Legacy of Olympus (In the Gods' Secret Service)

by Teri Gilbert

“I see you didn’t take kindly to your cousin.” A smooth, heavily accented voice raised the hairs on the back of Alec’s neck. “Well, you needn’t worry about him anymore.”

  “Who is this?”

  “I would have thought Miss Katsakis would have filled you in.”

  “So you’re the infamous Dorian Mallaki. Well, listen, you piece of shit. Leave us the hell alone.”

  Silence.

  Mallaki’s voice was tight when he spoke again. “I see you don’t know who I am.”

  “You’re the asshole who murdered innocents at Amalgamated.”

  “That all depends on your perspective, Mr. Androulakis. But, given time, I highly doubt you’ll use the word ‘innocent’ in connection with that organization.”

  “What do you want?”

  “I want you to come to my estate in Miami. As my guest.”

  “Why?”

  “I have a business proposition I think would interest you.”

  “Such as?”

  “In exchange for your help, you’ll become one of the richest men in the world.”

  “I saw what you did to Eleni’s friends. What would make you think I would come?”

  “I know your history. I know you like nice things. I know you have a fancy car and an expensive apartment. You have my word that no harm will come to you.”

  “Your word means nothing to me.” Alec snapped the cell phone closed and motioned Eleni forward. “Let’s get out of here.”

  Eleni was visibly upset. “You shouldn’t talk to him like that.”

  “He’s just a man, Eleni. Unless he’s right around the corner, he can’t touch us.”

  She opened her mouth, then closed it again and shook her head. For some reason that unnerved him more than if she’d continued her argument.

  Twenty minutes later, Alec turned his Mustang into the parking lot of News Team 7’s office building. Before getting into the car, he’d checked the underside for any sign of tampering. Nothing. Mallaki had a good idea where they were, but obviously he didn’t want them dead. If Mallaki had wanted them dead, he was fairly certain they would be.

  He’d kept an eye out for a tail, but so far, so good. However, racecar red with white stripes wasn’t a great color scheme for a vehicle if he was trying to remain inconspicuous.

  They’d stopped at a fast-food drive-through. Eleni opted for a salad, which she devoured as he drove, while he chowed down a couple heart attacks in a bun, thinking that fast-food chains had gotten a bum rap in the past few years.

  Alec steered toward a parking spot farthest from one of the dozen lampposts. His Mustang would be recognizable, but he had no choice. As eager as he was to check out Stephanos’s story, he had to make a quick stop. He’d left all his paperwork on global warming in his office, never thinking he’d take a day off. He’d grab his files, and get out. Simple, but not foolproof.

  “No one should be here at this hour. Most people are at the television studio.” Alec glanced at Eleni in the passenger seat. “Even if someone happens to come by, you could convince them they hadn’t seen anything, couldn’t you?”

  “Yes.”

  He’d meant it sarcastically, but Eleni obviously hadn’t taken it that way. A chill crept up his back. She really believed she had a special power.

  He exited his Mustang and swiftly made his way to the back entrance, swept his News Team Seven I.D. through the scanner, and held his breath. Surely Klingerman wouldn’t have cancelled his access already.

  Click. He blew out the breath he’d been holding and entered. The back hallways were always dark, but they seemed even more so now.

  What was he doing, sneaking around like a fugitive? He should be working on his report, finishing up his obligations to Klingerman, so he could leave for CNN in a couple weeks.

  But once he got his files, he could work, between trying to figure out what the hell to do about his current situation.

  He walked swiftly to his office, unlocked the door, and quickly located his files in his bottom right hand desk drawer, where they always were. A quick scan through the papers confirmed everything was as he’d left it. Satisfied, he re-locked the door, which made a resounding click. He paused, his gut a cold knot of dread. He got the unshakable feeling he’d never be back again.

  Eleni watched Alec disappear into the place where she’d spent nearly a month trying to figure out if Alec had any special abilities. It was only the last day or so that had showed her Alec might have what they needed, and the last hour that had convinced her he did.

  But to deliberately provoke Dorian Mallaki...She’d never met him, but his reputation was well known at Amalgamated. She shivered, not knowing if the thought of Mallaki’s reaction or the rapidly cooling night air had caused the tingle of apprehension spiraling along her spine.

  Where was Alec? Of all places Mallaki’s men would stake out, this would be at the top of the list. She got out of the car. The air felt damp, as if it might rain. She drew her sweater tighter, trying to stem the sense of unease that had somehow taken hold of her.

  Something wasn’t right. She headed for the front door. She could hasten Alec out of there, then go meet Stephanos. By now, Stephanos had to have come up with a plan.

  Before she had a chance to get out her day pass, Alec exited, briefcase in hand.

  Relief sagged her shoulders. “What took you so long?”

  He looked surprised, then checked his cell phone. “I’ve only been gone a few minutes, Eleni.”

  It had felt like forever. What would it feel like when he was truly gone from her life? She shoved the distressing thought aside. That was something she’d deal with later. For now, they had to get to Stephanos.

  Alec grasped Eleni’s elbow and hurried her toward his car, their rapid footsteps crunching on the gravel. A part of him was flattered she’d missed him. Another, concerned as hell because he, too, sensed something sinister in the air.

  His body still thrummed with energy, and he felt like he could take on anyone. Too bad Mallaki wasn’t here. He’d deliver, in spades.

  And Stephanos, well, Stephanos had better hope to whatever gods he prayed to that he had a good reason for getting Eleni involved in this.

  “Alec?” Eleni placed a hand on his arm, stopping him beneath a lamppost. “Are you all right?” Her anxious gaze scanned his face.

  Did he appear as hyped up as he felt?

  “I’m fine.” He attempted a reassuring smile, but could tell from her skeptical expression she wasn’t convinced.

  A sudden gust of wind whipped Eleni’s silly wig around. It lay lopsided on her head, like a Barbie whose owner had dressed her too hastily.

  Without thinking, he shifted the brown mop back into place. He met her wide-eyed gaze, and something in him released, then softened.

  “Did I scare you?” Could he blame her if he had? He wasn’t a violent person. How could he explain how right it had felt to put that punk in his place?

  He smoothed down the wayward strands of Eleni’s straw-like hair, hating that he might have frightened her.

  Her brows furrowed. “I think Stephanos is right about you. You’re the one we’ve been looking for.”

  His jaw tightened at hearing Stephanos’s name. She just had to bring him up again.

  A light at the opposite end of the parking lot flickered on and off. For some reason that irritated him. Couldn’t the station afford to replace a damn light bulb?

  He caught a whiff of ozone, and the tiny hairs on the back of his neck rose and separated. But there was no one in sight.

  Eleni glanced behind them, and bit her lower lip. “Alec, something’s wrong. Do you think we should go inside?”

  Before he could reply, a man about five-feet tall, plus or minus an inch or two, appeared directly in front of them. He wore a black business suit, bowler hat, and dark sunglasses, bringing to mind Jim Belushi and The Blues Brothers. But he sincerely doubted the man was about to break into song.

  Alec took Eleni’s hand, ready to sprint
the remaining distance to his car. The man had come out of nowhere.

  As he turned, another man, tall and lanky, dressed in the same strange manner as the first, stood in their path. Where had they come from? Had his cuz, or Mallaki, alerted them?

  The short man distanced himself from his cohort, leaving them nowhere to go except backward.

  With a challenging stare, the squat man tipped his hat. “I believe you got a phone call from an associate of mine.”

  A chill swept over Alec, followed immediately by a flash of anger so intense, it was difficult not to just lunge at them and take them down. These men had stolen his life, and he wanted it back.

  “You could have saved us a lot of trouble by agreeing to meet Master Mallaki.” The thin man advanced. “Now we have to do this the hard way.”

  Alec refused to budge. He’d fight, rather than give them the satisfaction of thinking they’d intimidated him. Hell, he welcomed the chance to beat the crap out of these assholes. He’d seen what they’d done at Amalgamated and knew what they had in store for them. He gave Eleni a little push. “Go. Get help.”

  She took a stumbling step backward, then opened her mouth.

  “Don’t.” The tall man wagged a finger at her. “Master Mallaki mentioned your ability. We know your kind, and you’d do best to keep those pretty lips of yours closed. You never know who might get hurt if we’re forced to do something rash.”

  “Eleni, go. Now.” Alec tried to meet her gaze, but she refused to look at him.

  “We just want to talk to you, Mr. Androulakis.” The second one circled around behind Eleni.

  If she made a run for it, either man could easily catch her.

  “The way you talked to Stephanos?” Alec edged closer to Eleni. If she wouldn’t leave, then he’d have no choice but to fight again. Well, bring it on.

  “An unfortunate casualty.”

  So they didn’t know he was alive. Neither did he, but something told him Eleni’s boss was among the living. She hadn’t been wrong yet. “You make this sound like a war.”

  “Didn’t she tell you?” The tall one jutted his chin toward Eleni. “We are at war.”

  In the blink of an eye, the short one stood at Eleni’s side. What the hell? Dumbfounded, Alec leapt toward her. How had he moved so fast?

  “We’re taking her with us, too. As collateral.” The man wrapped a stubby arm around Eleni’s waist and clamped her hard against his side.

  Eleni’s eyes widened.

  “Wait.” Alec held out his hands and stepped forward. “I’ll cooperate.” Yeah, right. He charged the torso on stilts, smashing his head into his chest.

  “So that’s how we’re playing it?” A fist slammed into Alec’s stomach, causing him to double over. Air rushed from his body in a whoosh of pain. Damn. For such a skinny guy, he was strong. Balling his hand into a fist, Alec remembered Nick’s advice on how to deck a bully, then struck his opponent low on the chin. Pain erupted along his knuckles as the asshole crumbled to the asphalt in a pile of gangly limbs.

  The short one kept a solid hold on Eleni, who squirmed, kicking out with her legs and arms as she struggled to free herself.

  There was no sign of a weapon of any kind. Alec worked his fingers, trying to ease the pain. If he charged the guy, they’d have a chance. He took a step forward. “Let her go and I’ll cooperate.”

  “That’s what you said before. I think we’re going to need our insurance policy.” He clasped Eleni a little tighter, then lifted the edge of his hat.

  The air around him shimmered in waves, engulfing both him and Eleni in a bizarre, translucent sort of cloud. Alec had only seen something similar from super-heated tar. And it certainly wasn’t hot. If anything, the air felt chilly.

  The ripples seemed to coalesce and tighten around all of them, and the smell of ozone grew increasingly strong.

  The phenomenon pulsed, once.

  Alec stared, open-mouthed, and cold dread washed over him, leaving him sick and disoriented.

  The Blues Brothers and Eleni had vanished.

  Chapter 8

  Blasted with a surge of vertigo unlike anything she’d ever experienced, Eleni closed her eyes, trying to block out the image of Alec, standing a few feet away, a mixture of horror and disbelief fixed on his face. Her stomach rolled and churned as she struggled to keep its meager contents in place. She’d heard of teleporting, but had never actually witnessed the unusual method of transportation, let alone experienced it.

  Images and colors blurred behind her closed lids. Her body felt light, scattered, then her stomach rolled again. Suddenly, the unfamiliar sensation stopped. She drew several deep, soothing breaths of warm, humid air and opened her eyes.

  They’d materialized in a brightly lit circular room lined with windows overlooking the moonlit ocean. The heavyset man remained next to her, his grip tight around her upper arm. “Release me.”

  Relief coursed through Eleni as he did as she had commanded.

  Stick Man on the other side of her made a sound of frustration and lunged. “I knew we should have gagged you.”

  “Stop.”

  “I’m not as weak-minded as Leo.”

  She had no choice. Tightening her hand into a fist, she let him have it square in the jaw. Spires of fiery pain licked every knuckle, forcing a low cry of pain from her lips.

  Eyes wide and mouth open, the man wobbled back and forth a couple times before dropping to the smooth marble floor with a dull thud. She felt a slight grin spread across her face as she massaged her injured hand. She’d always known she could talk her way out of any situation, but Stephanos had made sure she could fight her way out of one, too.

  She quickly scanned the area, then sprinted in the direction of the closest exit, a corridor a few feet away. She glanced behind her. So far, so good. One was still out cold, and the other was a few feet behind her.

  Facing ahead again, she saw a flash of white before plowing straight into a man’s broad chest. His hands closed around her shoulders. No. Wildly, she swung her arm. Adrenaline surged through her as she struggled against her captor, kicking, squirming, doing anything she could to make him let her go. She wouldn’t be manhandled again. Raising her knee, she aimed for his crotch, missed, catching him on his muscular inner thigh instead. Pain radiated from her kneecap. Damn, she felt as though she’d kneed a chunk of marble.

  The hefty blond wrapped his massive arms around her, immobilizing her, pressing her vise-tight against his hard body. “Enough.” She felt her feet lift off the floor as he half-carried her backward toward the center of the room.

  A low chuckle vibrated in the air. “I think you can set her down now, Zander. Unless, of course, you’re worried she might hurt you.”

  Slashes of red sprang to Zander’s face as he eased her down. The second her feet hit the floor, she whirled to face the man she knew was responsible for her abduction and the murder of her friends.

  The first thing that struck her was that Dorian Mallaki photographed poorly. In person, he was strikingly handsome, with his classic Greek features, accented by a white shirt, unbuttoned to the point where several sprigs of curly black chest hairs were revealed. His tan khaki slacks were snug, emphasizing his lean, muscular physique, and slight bulge at his crotch. Heat flooded her face when she returned her gaze to his face, and spotted the knowing curl of his slightly scarred upper lip.

  “I see my men made a mistake.”

  Her heart thudded in slow, heavy thumps. Did that mean he’d let her go? Or that she was expendable?

  “We encircled them both.” Stick Man joined them, standing a few feet behind, looking somehow shorter. “Bastard must have a bit of the dark one in him.”

  Mallaki shot him a warning glance. “You interrupted me.”

  Stick Man lowered his eyes and shifted nervously from one foot to the other.

  Mallaki returned his gaze to her. “The mistake I was referring to is that you are far more beautiful than my men had led me to believe.” His gaze slid
to her chest, where it lingered longer than necessary, as if he were trying to visualize what she looked like without clothes. As difficult as it was, Eleni forced her arms to remain at her side. Mallaki’s gaze moved lower as he seemed to digest every inch of her.

  The air stilled as his inspection continued.

  She exhaled a trembling breath. His eyes found hers. Arousal lingered in their dark depths. She tore her gaze from his and focused on the shimmering blue water behind him.

  “Yes.” Mallaki spoke softly, as if to himself, then turned to Zander and Stick Man. “Pity you weren’t able to obtain our target. He must have some Hades in him. But she’ll do. Alec Androulakis will surely come to rescue someone as exquisite as she.”

  At Alec’s name, Eleni’s heart sank. She wanted to drop to her knees, beg Mallaki not to hurt him, but realized there would be no point. But maybe she could manipulate Mallaki into letting her go.

  Her captor’s gaze narrowed.

  She traced a tongue along her dry mouth. Could he read her thoughts?

  “Don’t worry, my dear.” A condescending smile graced Mallaki’s lips. “I’m not going to harm Mr. Androulakis, merely persuade him that he should join our side and live in the lap of luxury.” His gaze drifted behind her. “Mr. Androulakis won’t be able to resist my offer, will he, Zander?”

  “No, Master.”

  The almost robotic quality to Zander’s response sent a wave of unease spiraling through her. Please, Alec, don’t come after me. Even as the silent prayer formed in her mind, she knew it was hopeless.

  Dorian Mallaki was a man who always got he wanted. Now she would have to do everything in her power to see that he failed.

  Chapter 9

  Rage flowed red-hot through Alec’s veins as he jogged toward his Mustang. Rage toward his attackers, rage toward Stephanos, and most of all, rage toward himself.

  He’d been foolish to stand in the parking lot waiting for Eleni to reappear and tell him it was all an elaborate hoax of some kind, an illusion of the caliber only David Copperfield could pull off. But, of course, she’d never showed. He had to face the facts. Eleni was gone.