Ries lifted his head and their lips met as he urged her hips further over his own, until she was straddling him again.
“Stephanie, take me inside you.”
She moaned in response, placing kisses across his chest as she released him and pushed herself up, and placing her hands on his lower stomach as she followed his directive. Once he was fully seated inside her, she leaned forward wanting to taste his lips once more
Ries didn’t disappoint, kissing her with a passion she’d never experienced before him. It was if he reached deep inside her and touched her heart. He murmured words she didn’t understand in her ear, but it was as if her heart was in tune with his.
She felt loved and cared for – something she’d not felt in a long time.
Chapter 12
Around noon, Ries woke up again and immediately reached for Stephanie. To his disappointment, he found himself alone in the bed.
He slowly rolled over to his good side and sat up on the side of the bed, scrubbing a hand over his face as he tried to dispel the sense of disappointment that filled his chest.
He’d begun to imagine what life could be like with Stephanie by his side but hadn’t realized how important she’d become to him in such a short time. Until just now.
Finding himself alone was like a stab in the heart. He’d been happy when he woke up earlier to find her body draped across his, a satisfied smile on her face as she slept in his arms.
Ries had envisioned many such mornings where they’d wake in each other’s arms and spend hours pleasuring each other before starting their day. Ries had even imagined he would leave her side to go to the corporate office where he would work alongside his brothers to make the family business even more successful.
It was the first time Ries had actually been able to see a way forward in his life, beyond the next week.
Rather than instilling fear and loathing inside his chest, he’d been filled with anticipation.
So where was the woman who was responsible for this change? She should be lying next to him right now instead of…well, whatever else she was doing.
As he headed for the bathroom, old doubts and fears began to seep into his brain. Doubts that told him he wasn’t good enough for her and she deserved someone like Damon by her side.
Ries pulled on a pair of pajama pants, foregoing a shirt for the moment, and went in search of Stephanie.
He was surprised to hear what sounded like his brother’s voice coming from the sitting room as he came downstairs. Chris met him at the bottom and filled him in on everything he’d missed during the first part of the day.
“The authorities are here as is Nicolai. They contacted him last night and have some news about the men we were able to apprehend at the beach.”
Ries frowned, “I thought there weren’t any survivors?”
Chris shook his head, “That’s what I thought but they found a couple of men hiding in one of the fishing shacks. Lucky for us, they both have extensive records but I’ll let the police fill you in on those particulars. On another note, how are you feeling this morning?”
“Like I’ve been shot,” Ries groused. “Where is Stephanie?”
“She’s in there with your brother and the police. She refused to let anyone go upstairs and wake you up.”
Ries felt his frown disappear and he filed that information away to be examined later.
“I should probably join them. You come as well; I want maximum security around Stephanie until this situation is contained.”
“Already on it,” Chris informed him as they entered the sitting room.
“Ries!” Stephanie exclaimed upon seeing him, rushing to his side and searching his eyes as she whispered, “You shouldn’t be out of bed.”
Ries took her hand and then bent and kissed her cheek, “Thank you for your concern but I’m okay.”
“You don’t look that well, brother,” Nicolai told him, coming forward and examining him with his eyes. “Stephanie is to be credited with saving your life, I hear?”
“That’s correct. If not for her, I would have been shot and mostly like you would be planning my funeral right now.”
Stephanie blanched at his words and he released her hand, slipping his arm around her shoulders and pulling her close.
“I’m going to be fine,” he told Nicolai. “Now tell me what you’ve learned from the men you arrested.”
The police quickly introduced themselves and Detective Pataros started explaining, “It seems you and your brothers have garnered the attention of the Ekdikités.”
At this news, the entire room grew strangely quiet, until Stephanie broke the silence. “What does that word mean?”
“The Ekdikités are an organized crime syndicate that operates out of Cyprus and Macedonia. They also have ties to several other countries but it is rumored their headquarters is here – in Greece. In English, their name means ‘Avengers’ but they are nothing more than a group of thugs who have taken it upon themselves to profit from the country’s history,” Detective Pataros explained.
“Are they like the mob?” Stephanie guessed.
“In a way. But this group specializes in smuggling ancient artifacts out of the country and selling them to the highest bidder. They have been doing this for decades and it’s only recently that they have begun trafficking other items.”
“Such as?” Ries asked.
“Weapons. Illicit drugs. Even people,” Nicolai answered.
“The grandson of the syndicate’s founder is now in charge and his greed knows no bounds. Nicolai was telling me about your missing shipments and cargo and I believe they have been using Kafatos Shipping as their primary means of moving merchandise out of Greece. Their workers write it on the books as a legitimate shipment – but they load it with their own goods and take the cargo to destinations unknown.”
Ries and Nicolai shared a look. Ries asked, “How long have you known about this?”
Detective Pataros shook his head, “We haven’t. Until we started running backgrounds on the two men we captured, we didn’t know who we were dealing with. Does the name Angelo Kartsonakis mean anything to you?”
Nicolai nodded. “He’s number two on Interpol’s most wanted list. A terrorist no one seems to be able to catch.”
“That is correct. I’ve personally been after this criminal for the last ten years but he always seems to slip through my fingers. I’m hoping this time will be different.”
“Angelo is a part of the syndicate?” Stephanie asked, confused at the connection.
“No. Angelo is a freelancer – an assassin working for the highest bidder. The two men we arrested are connected to the syndicate.
“The grandson – Dmitrius Yttrios was born in Cyprus, but his mother was English and took him back to Britain when he was young. He had very limited association with his father until a few years ago. We believe he was brought back to Greece for the sole purpose of assuming the reins of the syndicate upon his father’s passing.”
“Stephanie heard someone talking to this Angelo, speaking English. Is it possible she was listening to this man – Dmitrius Yttrios?”
“Very likely, he’s known for believing himself invincible and would have no qualms about hiring an assassin in public. Did you get a good look at him, miss?” the detective asked.
Stephanie shook her head, “Not really, just the Greek guy. I could probably recognize his voice but I’m not sure of that either.”
“No worries,” Detective Pataros assured her.
“We’ve had another rash of museum and depository burglaries in the last few weeks. It is my belief that they are getting ready to move a large number of pieces out of the country. They would need a large ship to do so as several of the stolen pieces are statues weighing well over a thousand pounds each.”
“How does someone steal something like that?” Ries asked, incredulous.
“Carefully, and with inside help. We know that at least one of the museums had an employee who disabled t
he security system, giving the thieves well over nine hours to remove items without anyone being the wiser.”
“So, what do we do?” Nicolai asked.
“First, we need to ensure that your brother and his girlfriend are kept safe. The men we arrested confessed that Angelo has been hired by Dmitrius to kill Ries first, and then go after the rest of you. He believes that by taking you all out, it will pave the way for him to step in and assume control of the company, thereby eliminating any further need for secrecy or caution when moving their merchandise.”
“They would be in control of the shipments and could hire their own people to do everything,” Nicolai added. “Clever but not something we can allow to succeed. Ries, you and Stephanie need to be careful.”
“What about you?” Ries asked.
“No one knows I am here and I’m returning home in a few minutes. I flew over here to check things out for myself. Damon is not happy nor does he know about my visit.”
“When is Damon ever happy with me?” Ries asked.
“Sirs, I am going to take my leave now,” Detective Pataros told them. “I will be in touch when we have something new to report.”
Ries and Nicolai thanked the man before Nicolai turned to Ries with a knowing grin. “You look happier than I think I’ve ever seen you, which is odd seeing as how you were shot yesterday. What gives?”
Nicolai’s eyes slid over to Stephanie as though he already knew the answer.
Chapter 13
Stephanie felt Ries’ eyes on her. She tried not to blush when he explained his recent happiness.
Nicolai winked at her and then whispered, “Whatever you’re doing, keep it up. You’ve been good for him.”
Stephanie merely nodded as Nicolai bid his brother farewell and instructed Chris to do whatever was necessary to keep everyone safe. Moments later, she was once again alone with Ries and the way he was looking at her was unnerving. She gave him a smile and then moved out from under his arm.
“Let me go get you some breakfast, and I’m sure you’re ready for some more pain medication by now.”
“Don’t run off,” Ries reached for her but she eluded him.
“I’ll be right back. Would you rather eat up in your bedroom?”
“No, here is fine. Chris,” Ries called out, snagging Stephanie’s arm and keeping her from leaving the room.
“Yes?”
“Could you ask the housekeeper to fix us both some breakfast? And if you have my prescription, I wouldn’t refuse a pain med right about now.”
Chris reached into his pocket and withdrew a prescription bottle. He set it on the table and then left the room, saying, “I’ll have breakfast brought in to you shortly.”
“Thanks.”
“I could have done that,” she told him.
“But you don’t have to. My brother seemed to like you,” he murmured as he led her over to the couch and pulled her down next to him.
It had been odd to see someone looking so much like Ries, and yet who carried himself so differently. Nicolai was a man in charge of his surroundings, and she’d only seen a glimpse of that character trait in Ries. She chalked it up to Ries being the youngest and needing more time to grow into his responsibilities.
Meeting Nicolai and having him talk to her gave her the appearance that he was truly to listening her. When she woke up the second time in Ries’ arms, the light of day had brought about a new set of worries to her mind.
Ries came from a wealth she’d never even imagined and the thought of a future with him was overshadowed with doubts about acceptance and how she would ever fit into his lifestyle. A lifestyle that was as foreign to her as the language he spoke.
She had not decided if it was a risk she was willing to take or if she was going to play it safe and distance herself from Ries. The only man who had made her stop and think about the future.
“What are you thinking about?” Ries asked quietly.
“Your brothers. It didn’t sound like your oldest brother is very happy with you and I don’t understand why,” she told him, neglecting to share with him her worries over her place in his life.
“Damon is perpetually angry with me about something. He’s…” the ringing cellphone interrupted Ries.
Ries pulled it from his pocket and then grimaced, “Speak of the devil.”
Ries held her hand and said, “Stay with me. I might need your moral support.”
“Damon,” Ries greeted his brother on the video screen.
“What were you thinking, Ries?” Damon demanded. His expression was one of disarray.
“Well, I wasn’t intending to get shot, if that is what you are suggesting,” Ries answered with a trace of sarcasm and anger in his voice.
“You were asked to do a simple job - and involving yourself in a shootout at a public beach was not it.”
“I don’t suppose you care that I was trying to find out who painted targets on our backs?” Ries asked.
Stephanie listened to his voice and squeezed his hand, wishing his brother could show just a bit of compassion and thankfulness that he was still alive, instead of berating him over doing what Ries had thought was right at the time.
“Are you okay?” Damon asked, dropping his tyrant persona for a brief minute.
“I’ll live,” Ries answered shortly. He moved the phone and Stephanie watched Damon’s expression cloud when he saw she was there.
“What is one of your women doing there? I don’t suppose you could stop the partying for even one night? I would have assumed getting shot would have put a damper on things.”
“First,” Ries answered, vibrating with anger over his brother’s words. “Stephanie is not ‘one of my women’ and it’s not really any of your business who I spend my time with.”
“When someone has targeted our company and our lives, everything is my business. You don’t know this woman. What makes you think you can trust her and she’s not the reason you got shot in the first place?”
Ries released Stephanie’s hand and stood up, pacing across the room with the phone and lowering his voice to a growl,
“You don’t know anything about her. She is the most trustworthy person I’ve ever met and if it weren’t for her, I wouldn’t be here for you to lecture, so stuff your opinions. I don’t want to hear them. As far as I’m concerned, Stephanie is now part of this family, so you need to get used to it.”
Stephanie heard his words, indignant as they were, and hope sprung forth, banishing her earlier doubts and questions to the wayside. It seemed she didn’t have to wonder about her place in Ries’ future. He’d just laid it out in clear detail for his brother.
When he turned and looked at her, it just confirmed what he’d said. His expression was filled with love and Stephanie knew then that Ries was not only her present but her future too.
They needed to stay alive long enough for the authorities to catch the man trying to kill them and then they could start living their lives. Together.
Ries disconnected the call and then stalked toward her, his intent displayed across his face. He didn’t disappoint, sweeping her into his chest with his good arm and proceeding to kiss her until they were both gasping for breath.
Chris and the housekeeper entered the room, breaking Ries and Stephanie apart. Breakfast trays were set out on the table and they were left alone again.
Stephanie’s stomach growled at the smell of the food and Ries chuckled, “It looks like you need the food more than you need me right now. Let’s eat and then we’ll sit down with the security team and make sure everything is in place to keep you safe.”
“And you,” she reminded him, following him to the table.
“We’ll both stick together and that will make Chris and his team’s job easier. I trust staying close to me will not be a hardship for you?” he asked teasingly.
Stephanie sighed dramatically and then gave him a sad look, “I will endeavor to suffer in silence.”
Ries chuckled and they set about eating.
Stephanie liked how easy he was to talk to as he told her stories from his childhood, doing his best to draw her mind away from the fact that someone was trying to kill them both.
She appreciated his efforts, and enjoyed learning about the man and his secret aspirations. Aspirations she hoped he would continue to bring out into the light of day and accomplish.
Ries was an amazing man, and she couldn’t wait to see him shine and show his brothers how capable he truly was.
Chapter 14
Next day
“You’re not going, end of discussion,” Ries told Stephanie from across the breakfast table.
“I need to go back to my apartment…”
“Whatever you need, give me a list and someone will procure it for you.”
“I don’t want someone to ‘procure’ it for me, I want my own stuff,” she told him, trying hard not to lose her patience.
The day before neither she nor Ries had felt good enough to be in public. But today, she desperately needed some of her own clothing. She couldn’t continue wearing his shirts and rolled up sleep pants.
“Fine, I will go and get whatever you need,” he told her, taking a sip of his coffee and eyeing her over the rim of the cup.
Stephanie took a calming breath before asking, “You can leave the apartment but I can’t?”
“I will have adequate protection and I’m used to being careful,” he countered back.
Stephanie turned away not sure she was able to keep the hurt from showing on her face.
Does he not trust that I’m able to take care of myself? Or is he just trying to find a way to keep me from leaving?
She steeled her spine and then faced him again, “I want to go with you.”
“No. I need to know that you’re safe and that means you need to stay here.” Ries’ gaze was cold as she argued with him.
“If you will be safe, then I will be safe if I’m with you…”
Protected By Him (The Greek Brothers Book 4) Page 8
