Truths and Lies Duet

More flashes go off as reporters demand to know the names.

I raise my hand, effectively silencing them all. “They were hired on to do a job for the Demetriou family. And they did it well. But now we need for you all to do your job.”

A flash of white in the back of the room indicates Talia has arrived. She’s clutching a soft pink blanket and a newly framed picture of Zoe. Basil escorts my wife past the curious onlookers and to the podium with me. I pull her close, sharing the microphone with her.

“I’m a private man,” I say, my voice hard as steel. “I keep my personal life out of the spotlight. Because of my influence in Greece, people think they can use my personal life as a weakness against me.” I lean over to inhale Talia’s sweet scent before kissing the top of her head, earning more pops of flashes. I turn back to the crowd, my glare once again affixed. “Last year, I wed the woman I loved in a secret ceremony for just the two of us. But then she was taken from me.” People demand to know by whom, but I ignore them. Everyone underground knows it was Aris and that’s all that matters. “When I found her again, she brought home a Demetriou princess. My strong, resilient wife survived the atrocities of capture, delivered our daughter while in captivity, and found the strength to make her way back to me.”

Talia starts to cry and clings to me, which sends the media into a frenzy.

“Last night, while we worked to keep our people safe, the terrorists came in and took our daughter.”

The press starts shouting, horrified and demanding answers.

“She’s…” I trail off and swallow hard. “My wife, Talia, would like to speak about her.”

She sniffles as she pulls away slightly. “Our little girl Zoe was kidnapped.” Her body trembles as she holds the blanket to her and shows the crowd the picture. “She’s sweet and curious and laughs and…” A sob chokes her. “Oh God, I just want her back in my arms.”

I stroke my fingers through her hair in a possessive way while staring down every camera in the room, commanding them with one look. Find my fucking daughter and bring her to me alive.

“I beg of you,” Talia pleads. “If anyone knows anything, please help us. We need her. She doesn’t deserve this.”

“Our fine Minister of Public Order has set up a call center to take any and all calls. Calls leading to the finding of our daughter will be handsomely rewarded,” I say into the microphone. This is for the normal, everyday citizens. They’ll look for her because that’s what good people do, money or not. They want to reunite a child with their family.

But I need the bad people looking too.

“Fifty million euros.”

The room explodes with excitement.

“She was last seen with Aris Demetriou and Selene Vincent.” The crowd gasps again. I ramble through their physical descriptions while deliberately leaving off the fact Aris is my brother. They all know this. I don’t need to fucking say it. Everyone underground will see this as one concrete fact: Aris Demetriou is dead to me.

“Twenty-four hours. If she’s found within that time frame, I’ll reward the finder additionally in ways I see fit.” Meaning, they will get a favor with the Demetrious, which is priceless. “Thank you all for your help.”

The group goes wild with questions, and seven of my men have to flank us to get us away from the crowd. Once we’re safely inside my office, I give Adrian a nod to clear the lobby of the press and tell him to apprise me of any new developments. The moment I have the door closed and locked, I collect my emotional wife in my arms.

“You did great,” I murmur against her hair. “We need everyone’s help in finding her.”

“I miss her,” she whimpers.

“Me too, moró mou.”

She tilts her head up to look at me, her eyes red and swollen from her crying. “The people who hate you know everything now. That your father’s dead. That you’re married. That you have Zoe. That your brother betrayed you. You showed your hand, Kostas.”

I sweep my palm delicately over her bruised cheek and then run my fingers through her hair. “It was the only way to get her back. We will get her back.”

“What if someone hurts her to get back at you?” she whispers, a fat tear rolling down her cheek.

I kiss the wetness on her skin and close my eyes. “We have to trust that money talks. The only one who cares about revenge over money is Aris. The citizens of Crete Island and every piece of scum who knows the Demetriou name will be hunting for our little girl. There’s no way we can know where Aris went and turning over every stone would take precious time we don’t have. All we can do is let the people do what we can’t. We have to trust this will work.”