a well-known martial artist to take over my European interests. This will allow me to expand my empire to North and South America. I believe my future husband needs some healthy competition. It’s not fair for him to dominate the market.”
I swallowed. “You’re getting married?”
“Yes. There is this former Olympian I’ve got my heart set on. He told me that he would own me, feed my need to submit, and fuck me hard.”
“Does he do all of those things?”
“Absolutely. Plus, he does this one other thing.”
“What’s that?”
“He loves me.”
I drew her to me and said, “Yes he does. He will love you until his dying breath.”
* * *
The End
Note from the Author:
Word-of-mouth is an important tool for every author. If you enjoyed this book, please review this book online. Even if it is one or two sentences, it would make a difference and I’d greatly appreciate it.
Review Here -> www.books2read.com/masterofgames
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Much love,
Sienna
Read the first book in the Gods of Vegas Series:
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www.books2read.com/masterofsin
It was always him...
The one I shouldn't want, shouldn't crave, the one who could destroy my carefully built life.
Hagen Lykaios was the essence of sin, indulgence, and danger - everything I knew to avoid.
All it took was one unexpected touch, and he consumed me, left me begging, needy, and hungry for more.
He said if I entered his world he would corrupt me, own me, and
change all that I had ever known...and you know what? I went anyway.
Book 3 in the God of Vegas, July 2019.
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Add to your Goodread TBR: Master of Revenge
We are rivals. Sworn enemies. And he is the only man to ignite a fire in my soul.
* * *
I walk a fine line between control and chaos, defined by my past and driven by my future. Nothing can stop me from protecting those I love.
* * *
Zack Lykaios is cunning and dangerous. He wants to destroy everything I've built on his ruthless march to the top.
* * *
All that I am, or ever will be, says I should avoid him.
* * *
Still, I've been tempted. One card game. One night of all-consuming passion. One craving I can't deny. One need I can never quench.
* * *
Wanting him can only lead to disaster. Loving him is guaranteed to destroy my world.
About the Author
Inspired by her years working in corporate America, Sienna loves to serve up stories woven around confident and successful women who know what they want and how to get it, both in – and out – of the bedroom.
Her heroines are fresh, well-educated, and often find love and romance through atypical circumstances. Sienna treats her readers to enticing slices of hot romance infused with empowerment and indulgent satisfaction.
Sienna loves the life of travel and adventure. She plans to visit even the farthest corners of the world and delight in experiencing the variety of cultures along the way. When she isn’t writing or traveling, Sienna is working on her “happily ever after” with her husband and children.
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www.SiennaSnow.com
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Books by Sienna Snow
Rules of Engagement
Rule Breaker
Rule Master
Rule Changer
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Politics of Love
Celebrity
Senator
Commander
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Gods of Vegas
Master of Sin
Master of Games
Master of Revenge (July 2019)
Master of Secrets (September 2019)