Chapter One
“Are you beating the shit out of someone?”
Whap. Whap. Whap.
I grinned as I issued a hard shove to the boxing bag, avoiding the brutal swing-back by heading for my bottle of water. “Wouldn’t you like to know?”
“No, I don’t think I would, thank you very much. I’m not a violent man.”
Gregory Winters was many things.
Including an attempted comedian.
It was good to hear his voice after several months.
“What about the time you beat your roommate half to death?” I swirled the liquid before taking a long swing. Sweat trickled down both sides of my face, but I was far from being done abusing the swinging bag.
“That was years ago and it was worth being kicked out of the dorm.”
“Which meant you had to room with me.”
“Things worked out,” Gregory said and laughed.
“Yeah, things did.” But things had changed as well. I’d been indifferent to my father’s world, my studies at Harvard allowing the pretense that I could escape my legacy to remain embedded in my mind for four glorious years.
But all good things were always forced to come to an end.
I took another swig of water before pouring the remainder of the bottle over my head, taking a full fifteen seconds to allow the cool liquid to drip down my face. With my buddy on speaker phone, I was able to return to my personal boxing round. I needed the release.
Whap. Whap.
“I can tell you’re busy. I wanted you to know it’s possible I’ll be returning as ambassador to Greece in a couple months.”
Whap. Whap. Whap.
Panting, I wiped sweat from my eyes with my forearm and shook both my arms. Goddamn, every muscle in both had been tense lately. “Oh, yeah? I thought you were done with living the Greek life.”
“Are you kidding me? I’d give up citizenship if I didn’t think my father would disown me.”
I chuckled. He’d been ruled by his family as I had mine, only in entirely different ways. Maybe that’s why we’d struck up and maintained a strong friendship. He’d left Athens less than a year before after serving several years as the American ambassador. I sensed an interesting story that might be best told over a bottle of ouzo.
“The last time I checked, your father was dead. God rest his soul.” They’d had a tumultuous relationship where I respected mine.
“Oh, yeah. What a shame.” His distaste of his father’s philandering ways had been the subject of more than a few conversations while chugging back tequila. “I have no reason not to come. That way I can kick your butt in pool like I used to.”
“You’re dreaming, my friend,” I told him, remembering our times fondly. “However, we’d welcome you with open arms. Do I sense an entirely different reason you might be driven back into the position?”
His groan confirmed my assumptions were correct.
“It seems the current ambassador got himself in some hot water with a Greek princess.”
“Ouch. Not good for him.” Greek princesses were a dime a dozen, but you didn’t fuck with one unless allowed by her father. Or as my father would say in our native language: The man was parakalóntas na skototheí.
Begging to be killed.
Whap. Whap.
“I’ll say. The idiot is in hiding and the state department is trying to sort out the mess. Since I’ve already been approached, I have a feeling he’ll be shipped out within thirty days.”
“Let me know what happens.”
Whap. Whap. Whap. Whap.
I allowed my anger from the last few days to power my punches. My breathing was more labored tonight. Business had been a pain in my ass the last few months, tensions rising. It was becoming difficult to tell our enemies from our friends. Even keeping both close to the fold no longer held the usual effect.
Maybe it was time to return to the old ways, hunting and killing those who opposed our family.
“Absolutely. You’ll be the first to know.”
“I hope you’ll share the news with your wife first.”
He laughed. “I have a feeling Darcy will know before I do. Social circles and all. Maybe just her clairvoyance. You know how she is.”
I threw three additional savage punches before deciding I was finished for the night. Any longer and they’d spark the rage buried deep within. “I know exactly how she is, which is why it shocks me that she agreed to marry a chump like you.” He couldn’t see the grin on my face.
We were opposites, his life empowering the right side of the law. My world was entirely different, the darkness and violence necessary to keep the peace the only thing we didn’t talk about. I pulled the string on my boxing gloves with my teeth, able to wrangle the right one off.
“Very funny. I’ll give you a call in a week or so. I should know by then. Hey, save me a bottle of ouzo. Will ya?”
“You tourists are all alike.” With the left glove tossed into the box they were kept in, I immediately grabbed a towel and wiped my face.
“I guess I won’t remind you of my first night in Athens. Didn’t you win the top karaoke award that night?”
“Asshole,” I growled.
He was laughing as I ended the call. Chuckling as well, I rubbed sweat from the back of my neck, finally tossing the towel over my shoulders. As I headed to the bar, I stared out the sliding glass doors at the lights from areas of the city below. The estate was positioned on one of dozens of hills, which allowed for a perfect view of the ocean.
Keeping up the house my parents owned had seemed prudent when I spent so much time handling business in the city, but I wouldn’t call the sprawling mansion my home. It was more like a museum holding fine art pieces worth millions and fine antiques my mother had scoured Europe to find.
Not my taste by a long shot.
As my mother had told me before they’d jetted off on their worldwide vacation, the estate was our family’s home. True enough. I had to respect their wishes and customs.
It was time for a drink, my adrenaline higher than usual when I exercised. The week had turned to shit, business operations taking a hit. It would seem everyone in the world was in a cranky mood.
I’d yet to make it to the bar when I heard heavy footsteps. I didn’t bother turning around to find out who it was. Five people and my housekeeper had the ability to walk right in. Anyone else and I’d put a bullet between their eyes. I headed to the bar instead, pulling down a bottle of Russian vodka.
I loathed the Russians, every single one of them, but they made a damn good liquor. When I was grabbing a glass, the atrocious mirror behind the bar’s shelves reflected the person entering my personal space.
Nico Pappas was my right-hand man, a true enforcer in a dangerous world where grown men and women had no respect or understanding of when to stop playing vicious, deadly games. “What is it?”
“Káti échei…” He stopped himself, switching to English, my preferred language. I was born and bred Greek through and through, but English was often mandated given the number of international tourists who frequented my family’s clubs. It was the same for most of Athens. Tourists and international businesspeople meant money. “Something has occurred.”
“Something? You need to be more specific.” I added two ice cubes and poured over a half a glass, finally turning around when he seemed hesitant to answer. “What is it, Nico?”
“A shooting at one of the clubs.”
“A shooting. Which one?” There were several in the Nomikos holdings.
“Sin and Shame.”
“A tourist on the wrong side of an argument?”
He walked closer, his face pensive. “No.”
“Just out with it.”
“It’s your brother Leandro. I’m sorry, boss. He’s dead.”
[divider]Chapter Two
Willow
Where the hell had I put my clutch purse? “Mom. It’s just for a day. Twenty-four hours. I’ll be back before you know it. Why are you so bent out of shape?” I adored my mother, but she seemed to forget I was a big girl, way past the age where she could insist on telling me what to do.
“It’s supposed to be a family holiday and a celebration. Do you even remember you promised that we’d take time together?”
“Mom. We’re in Greece on vacation. I’m not going to see my friend for a long time since we live in Boston.” I felt the need to remind her that our current living situation was temporary.
“But you’re always busy at home. This is our one chance to be together as a family. All four of us.”
Because I had a life.
Damn it. Athena and the other girls would be here any moment and if I knew my mother, she’d invite them in for a ‘quick’ drink that would turn into an hour. She’d grill them until they were well-cooked. That would destroy the festive night.
“Are you paying any attention to what I’m saying?” she asked.
Not even for a second.
If I did, she’d make me feel guilty and I refused to be pulled into the drama.
“I heard you, Mommy dearest, but with Shane not bothering to show for dinner, things don’t seem quite so celebratory.” My older brother was the real pain in the ass. Yes, he had his life and had been living in Paris for years, but he and I were no longer close. Why wasn’t she calling him every few minutes, hassling him for being a no-show?
Maybe because he’d flown the coop almost ten years before. I, on the other hand, had chosen to remain living in my parents’ house while attending college all the way through getting my master’s degree. Mistake.
Big mistake.
“You know your brother is very busy,” she retorted in her not-so-nice way. “He has a highly important job.” Shane had always been her favorite child. I’d embraced that nasty little not-so-nice secret years before.
Not to say it didn’t annoy the shit out of me.
“Too busy to show up for my graduation celebration? No call? No positive ID from the Greek police? If a call had been made for ransom, maybe I would have bought that excuse.”
Where was my damn purse? Gah, I hated losing things. Sometimes I felt like I’d lose my head if it wasn’t attached.
Now she was giving me the silent treatment. It wasn’t that I didn’t want to share family times. None of us had seen Shane in almost two years, but we were in Athens, for God’s sake. And not Ohio or Florida or even Canada. Greece. I adored Greece. I’d sworn to myself I’d move here after college. People were awesome, the atmosphere was always welcoming, and I had a built-in family here as well. Friends of my uncle Gregory. Maybe I’d have time to sneak away, hunting down a perfect little spot I could rent. There had to be a need for my skills.
I raced into my room just as I heard the doorbell. The villa my father had rented was huge, complete with nine bedrooms, six bathrooms, four living rooms, six fireplaces, and a pool. For three people.
Daddy had wanted to make this trip special, but he hadn’t had the money. At least until recently. I was worried he’d taken out a third mortgage on the house I’d grown up in.
“Thank God.” I snagged my clutch from the bathroom, checked my reflection in the mirror, and flew back down the hallway before my mother had a chance to make it to the front door.
“Kisses, Mommy. Remember, don’t wait up. I am a big girl now. Tell Daddy goodnight.”
She huffed but stopped ranting.
For once.
But I wouldn’t hear the end of it when I returned in the morning. I grabbed my overnight bag, refusing to look back at her face. She’d have her stern you-don’t-care look, trying to create another wave of guilt.
Geez. I’d called her Mommy, something I hadn’t done in years. I was going on twenty-five, for God’s sake, not twelve. I headed outside. A car was waiting.
“Ready to go?” Athena asked. Her English was fluent, her father insisting she learn several languages. We’d been long distance friends for years.
“More than ready.” Laughing, we raced across the sidewalk to the waiting car. I’d met Athena the last time I was here almost thirteen years before. We were the same age and had a blast that week. Even our parents had become friendly, sharing dinners together. I’d remained in contact. Her other friends I didn’t know, but the more the merrier.
As I jumped in the back of her tiny car, my excitement was building. I didn’t care even a little bit I was being heavily scrutinized by the other two girls in the vehicle. They could bite my tushy for all I cared. I effectively lived a boring life, walking down a straight line to get from point A to point B. Discipline was my middle name.
Not tonight.
Tonight was like a new beginning, taking charge of my boring life.
“Willow, Katerina and Chloe. If you bitches aren’t nice to her,” Athena said, “I will kick your butts.”
For some reason, that broke the ice. I had a deliciously warm feeling this was going to be a very good night.
[divider]
Club Sin and Shame certainly lived up to its name. With the line outside four blocks long, neon lighting up the sky as thumping tribal-style music blasted the night air, I’d known the place was going to be hot. When Athena breezed right past the entire line, blowing kisses at the two bouncers, I had to admit I was impressed.
Clubs weren’t my normal method of entertainment but as soon as we’d walked inside, the dancing bug hit me. We found a little corner where we could watch our purses and drinks while we danced the night away.
“This place is hot as hades,” I said to all three girls.
“Club Darkness is even better, but it’s on the other side of town,” Chloe said. “A bad neighborhood. Plus, this is where all the sexy men come to hunt their prey.” She roared like a lion, even clawing the air.
We all laughed and I scanned the club. Bad men. I had to admit to myself that I was in the mood to find one. Another goal in my boring life. What girl didn’t prefer a badass sex god? “There are some good-looking men, but where are the real hotties? You know the ones I mean. The va-va-voom kind of men you wouldn’t mind dragging you by your hair into a hot, wet embrace?”
Athena almost choked on her drink. “Wow. You are in the mood to party.”
Shrugging, I daintily took a sip of my drink on purpose. What I hungered for couldn’t be found with my passion purple vibrator. I hadn’t experienced sex in so long I’d forgotten what it was like. Not that I could claim the former time had been with a real man. Certainly not the buff he-man type.
“Mmm… You mean a sexy guy with broad shoulders and a carved chest?” Katerina asked. She had the kind of voice that should require her to be a sex phone operator. If they still had that kind of thing.
“You bet,” I threw out.
“A fantasy man reeking of passion and dominance who you could lick on huge pectoral muscles, chiseled abdomen, and the deep V leading to his big. Fat. Cock?” Chloe added.
“Uh-huh.” I sighed. I had a feeling I’d be hiding under my covers with my fake cock, hoping the vibrations didn’t wake my mother.
“You might find a few guys like that in the club.” Athena laughed. “Or maybe not.”
I shook my head, swinging my hips to the music as I continued dancing. The entire time I was shamelessly scoping for Mr. Hotness. A few might be good as tasty seconds, but the Big Mac variety I couldn’t find.
Yet the moment it felt like the earth was turning on its axis, I knew I was wrong. “You mean just like him?” I only pointed with my pinky, but heat instantly slithered up both sides of my face.
He was hotness personified, even if I could only see one side of his face. But he was the kind of man who could fill out a well-tailored suit like nobody’s business. He was huge, at least six and a half feet tall with dark, curly hair reaching his shoulders. I could barely breathe, let alone think, but I was longing to tangle my fingers in his thick locks.
All three girls looked in his direction then at each other. Were they slinking into the shadows? They were. What the hell? “What are you doing? Is there something wrong with the guy, like he’s been castrated, or he kicks puppies for fun?”
Athena breathed through pursed lips. “Close enough.”
“Meaning what?” I turned to face her.
“You don’t want to mess with him.” Chloe seemed nervous as hell.
“O-kay. Please explain.”
“Greek mafia,” Katerina added, even dropping her head as if doing so would keep him from looking in her direction.
When I wrinkled my nose, Athena leaned in closer. “He’s called the Godfather of the Night.”
“Why?” I’d certainly read about crime syndicates. I knew they were dangerous, but every man I’d seen on television or in the papers looked like Groucho Marx. Mr. Hotness couldn’t be mafia.
“Because he always kills his enemies in the dark and never misses.”
[divider]Chapter Three
Dimitrios
“Find out who did this,” I snarled just before walking into the club. “If you don’t, heads will roll.”
“We’re trying.” Atticus Gataki was another enforcer, a highly trained marksman who’d developed a taste for killing as a young man. He claimed to have over one hundred kills to his name, most handled prior to entering my regime.
While the Nomikos family now almost always handled things like any legitimate business would do, after tonight I’d wash the painted buildings of the area down with blood. Atticus was also an expert tracker, capable of finding anyone, anywhere.
And the lengths I would go to find my brother’s killer were extraordinary. I pushed my way through the crowd, constantly scanning the people who parted as if a king had walked into the room. In some ways, I was a king, my authority and decisions never questioned. People feared what I could do while revering the ground I walked on.
It was a heavy crown to wear, but I’d done so proudly.
Until today.
To have some unknown killer manage to take out one of my family members would tarnish our reputation. That would spell problems that I didn’t need. But that wasn’t the reason I was so enraged. Leandro had been a free spirit, our youngest brother and in my mind, still just a kid at twenty-four. He’d had his entire life ahead of him. He’d graduated top of his class at a fine university, had volunteered to work with animals, and had insisted on working all throughout school while his trust fund had remained untouched.
He’d been a beautiful soul born into the wrong family.
But he’d wanted to do his part, managing several of the clubs under my direction. I’d felt honored and apprehensive. Now, I knew for good reason.
“Where is my brother?” I asked Nico as I stopped near a hallway leading to several private rooms. They were often used for illegal gambling or even more nefarious acts. For a price, certain respectable patrons could rent the area for meetings and other activities.
“Last room on the left.” His answer was direct and without emotion. Nico had lost his brother in a similar manner.
I stormed down the hallway, immediately unbuttoning my jacket to have easier access to my weapon. It was entirely possible the shooter had hung around to enjoy the spoils of war. And that’s exactly what my brother’s assassination meant.
The door was only partially closed, guards preventing any unwanted personnel or guests to wander down the hallway. Pictures were forbidden, those ignoring the rules dealt with.
I pushed open the door, taking several deep breaths before walking inside. Leandro sat in one of the four chairs, his head tilted back, still in the relaxed position he’d been in when shot. That meant the kill had caught him entirely off guard.
“I assume you controlled any police involvement?” I asked no one in particular. A few of my men filtered into the room while others waited outside to accompany me back to my waiting vehicle. As I stood just inside, I made a mental note of items on the table. Leandro’s guest had been enjoying a beverage. They’d both been recently filled, but it appeared only Leandro’s was touched. There were no papers, nothing to indicate who was in the room with him.
“None were called,” Atticus stated. “I’ll keep it that way.”
“Good.” I moved toward Leandro, my anger reaching the boiling point. While maybe just a kid, he’d been through enough training he wouldn’t have allowed himself to be caught in a compromising position with just anyone. That meant he’d either trusted the individual or had been fooled by the assassin’s identity. “I want a sweep of the video cameras. Anyone who seems out of place will be brought to me.”
I sensed my two enforcers looking at each other, perhaps even making the mistake of questioning my authority. When I was standing in front of my brother, I noticed he wore an expression of shock, his eyes wide open.
Sighing, I had to look away myself. Anger management was practiced out of necessity. I was a hotheaded Greek after all. Rage ran in my blood. However, flying off the handle wouldn’t provide any answers. “An eínai to teleftaío prágma pou káno, tha ekdikithó ton thánató sou.”
If it’s the last thing I do, I will avenge your death.
The statement was made so my brother’s spirit would hear as well as my men. They needed to comprehend and accept the rocks I’d turn over, the vermin I’d crush. I lifted my arm, catching that my entire arm was shaking from another rush of adrenaline. I fisted my hand, bringing it to my mouth in my attempt to calm the fuck down.
After a few seconds, I gently closed his eyes. Sorrow was something I was used to dealing with, but that didn’t mean I was good at doing it. We’d lost few in our ranks and other than to natural causes or a disease like cancer, none within the Nomikos family. Maybe the gods had decided our time was long overdue.
For a split second, my mind shifted to another time, another tragedy. Another enemy. Years before. Yet the pain brought back was real, biting. The world I’d been born into was ruthless.
And bloody.
A huge commotion broke out only a few feet outside the door, a loud voice shouting to let him through. As soon as my brother Christos stormed into the room, I caught him before he made it to Leandro’s body. “Enough, brother. Take a deep breath.”
Christos fought my hold, finally managing to shove me away. “Don’t belittle my anger!” He was the true hothead of the family, closest to Leandro given their age and temperament. Exhaling, he sensed every move he made was being watched and lowered his head. “I’m sorry, Dimitrios. I just talked to him a couple hours ago.”
“Then maybe you know who he was meeting.”
“No,” Christos said. “He said nothing. Who could have done this? The Italians?”
Italians were perhaps considered our most consistent enemy, but even they’d enjoyed their level of prosperity as we had, the new Don nothing like his brutal father. However peaceful our worlds, greed always lurked in the darkness. Nothing was off the table regarding my brother’s murder.
However, a nagging thought remained in the back of my mind. The Don and I had history, his father mandating a decision that had altered the course of my life. While we’d never had words, that didn’t mean there wasn’t resentment on both sides.
“That’s what I’m going to find out. Not a word of this leaks to anyone. If it does, the person responsible for disobeying my orders will face my wrath. Is that clear?” I shifted my heated gaze toward Nico and Atticus, allowing a sweep of the other men in the room as well.
“You got it, boss,” Nico answered for everyone. “I’ll make certain no one sees his body being removed.”
“I can’t believe this,” Christos whispered, now standing over Leandro’s body. “What in the fuck is going on?”
I had no answer at this point. “Who found him?” My brother was dead, but as I touched his suit jacket, I felt a reverence for him and his soulful spirit, gently easing the edge aside. His holster was unsnapped as if he was ready to reach for his weapon.
“A waitress. She’s been detained so she wouldn’t open her mouth. I’ll get her.” Atticus grinned. He was also a notorious ladies’ man.
“He wasn’t certain the person he was meeting was a friend or foe,” Christos commented after homing in on what I was staring at.
“If he’d feared an enemy, his weapon would have been in plain sight.”
My brother sighed. “Then we’re possibly dealing with betrayal.”
Anything was possible at this point.
Nodding, I walked around the room, searching for any possible clues. Since we didn’t require anyone to sign in or become a member, it was difficult to control who was allowed in the club. That was left up to the bouncers. But they weren’t required to memorize the identity of every guest. Finding the assassin this way wasn’t possible.
“A clean shot. Did anyone hear anything?” Christos asked, his tone much harsher than before. While he was also the most emotional of the family, his mood swings notorious, I worried he’d shift to the darker side with our brother’s death.
Nico walked closer. “Not that I was told. It would appear a silencer was used. Plus, the loud music.”
It was interesting how many men who considered themselves powerful preferred allowing those to hear the noise of someone getting shot. It added to the appearance of power, providing a warning that was stated without words. Only true assassins bothered to remain in the shadows, a silencer almost always used. Plus, the use of a gun and a single bullet likely meant the kill hadn’t been a personal decision, but a contractual one. My gut told me the kill hadn’t been about Leandro personally, but about the family in general.
Leandro had possibly used the private entrance only a few had access to, allowing the person he was meeting into the club that way. It would have avoided anyone seeing the mystery man’s entrance. Still, my younger brother knew the dangers. He was cautious. He’d been trained. Someone had used their previous encounter as a weakness.
That someone would die.
Atticus returned a few seconds later, pulling the waitress in with too much force for my liking.
“Let her go,” I told him in a tone that he immediately recognized as one that meant my patience was waning.
He hesitated before following my orders, finally taking a step back and nodding.
Everyone was tense.
Christos sighed, lifting his eyebrow as he glanced in my direction. Abuse of women wasn’t allowed in our regime.
The girl couldn’t have been more than twenty-two, her entire face ashen. I could tell the moment she registered Leandro’s body for a second time, her eyes growing wide.
I walked toward her. By the way she looked at the floor, I sensed just how uncomfortable she was.
“What’s your name?” Christos asked.
“Sophia.” She was a nervous kitty cat.
“Sophia, did you serve this room?” I kept my tone even.
“Yes,” she barely managed, her lower lip quivering.
“What can you tell me about my brother’s guest?”
Her entire body was shaking. “Nothing, sir. I didn’t see who it was.”
I took a deep breath and lifted her chin with a single finger. “It’s not a good idea to lie to me, Sophia.”
“I’m not lying, sir. Mr. Nomikos ordered two drinks. When he did, he was alone.”
“Then why return to the room?” Christos was doing his best to keep his anger in check.
“Because he asked me to in fifteen minutes. I was right on time. I swear.” Tears had formed in her eyes. “But he was already… dead. Oh, God.”
As a keen observer of people’s behavior, I could instantly tell she wasn’t lying. At least about her task. It was still a mystery as to if she knew anything further. “Any idea who entered this room? Did you see the person?”
“No, sir. I have other customers.”
Nico snorted and I threw him a look. Pushing her wasn’t going to garner answers.
“Very well, Sophia. You can go. If you think of anything, anyone in this club will know how to get ahold of me.” I sensed Christos wasn’t happy with my decision, but he had no choice.
“Yes, sir, Mr. Nomikos.”
“And Sophia, you will not mention tonight’s occurrence to anyone. Is that understood?”
“Of course.” She couldn’t have scurried any faster from the room.
I followed her out, waving my hand at Nico and my brothers when Christos started to say something. I trailed her to the main floor, watching as she headed for the bar. When she had a brief but animated discussion with one of the bartenders, my instinct told me there was information to be discovered. I’d need to play this carefully.
As I shifted to return to the room, I noticed a young woman staring at me. The glare from the pulsing dance floor lights and the darkness inside the club didn’t allow me to see her face clearly, but there was something about her that caught me off guard. Perhaps it was the silent stare, her expression one of curiosity, not anger or disgust.
She tilted her head as soon as she realized I’d noticed her heavy gaze. After providing an appreciative look, she turned around. Chuckling, I headed to the room, surprised my cock was throbbing.
“I don’t trust her, boss,” Atticus threw out as soon as I entered.
“At this point, I don’t trust many people. Bring the bartender to me. Michael is his name.” The kid was American, someone who’d begged me in person for a job. Perhaps he could share some insight that others might not.
Nico didn’t bother wasting any time asking why, simply walking to the bar to follow my directions.
“What are you thinking?” Christos pushed.
“That whatever is going on isn’t finished yet. Let me handle the bartender.”
Several of my men lifted Leandro’s body, placing him on a plastic sheet. He would be handled with more care after leaving the facility. Then I’d need to call my parents with the news.
After they carried him out, I paced the floor for a few seconds. When I slammed my fist into the wall, Nico exhaled so I could hear it. I’d put a dent in the wallboard. So the fuck what? What in God’s name was going on?
Huffing, I pulled out a chair, sitting down as I allowed my mind to process the events. With no current obvious enemies in my portfolio, it was difficult to present a list of names to deal with. That would come with more information and time.
Michael wasn’t fighting being brought into the room, but he wasn’t happy either.
“Leave us alone,” I told my men. My chest was tight from the increasing rage.
Christos remained, moving toward the wall and leaning against it with his arms crossed.
Nico acted as if he was going to question my command then shook his head before ushering the others out. As soon as he closed the door behind him, I lifted my head to stare into the bartender’s eyes.
“Do you like working here, Michael?”
“Yes, very much, sir.”
“That’s good. You seem to please our female guests. You also work well with the waitstaff.”
“Yes, sir.” He seemed confused and nervous.
“However, keeping secrets from your employer isn’t in your best interest.”
“Sir?”
“What do you know about my brother’s murder?”
He shifted from foot to foot.
I resisted driving him against the wall. Roughing up my employees wasn’t good for morale.
“Michael. I’m not going to ask you again. But if the answer is the same, meaning a lie, you will face the necessary consequences. I do hope you understand what I mean.” Everyone working in the club knew of my reputation. I was fair and respectful, but if you crossed me, my patience only provided for one chance before my anger took prominence.
“Yes. Yes, sir. I heard things, Mr. Nomikos.”
“What things?” I glanced at Christos. He was wringing his hands, itching to beat the man until he spouted off what he wanted to hear.
“That someone is out to destroy your family.” Michael almost choked on the words.
“Go on.”
The simple inhale of his breath indicated he was terrified. Of me or someone else? “I heard an assassin was hired, but it’s just talk. You know how people are.”
“An assassin. Really? Any names?”
“No names, but this dude goes by the Stalker?” He smiled as if it was a joke.
I’d heard the name tossed around for a few years. Supposedly, the unknown assassin was damn good at what he did, capable of eliminating whatever target was presented to him inside the most crowded of locations. “Who did you hear this from?”
“Several people. Rumors. I didn’t take them seriously.”
Perhaps the kid didn’t understand the world he’d insisted on being hired into. I slowly stood, towering over the young man by several inches. “Michael. It’s important you understand that if you hear anything like this again, you will come to me directly. Failure to do so will terminate our relationship. Do you understand?”
The kid was smart, instantly figuring out I didn’t mean tossing him out the door.
After swallowing, he nodded several times. “Yes, sir. I completely understand. I’ll keep my eyes and ears open.”
“Excellent. Please do. Now, you can head back to the bar.”
After Michael left, I turned toward Christos.
“The Stalker?” he retorted. “Who the hell is that?”
“A specialized assassin and someone determined to ruin our lives, brother. But we’re not going to allow that to happen.”
No matter what needed to be done or how much blood was spilled.
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