Truths and Lies Duet

But the woman?

Glittering blue eyes. Sexy, wavy blond hair. Poutiest fucking lips I’ve ever seen on a woman. Full, perfect tits that strain against the fabric of her dress. Tan legs for goddamn miles. I’m not certain if she’s his daughter, but they look similar enough to draw that conclusion. She’s a spitting image of Phoenix. I want to know why Niles would willingly bring her here.

“Niles,” my father booms, a wicked smile turning his lips up. “Please don’t be rude. Introduce us to this beauty.”

The beauty in question purses her full lips together and her cheeks blaze crimson.

“This, Ezio, is my darling daughter, Talia.” Niles’s features are tight, but he smiles anyway. “Talia, this is Ezio Demetriou. He owns this hotel.”

We own everything, motherfucker.

“And,” Niles continues, “these are Ezio’s sons Aris and Kostas.” He flicks his wrist at me like someone might swat at a fly trying to land on his fucking ice cream. It makes me want to break his goddamn hand.

It’s then that her blue eyes lock with mine, flickering with emotion as though they glow. She’s pissed. Confused. Upset. Hell, I would be too if Niles Nikolaides were my father. Last night, I’d been taken by the blond goddess who seemingly appeared out of nowhere, surprising me with her knowledge of the sculpture. Sassing me—Kostas Demetriou—over the meaning of the art. For a few short minutes, I’d enjoyed a rare moment of pleasure in my cold, hard life.

Clearly, the time for pleasure has come and gone.

Now, I’m staring back at the daughter of my father’s mortal enemy.

And Niles has brought her here to bargain with.

When Aris leans in to say something to her, her stiff posture relaxes slightly. Irritation coils in the pit of my stomach like a snake. If it were up to Aris, he’d gladly sleep with the enemy, as long as it was fun. Everything’s all about the fucking fun with him. Unfortunately for him, Father has his own agenda, and allowing Aris to bang the woman isn’t a part of that plan.

“Please,” Father says. “Sit.”

My father takes a seat at one end of the table and I take the other. Niles sits to my father’s left and Phoenix takes the seat beside him at my right. Aris escorts Talia with his hand on the small of her back to the seat beside me on my left. Once she’s seated, he sits next to her. I can feel her staring at me, her anger at the situation projected my way, but I disregard her with my usual cool aloofness. I glower directly at my father, demanding an explanation.

It’s what we do—speak without speaking. I’ve observed my father for so long that we can do it without even trying. We’re an incredible team because of it too.

So why the fuck is he avoiding eye contact?

But I know that answer. He’s got an ace up his sleeve for the hand he’s holding. My father intends to win this game, and I’m stuck with a handful of cards in a game I didn’t know I was playing. Last night, he bailed before I had a chance to corner him. He left me to pace around the hotel, lost in my brooding thoughts. After breakfast, we’re going to have a good long conversation about whatever the fuck is happening right now.

I cut my eyes to the left when the servers start placing plates of breakfast down in front of everyone. Even the savory scent of bacon can’t distract me from staring at her. Her cheeks are still pink and a strand of golden-blond hair hides her eyes from me as she focuses her attention on her plate. She reaches for a glass of ice water, a slight tremble in her hand. Poor thing is nervous as fuck.

With good reason, too.

Niles is a weak piece of shit who’s brought her willingly into a den of wolves.

But why is she here?

As though clued into my thoughts, Father clears his throat, demanding everyone’s attention. His eyes are hard as he stares straight at me. Eyes that usually communicate with me are closed off from any sort of negotiation. Whatever he says will be law in his eyes.

Don’t kill her.

I don’t know where the thought comes from, but it’s there. She’s too innocent to be in our world. I knew that last night when she breathlessly tried to hold her own in a conversation with me. I would destroy a woman like her in bed. For one moment, I considered pursuing her when she left. Fuck, how I wanted to. But even a monster has limits. Monsters aren’t monsters all the time. Sometimes we’re just hungry men who make decisions with our dicks. For her sake, I decided wisely. I let her walk away, much to my dick’s disappointment, only for her father to bring her right back to me.