Stolen Lies (Truths and Lies 2)

“Aris is a ghost. But…”

“But what?”

“I got a tip about an older man who fits Niles’s description staying about thirty minutes from here.”

My entire body tenses. “What the fuck, Adrian? You could have led with that.”

“It’s just a tip. Nothing’s confirmed. I was going to check it out. Didn’t want to leave the king of the fortress unprotected.”

I smirk. “The king can handle himself. Plus, security on the hotel is extra beefed. I’m about to head back to my family. Call me if you get Niles. Bring him to the cellar. Tell Basil and Bronn to keep me informed.”

“Later, Boss.”

We hang up and I stride through the hotel. It’s pouring down rain and I hate to get out in it, but I miss my wife and our precious little angel. I grab one of the hotel umbrellas and pop it open as I step outside into the nasty weather. Wind hits hard from the west, soaking my slacks with rain. I grumble as I stalk along the pathways toward my villa. When I arrive, Melody and Stefano are just leaving.

“The weatherman said it’s only supposed to get worse,” Melody says in greeting. “Stefano and I are going to call it an early night. Maybe order room service. Breakfast tomorrow, though?”

“Pomegranate has an excellent brunch menu. We can meet there in the morning,” I agree. “Stay dry.”

Stefano holds the umbrella over her as she leans in and hugs me. I’m stiff as I accept her embrace.

“You two made a beautiful baby,” she says. “Thank you for being such a wonderful husband to her. I knew you had it in you.”

Stefano nods at me as she pulls away. Then, they disappear into the rain. Once on the front stoop of the villa, I close the umbrella and prop it against the wall. I mash in the code and then push through the door. It smells like coffee and Talia. Two warm, comforting scents.

I kick off my rain-soaked shoes and then walk through the villa on a hunt for them. I find Talia in Zoe’s bathroom, running her a bath. Zoe splashes from her little seat inside the tub. With Talia’s blond hair curtaining her face as she looks down at the little angel below her, I can’t help but think she looks like an angel herself. And Daddy is from the depths of the Underworld. Somehow, our opposites attract. When she sees me, she grins, and her brilliant blue eyes glitter with love. It’s a punch to the chest every time she knocks me over with her intensity. There’s no questioning our feelings anymore.

“Someone is soaked,” Talia says, smiling. “Why don’t you go grab a hot shower and we’ll eat after? I’ll preheat the oven to cook a frozen lasagna once I’m done with her bath. It won’t be homemade, but it’s better than getting out in that weather.”

I walk over to her and kiss the top of her head. I ruffle Zoe’s dark hair. “I’ll make it quick.”

“Any news?”

“A lead on Niles. Maybe some other shit, but I won’t know until Basil and Adrian check it out.”

She purses her lips together. “Are we safe?”

“Of course.”

Her brows pull together as though she doesn’t believe me. It makes me bristle, but I don’t let it get to me. After the hell she’s gone through, she’s allowed to have anxiety. One day, hopefully, it’ll fade completely. I quickly shed my soaked clothes and breeze through a shower. Since we’re not going anywhere, I pull on a pair of gray sweatpants, some socks, and a white T-shirt. Talia likes it when I’m dressed down. With my hair still wet and messy, I pad through the house to find her in the kitchen, Zoe propped on her hip.

“Here, hold her,” she instructs.

I take my baby, who now smells sweet and clean, bouncing her in my arms as Talia peels the plastic film away from the lasagna and sits it on a tray. She then busies herself with making a salad while the oven preheats. Zoe and I walk over to the window where the storm seems to worsen.

Boom!

Thunder crashes loud and hard enough the windows rattle.

“That was intense,” Talia exclaims from behind me. “This storm—”

Boom! Boom! Boom!

My blood runs cold. Thunder doesn’t sound like that. It doesn’t hit that quickly either. What the fuck?

“Get in the closet,” I bark out, grabbing Talia’s arm and rushing her through the villa as the booms continue.

“Kostas,” she cries out. “What’s happening?”

“We’re being attacked.”

“W-What?”

“Turn the lights off. Hide in the closet,” I bellow as I grab my phone from the bedroom. I dial Adrian and he doesn’t answer. When I call Basil, he picks up. “We’re being fucking hit.”

“We’re five minutes out and I have Caymon on the other line. He says Aris’s Porsche is at the front. Explosives are going off near the front entrance. Bold ass motherfucker,” Basil huffs. “Want me to take him out, Boss?”