‘You’re so certain he’ll call again?’
His smile was cynical in the extreme. ‘He thinks he knows me. Believe me, if I had a sister I wouldn’t want him to date the kind of man your brother thinks I am either.’
‘Is that your roundabout way of saying he’s got you wrong?’
He moved the cyclic stick over to the right, banking the helicopter, before he answered. ‘I’m not concerned about your brother’s opinion of me.’
She absorbed that for a moment. ‘What did he mean by saying that he worked hard for you without you knowing he existed?’
His jaw tightened for a long moment. ‘I found out that he applied to be my personal bodyguard three times in the last year. My chief of security turned him down each time. He...took offence.’
Her stomach dipped. She looked out of the window, biting her tongue against the question hovering there. It jumped out anyway. ‘Is it true about those thanks-for-the-good-times pieces of jewellery he mentioned?’
He slanted her a narrow-eyed glance. ‘It’s not your concern.’
She wasn’t aware she was holding her breath for an explanation until he deprived her of one. ‘I prefer to think I’m embroiled in this for something more worthwhile than your next lover’s goodbye present,’ she bit out, the knowledge that she’d been so certain that what Ben had taken was worth more than that to Xandro mocking her.
He didn’t deign to answer. Instead he flew the helicopter for a couple of miles before he looked over at her. ‘Why didn’t you tell him about the situation with your parents?’
‘And get him to go even further off the deep end?’
He studied her for a long speculative moment. ‘You’re worried about him.’
She frowned. ‘Of course I am. Isn’t that what you were counting on?’
His mouth firmed. ‘Then the earlier we sort this out, the sooner you can get him the help he needs.’
The tightening in her stomach eased a touch. Which was peculiar because every ruthless act Xandro had perpetrated so far dictated that she’d be foolish not to be extremely wary of him. ‘Where I go, you go is a gross generalisation. I’d like to know more about what you meant by that.’
‘Before we get to that, do I have your word that you’ll do whatever’s necessary to ensure my possession is returned to me?’ he bit out.
When she’d believed that whatever Ben had taken held more than a fleeting sentimental value she’d been more apprehensive about the wrongs her brother had perpetrated. She still was, but the knowledge that Xandro was going to such extreme lengths to gain back jewellery he would use to appease his next few lovers opened a vein of mild repugnance.
She didn’t agree with Ben’s assertion that Xandro could afford it and should therefore let it go. There was no excuse for stealing. Nevertheless a tiny part of her was disappointed with the truth behind Xandro’s demands.
‘Is there a reason why you’re reluctant to give your consent?’ he demanded after a minute had passed.
She wanted to scoff and challenge his integrity. That he’d bought into a dance company and incurred a bill for tens of thousands of dollars to fly a whole dance group first class to his island for the sake of a handful of gems irritated her.
But she bit her tongue. Her parents’ livelihood was hanging in the balance. Staying in the toxic environment of their cold indifference to her despair would’ve killed her spirit. Nevertheless, that wasn’t a reason to throw them to the wolves. Or one wolf in particular, whose vicious teeth could prove sharp and deadly should he not reap the results he wanted.
‘I need to know that you won’t go after my parents, regardless of how things turn out with Ben.’
He remained silent. Long enough for her to hope he was considering her request. ‘No.’
Her breath caught. ‘What?’
‘I won’t give any further reassurances. The terms of the deal have been laid out. Make your brother believe you’re mine so he comes out of hiding or I go after your parents with every weapon in my arsenal.’
‘Blackmail? Is that how you made your billions?’
A grim shadow crossed his face, right before his jaw clenched tight. ‘No. I made my fortune through honest hard work,’ he replied stiffly. ‘But that’s not to say I’m unfamiliar with using alternative tactics to get what I want. Remember that for the future,’ he warned.
She looked away from the eyes boring into her. But his chilling words continued to ring in her ears. Her gaze settled on the fast-approaching horizon and the landscape she recognised as Athens.
Surrounded by everything that epitomised this powerful, ruthless man, helplessness assailed Sage, making her want to lash out against the stifling ties binding her.
When she glanced over at him, she found his gaze still pinned on her, the hand controlling the helicopter an almost negligent extension of the sheer magnificence and autocracy of the man. Piercing grey eyes commanded her to answer.