Captured by the Criminal (Taken)

Sure, I could say no, but my father has been molding me to take over his company one day, and he says Gino will be a good fit for the family. It all seems so far away. Like it will never really happen. I think it’s why I don’t mind entertaining the idea.

“If you’ll excuse me, I need to… um, do some things.”

Before my father can disapprove, I pivot on my heels and spot Costi walking across the patio. My heart rate speeds up at how handsome he looks in a white dress shirt and black pants with his unruly dark hair tamed. It’s the first time I’ve ever seen him so formal, and I really expected him to show up in jeans and a t-shirt.

Our eyes meet, and I can’t help the grin that splits my face.

I cross the lawn where the party is being held and meet up with Costi.

“You look different.”

“Do I look like a man?” he asks, puffing out his chest covered in a crisp white dress shirt.

I try to catch my breath, but my face catches fire at his words, because he does look older. “Kind of.”

He winks. “Good.” He nods in my father’s direction. “Who’s that guy you were talking to?”

Ugh. I don’t even want to tell Costi about my impending betrothal. It all feels so make-believe. “Some guy my dad knows.”

“No, I mean the boy our age.” He points right at Gino.

I pull his arm down so Gino doesn’t see us gawking and pointing at him. “Nobody.”

It’s no use, however, because Gino moves toward us.

“Doesn’t look like a nobody.”

“His name’s Gino.”

“Who’s this?” Gino asks, jutting his thumb toward Costi.

Costi backs up a bit. “If that finger gets any closer, I’ll break it off.”

“Constantine.” I park a hand on my hip. This is so unlike him. “Why are you talking to him like that?”

“Oh, you’re gonna take his side?” Costi says to me, his dark eyes wide.

“Sides?”

“Who are you? Her bodyguard?” Gino sneers at Costi.

What’s going on?

“If you plan on hurting her in any way, then yes, I’m here to guard her body.”

I blush crimson red at the mention of my body.

Gino sneers. “No problem there. I don’t plan on doing anything with that heavy body.”

I rear back at his words, embarrassed, and Costi doesn’t even skip a beat. He punches him square in the jaw.

Chaos erupts as the boys tackle each other to the ground, and I step back, shouting.

Some of my actual bodyguards move in, separating them. Costi huffs as he tries to get out of their hold, his eyes on fire. I’ve never seen him this angry.

In my peripheral vision, I see my father hurrying toward the commotion.

“What’s going on here?” he asks.

“Nothing,” Costi says, freeing his arm from Levi, the man who has a hold of him.

The sun sets in the distance and I try my best to keep the tears at bay as Costi and Gino describe their versions of what happened. Once they’re made to apologize, the party resumes and people return to laughing and chatting, like it’s nothing. Everyone except Costi.

He grabs my hand, gripping possessively. “Want to get out of here?”

“Yes,” I say without even thinking.

No one notices us sneak away from the backyard, my hand still in his, and we walk in silence until our shoes hit the beach. I quickly remove my black flats and let my toes sink into the cool sand. The night comes on fast, creating a sea of stars above us, glistening off the cresting waves along the shore. It’s a peaceful night. One with many possibilities and I feel a slight tingle of nerves low in my belly.

I’ve been alone with Costi many times, but for some reason tonight feels different. We make our way closer to the surf and before taking a seat on the sandy beach, Costi rips off his shirt, placing it on the sand for me to sit on.

I suck in a breath. I haven’t seen him without a shirt on in ages, and he’s grown. I stare at his chest, trying not to blush as my eyes roam over his body.

As if Costi doesn’t notice, he stares straight up into the sky.

“What do they say to you now?” I ask him, not forgetting our tradition of listening to the stars.

It’s been years since we sat together, blanketed by the twinkling stars. Lately, we haven’t been able to spend much time together because Costi’s mother has kept him away from me.

She says I’m a bad influence on her precious boy. Please. He’s the most honest teenager I know. Wait until she finds out the girls at school would like to influence him in a much worse way.

“I can hear them now.” Costi raises a brow. “They won’t shut up.”

I rock into him, nudging him with my elbow. “That’s not true.”