Page 68 of Mafia Obsession

Pointing to the sea, he says, “Increased boat traffic past the drop-off from my beachhead may have cracked the volcanic shelf. There’s been a noticeable impact on local marine life.”

“Sounds like an ecological issue.” I face him. “And you careabout the environment?”

“This environment, yes.” Holding my hand, Ares steers me to another veranda off the kitchen.

Flaming torches below roar with light across the gardens. A warm breeze lifts the ends of my hair. The smell of salt and oil from the torches reaches my senses.

Elani approaches with dinner. Her sudden arrival makes me nearly jump out of my skin.

“You’re safe here, Lourdes,” Ares assures me.

“I’m still processing what happened yesterday. Last night.” I shake my head, confused about what day it is.

“When we get back to New York, I’ll find someone you can talk to.” He brushes a hand across my cheek. “A therapist.”

Sandrine rocking in a chair, waiting for me, flashes in my mind. I have to pull myself together and be strong. For her.

“I’ll work through it.” With a tight smile plastered on my face, I look down at the plates of steaming fresh lobster tails with a side of roasted vegetables. “Smells delicious,” I say, sitting at the table.

We eat in near silence until Ares gets another call. He answers with a grumble and speaks English this time.

“Yes, Marco.I’llpay for the environmental reportandthe repairs based on the committee’s recommendations.” Then he hangs up.

I expect him to go back to his dinner, but he catches my lids drifting closed.

“You’re tired. I can tell by your eyes. Your voice. It’s all the fresh air,” Ares informs me. “You’re used to pollution and dirty vents. The Aegean salty air is like morphine if you’re not accustomed to it.”

“I was wondering what it was.” I allow a yawn, now that he’s figured out I’m tired. “I slept fine on the plane.”

“There’s a huge time difference, too,” he adds, standing up. “You need sleep. Let’s get you to bed.”

I’m beyond guessing what I need.

But I’ll take the bed and wonder if he’ll let me actually…sleep.

Chapter 24

Ares

We’re leaving the terrace after dinner when a rare emotion hits me: I care about Lourdes.

I care about her well-being. That she’s looked after, safe, fed, and clothed. I’ve not paid this kind of attention to any woman before. Not even the ones I’ve had arrangements with.

Is this what love feels like? I can’t be sure because I’ve never been in love.

But the thought that I could be falling in love with this woman rattles me.

Talking about Alexander earlier and how he was killed by the Irish reminded me I’m not a god. I’m an mortal man. A man with flaws, although I hide them. And while Lourdes is dazzled by the beauty of this place, she’s not intimidated by the power beneath it.

That alone makes her a dangerous drug to chase.

I steer her back into the house and upstairs to my bed chamber with my hand resting lightly at her spine. I’m aware of the warmth underneath her dress and the control I need to be this close to her and not detonate.

Control has never been difficult for me. I wield discipline like a sword. It saved my house from descending into chaos after Alexander was killed.

This need requires a different kind of control.

Inside the bedroom, she asks me, “What else do you expect from me while we’re here, Ares?” She says my name differently from any other person. “Physically?”