Claiming the Drakos Heir

by Jennifer Faye

  Apollo turned away from Anna’s probing eyes and moved to the window overlooking the garden—a garden he’d planted with Popi. “She wasn’t the woman I thought she was.”

  “What sort of woman would that be?”

  “One that cared.” His voice was nothing more than a whisper.

  “I think there’s something you need to see.”

  “Not now. I just want to be left alone.”

  “It’s important. Come with me and then if you want, I’ll see that no one disturbs you the rest of the day.”

  He knew better than to argue with Anna. The woman was a force to be reckoned with, and it was easier and quicker to placate her than to argue the point.

  He followed her to the other side of the house—the side that he made a point of avoiding. He didn’t want to go there. He didn’t know why Anna would take him here. She knew this part of the house had once been his father’s sanctuary. For Apollo, it had been where he took his punishment for whatever his father felt like accusing him of that day.

  He stopped. “Anna, I can’t.”

  She turned to him. Determination gleamed in her eyes. “You must.”

  “Why? What’s so important?”

  “Something that just might change how you see the future.” Without waiting for him to respond, she turned and kept walking.

  Though every part of him wanted to turn and walk in the opposite direction, he found himself following Anna. What could possibly be so important?

  As they walked, he noticed the hallway had been painted. Instead of that dingy dark gray color that had adorned these halls all his childhood, they were now a much cheerier off-white. And the portrait of ancient wars was replaced with portraits of landscape scenes. Where had they come from? Was this something that Popi had splurged on?

  They turned a corner and stopped in front of a set of double doors. Anna turned to him. “I wasn’t supposed to show you this. It was meant to be a surprise but under the circumstances, I thought you should see what Popi has been up to while the baby naps.”

  Anna pushed open the doors and then stepped aside. Why would Anna let Popi mess around in this room? Anna knew the bad memories he had in here. But when he stepped inside the room, the big oak desk where his father would sit and drink his bourbon was gone. In its place was a modern glass desk. Everything in the room was light and bright—something his father would have hated. And greenery was everywhere. The bookcases that had lined the wall behind his father’s desk were gone. The wall was blank as though it wasn’t finished.

  Knock-knock.

  He turned to find two delivery men with a big roll in their arms, plus some other supplies.

  The men paused at the doorway. “We’re from Manolas Decorating with a delivery.”

  Apollo was confused. “But I refused payment.”

  The man looked at the paper in his hand. “It says that it was paid in full. A Miss Costas paid.”

  And it had to be with her own funds.

  While the man placed the supplies off to the side of the room, Apollo tried to make sense of everything. The money Popi had spent had been for him. She was trying to wipe away the sadness of the past and paint him a new future full of light and hope.

  If he was wrong about her and the money, what else had he been wrong about?

  The memory of the custody papers sitting on the table haunted him. How could that be a misunderstanding? Popi had to know what she was doing.

  But another part of him wanted to believe there was an explanation he hadn’t thought of. He couldn’t leave things like this. He needed answers before it was too late.

  He retrieved the custody papers and headed for Popi’s room. He rapped his fingers on the door, hoping she was there. Surely she wouldn’t have slipped away to a hotel or anything. To his relief, the door opened.

  Popi’s normally bright and sparkly eyes were dulled and red. Had she been crying? Because her plans were about to go awry? Or was it something more?

  He held up the papers. “Was this your idea?”

  “Was what my idea?” Confusion reflected in her eyes.

  “To sue me for custody of Seb and to ask for large support payments?”

  “What?” She paused as though making sense of what he was saying. “Can I see those?”

  “You don’t know what they say?”

  She frowned at him. “Obviously I don’t or I wouldn’t ask to see them.”

  Hope started to swell in his chest, but he tamped it down. It was too soon and he still had questions. “Then why else would your attorney send me these papers?”

  Popi sighed and turned to walk farther into her room. “Because I accidentally overheard you on the phone. You were making plans to leave on a safari—another one of your dangerous adventures. And...and I wanted to make sure the baby is with me when you’re out of town.”

  “I’m not going anywhere. I’m not sure what you heard, but my life is here with Seb.” He stopped himself from saying that his life was with her too, because he still had unanswered questions. “I have no intention of leaving Seb. And I told my friend exactly that.”

  “Oh, I didn’t know.”

  He had one more important question. “And the really large support payments?”

  “I don’t know anything about those. I called my attorney and I was a bit worked up at the time. I told her to do what was best. I thought she would send the papers to me first—not you.”

  His gaze searched her eyes, finding nothing but honesty reflected in them. He knew that his next move would determine the ultimate fate of their relationship.

  “I have to go.”

  He turned and exited the room. His mind was already churning through this new information and what it meant.

  He didn’t have time to bask in the hope that filled him. Instead he needed to act. His questions had been satisfactorily answered, but he couldn’t just apologize and expect Popi to give up her life on Infinity Island. He had to give her a reason to stay here—with him.

  * * *

  Goodbyes were so hard.

  Popi’s dream of raising Seb alongside Apollo had been dashed. That acknowledgment slashed through her heart. How had she read everything with Apollo so wrong?

  As she stood in the dimly lit nursery, Popi blinked repeatedly, stemming the river of tears threatening to spill onto her cheeks. If she gave into her emotions now, she didn’t think she’d be able to stop crying.

  It was time for her to head back to the island...back to her job...back to the welcoming embrace of the island’s close-knit community. Seb would be loved and cared for here. Apollo would see that this precious baby had a hands-on, adoring father. Of that she had absolutely no doubts.

  Raised as a Drakos, Seb would have every opportunity to live a fantastic life. And once a formal visitation agreement was drawn up, she’d see Seb every single chance she was allowed. She’d be around so much that he’d get tired of seeing her, but she would never get enough of Seb’s smiles and laughter.

  She held Seb in her arms until he fell asleep. Tears clouded her vision. She whispered, “You will be safe here. Your uncle will see to it. You will be loved by Apollo and Anna and the rest of the staff that think you hung the stars.” When Shadow meowed from his spot atop the chest of drawers, Popi smiled through her tears. “And Shadow will love...” Her voice cracked. “He’ll love you too.”

  She blinked repeatedly as unshed tears clouded her vision. If she didn’t leave now, she was afraid that she wouldn’t have the strength to do the right thing—leave Seb here. This was his home—his destiny. She’d watched Apollo over the past weeks and he was up to being a good father.

  “I love you, little guy.” She placed the sleeping baby in the crib. “Your mum and dad are watching over you. Always. And I’ll be back just as soon as I can.” She swiped the tears from her cheeks.

 
And then she slipped an envelope from her purse and placed it against the lamp on the chest of drawers. With all her things packed and the baby down for the night, there was nothing left to do but leave.

  With every step she took toward the door, it felt like her heart was being ripped from her chest. Without allowing herself to glance back, she exited the mansion and walked down the long driveway, to where a taxi was waiting to take her to a hotel for the night. Tomorrow she would catch the ferry back to Infinity Island—where she belonged.

  CHAPTER TWENTY-TWO

  WOULD THIS WORK?

  The next morning, after a few hours of restless sleep, Apollo had his plan in motion. It was the only thing he could think of to change Popi’s mind about leaving—about leaving him for being such a jerk.

  Apollo had to admit, for a man used to making decisive decisions in the spur of the moment with potentially deadly consequences, he was totally unsure about this one. Would it be enough to convince her to stay?

  The one thing he did know was that she had changed things for him. Little things and big things. And if he didn’t do everything he could to keep her from walking out that door for good, he would lose his chance at happiness. He was certain of that.

  He’d heard it said by the elders that there was one true love in the world for each person. Popi was that person for him. And he had to show her that a future with him was worth pursuing. But would she believe him?

  It was time to find out. He went to her room and knocked on the door. There was no answer. After he knocked again and called out her name, he opened the door. Her bed was made up as though it hadn’t been slept in. He checked the bathroom, finding no sign of her things. The closet was empty. The dresser was empty.

  She was gone.

  But why? It was way too early to catch the ferry.

  And then his thoughts turned to Seb. Had they both slipped away without even so much as a goodbye? His chest tightened. That couldn’t be. Popi wouldn’t do that, would she?

  Apollo rushed down the hallway to the nursery. He barreled through the doorway and came to a halt when he saw Seb in the crib, kicking his feet and smiling up at his mobile.

  Apollo rushed over and picked up the baby. “Thank goodness you’re still here. That means Popi must still be here. I have to find her.”

  It was then that his gaze strayed across the white envelope on the dresser with his name on it. He knew that writing. It was Popi’s. His heart sunk down to his loafers.

  He called for the nanny. Once the baby was tended to, he took the envelope and walked back to his room. He didn’t want to be disturbed when he read what Popi had to say to him.

  Apollo,

  I’m sorry for disrupting your life in so many ways. I’m sorry for so many things these days. The one thing I’m not sorry for is having Seb and getting a chance to see you with him. You are going to be such a great father. Seb will thrive under your care.

  I’m going back to where I belong—back to Infinity Island. In the morning, I will contact my attorney and have the custody case withdrawn. Seb belongs with you.

  Take care of yourself,

  Popi

  Things couldn’t end this way. He had to find her. He had to prove to her that they were better together than apart.

  * * *

  Life would be better once she returned to Infinity Island.

  That’s what Popi had told herself all night—a very long night. Memories of Apollo kept coming one after the other. She missed the sound of his voice, the twinkle in his eyes when he smiled at her and most of all she missed the utter bliss of feeling his arms around her.

  But once she made it back to the island, she would be busy. There would be so much to do to get the wedding business back up and operating. There would be receptions to plan. People to talk to. And lots to keep her mind from straying to the two men who meant the world to her.

  Leaving was for the best. And she couldn’t take a baby away from his doting uncle and the home that belonged to him. They would get along fine without her—she couldn’t bear to think it would be otherwise.

  And maybe someday soon, Apollo would find love—

  She halted her thoughts there. The thought of him with someone else was just too painful to contemplate. The best she could do at the moment was to hope he found happiness.

  The long, low blow of the ferry whistle let her know it was time to move to the dock. And yet she didn’t move. She didn’t want to move.

  The truth was she’d been happy in Athens with Apollo and Seb. Happier than she’d ever been in her life. Her mind began to replay snippets of memories, from their walks in the garden to their shared meals to their candlelit dinner, where they danced beneath the stars. That had been such a perfect night. Too perfect.

  The truth was she had no right to be so happy. How was she supposed to have the perfect family and the perfect life when her sister had been robbed of her happiness? Life was not fair. Not at all.

  Popi didn’t know how long that she’d sat there when someone bumped her suitcase and jarred her back to reality. She needed to get on that ferry before it pulled out without her. And then she’d have to spend another night alone in a hotel room, with nothing but her memories and regrets to keep her company.

  She got up from the bench and lifted the handle on her suitcase. She started to roll it toward the busy dock when she thought she heard her name being called out. She glanced around but didn’t see anyone she recognized. It was probably her imagination, combined with her abysmal night’s sleep.

  “Popi! Wait!”

  That time she was certain of what she’d heard. It was Apollo’s voice. She stopped and turned, but there were so many people behind her. And they were none too happy that she had stopped and held them up.

  She should keep going. There was nothing left for them to say to each other. But then she thought of Seb. Maybe there was something wrong. She worried her bottom lip for a moment and then got out of line.

  Apollo approached her. “We need to talk.”

  “Is it Seb?”

  “Don’t worry. He’s fine.”

  “Then I have to go.” She couldn’t bear to drag this out any further. The pain of loss was still so deeply etched in her heart. “Please leave me alone.”

  “Not until we talk.” His tone brooked no compromise.

  She turned to him, pleading with her eyes. “You don’t know how hard leaving was for me. I just can’t drag this out.”

  “Not even for Seb’s sake?”

  Worry for herself ceased. “Is Seb all right?”

  “Yes. I didn’t mean to imply otherwise. But he misses you. He wants you to come back. Let’s talk.”

  She gave a determined shake of her head. “There’s nothing left to say. It’s time I go home.” She turned to walk to the end of the long line of people heading for the dock. Some people were day laborers. Others were heading out on boats bound for various destinations. And some were like her and going home—at last.

  “Popi,” he reached for her arm. “Please don’t walk away. Not until you’ve heard what I have to say.”

  She didn’t know what he could say that would make a difference. Surely he’d read her note that she wasn’t going to fight him for custody of Seb. Even if she wanted to, she didn’t have the resources to challenge his deep pockets. But she still planned to have regular access to her nephew. She hadn’t written that in the note. She’d been too worked up at the time to think to include it. Maybe now was the time to make it clear that she wasn’t totally backing out of Seb’s life. She wanted a binding agreement written by their attorneys.

  She turned back to him. “I’m listening.”

  “Not here.” He glanced around at the crowd of people. “How about over there?” He pointed to a vacant bench off to the side of the marina.

  She followed him to the bench and sat down.
She turned to him, knowing she had to say this quickly before she lost her nerve. “Before you say anything, I want you to know that I’m not abandoning Seb. I still plan to be a part of his life and visit him as much as possible. I think that’s what my sister would have wanted under the circumstances. I can tell him about his mother. Things that no one else would know.”

  Apollo stared into her eyes. “I would never keep you from Seb.”

  “Thank you.” Her heart was breaking as they were talking. All she wanted was for this conversation to be over. It was too painful to be this close and yet this far away from him. “I should go.”

  “Not yet.”

  The truth was she didn’t understand why he was here. She’d given him everything he’d wanted—a life with Seb. There was nothing left for her to give.

  A couple blasts of the ferry whistle let her know the boat was about to pull out. But not without her. She had to get back to Infinity Island.

  She jumped to her feet. “I’ve got to go.”

  She rushed toward the dock. She sensed Apollo behind her. Why was he being so insistent? Was he afraid he couldn’t handle the baby on his own? That was just nerves. Seb loved him. And so did she...

  The thought sent a wave of fresh pain coursing through her body. Her feet moved faster. Apollo was right behind her. How was she supposed to get over him when he wouldn’t go away?

  Apollo was speaking but with the crush of people and the sounds of the dock, she couldn’t make out his words—she didn’t want to make them out. She wanted to forget that she ever knew him—though she knew that would be utterly impossible.

  When she finally made it through the congestion and reached the end of the dock, the walkway had been drawn up. The ferry was just beginning to pull out.

  “Wait!” This couldn’t be happening. “Please. I need on the boat.”