Dara Girard - Secret Paradise

Dante closed the door once Basilio was gone. “She’s an unexpected complication.”

Lucian pounded his cane in exasperation. “Don’t I know it.”

“I’m sorry I wasn’t aware of what your brother was up to.”

“That’s not your job. You’re too busy with more important things.”

“My job is to make sure this place is safe. He’s causing trouble. I don’t trust him. He just showed up out of nowhere and—”

“Not out of nowhere,” Lucian carefully corrected. “And he isn’t a stranger. He’s family.”

“Yes,” Dante sighed. “But everything has gone bad since his arrival.”

“Don’t exaggerate. None of it is his fault, just a coincidence.”

“I don’t like coincidences.”

“Force yourself to like this one,” Lucian said in an unrelenting tone.

Dante heard it and changed the subject. “You have two messages from France.”

“They can wait.”

“And Wanda called.”

Lucian swore. “Keep her away from here.”

Dante noticed the clothes on the bed and began to put them away. “I have. But I can’t keep her away forever.”

“Sure you can.”

Dante smoothed out a shirt, then hung it up. “She’ll just go to the press.”

“Let her,” Lucian said. He sat on his bed and put on his shoes. “Who’ll listen?”

“If she drops your name, people will. You don’t need that kind of publicity.”

Lucian sighed. “You’re right. I don’t need another complication. What does she want?”

Dante closed the closet with a soft click. “You know what she wants.”

“Fine. Schedule a time.”

“When?”

“The sooner the better. Next month. I just want to get it over with.”

“We’ll have to tell Callia.”

“Don’t worry. I will. Thanks.”

Dante nodded, then left the room. He walked outside and lit a cigarette. He had been Lucian’s right hand for nearly seven years and had helped patrol the island for even longer than that. He knew about every coming and going. His reputation was stellar, except for one grievous stain—the fire at the Kontos mansion. He’d failed and nearly gotten his friend killed, as well as little Callia. He wouldn’t rest until he uncovered the truth. He suspected it wouldn’t be pretty. But he was used to ugly things. He’d grown up on the streets of Rome and London, before an aunt shipped him off to Greece, where he was put into an apprenticeship program with a bottling company. While it didn’t pay very well, it provided Dante with the training, discipline and work ethic he would need later in life.

Dante took a long drag of his cigarette. He didn’t like Basilio. He didn’t trust a man who smiled so easily all the time. He had something to hide. How could he not have some envy for a brother whose success overshadowed his own? No, he didn’t trust Basilio and would watch him.

Chapter 5

He still didn’t know what had come over him. Lucian walked to the room where Nikki was waiting, searching his mind for an explanation. He hadn’t been himself. All he knew was that after Nikki saved the kitten’s life, he wanted to kiss her. He’d felt a mixture of lust, amazement and awe. She’d saved the kitten’s life and made Callia happy. He’d wanted to feel that life force she’d given the kitten infuse him and make him feel whole and human again. Just one wild taste of those lips.

And she’d made him feel more than human. She’d made him feel like a god, and in a moment he knew he’d persuade her to be his lover. Whoever had laid claim to her be damned; they would have to fight him for her. He would make her his, using all the power and influence he had at his disposal.

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