Chapter 8

"Does this look like him?" A row of shivers went up my spine when I saw his face. Same square jaw, same dark skin, only without the hat this time. The typing under his picture read Jeb (Sabertooth) Sokolov.

"Y...yes, that's him

"Are you sure?"

"Positive." I felt my hand starting to tremble.

"This isn't good, then." He pinched the bridge of his nose.

"Why?" I asked, incredulous.

"He's former secret service. Russian."

"What do you mean, former?"

"He was pronounced dead last year. No one is going to know where to find him."

"Have them search WWM! He's obviously there!" I said. Gio sighed heavily.

"Either way, they're not going to believe us. The whole building is surrounded by businessmen with ties to Russia, including your new friend, Dimitry Plymouth." I remembered back to when Gio had discussed Plymouth's background.

I gaped at him. "Well this man is not dead, I saw him!"

"I know, I did too. We're just going to have to find another way to approach this." I crossed my hands over my chest.

"If this guy—the 'Sabertooth'— has ties to Russian secret service..." I said. "Then could he be tied to Plymouth?"

"I never dwelled on it too long, but the thought had crossed my mind." Gio stirred the whisky around in his cup and knocked it back. I began to notice the red rims around his eyes. He must not have had a decent night's rest in a few days.

"But, the fellows I know researched every angle of this man. It says here there's no real record outside of his work as an agent, nothing bad on his accounts. No clear tie to WWM. There is no motive whatsoever." He paused and took a deep breath. "I'm researching the rest of the board now to see who this Jeb or 'Sabertooth' or whatever the hell his name is could be working for."

I placed my hand on Gio's shoulder. He was practically working himself to death, he needed to rest. "We'll do it tomorrow. I want you to get some rest now." He smiled.

"What, are you my assistant now?" He asked smartly.

"Yes and if you don't want me to fire you you'll do as I say." I replied.

He groaned and stood. "You're the boss!"

It was growing dark outside and I returned to join Will by the window. The sunset looked magnificent. To think of where I was only a few days ago and where I am now was overwhelming. Casually I looked at Will who seemed still deep in thought. How he held all of that thought in without communicating to someone I'd never know.

Woody came out and after some chit-chat with us started playing chess with Charles, which left the confined space of the plane cabin even more silent than before. There was only one thing I could do now—confine myself to a secret jam sesh with Guns n' Roses and some other classic favorites. I popped in a pair of earbuds and pushed play. All of the day's frustration seemed to hammer out in the rhythm.

By the time we reached Athens, the whole party seemed edgy and ready to be off the plane. Two black Cadillacs similar to the ones we took in the UK carried us smoothly through a quiet coastal town, where there was no life to be found that late at night. The hotel was almost a city of its own. It was a W resort and every part of it screamed vacation to me. It was beautiful! We had the private suite separate from the main building, which was one of three in a line right next to the hotel. It had the best view of the ocean I had ever seen and a private pool. There were enough bedrooms for everyone except the extra security guards, but they were taking turns watching outside anyway. I could have sat up all night looking at the view, but seeing as how the most sleep I'd had since coming to Europe could barely be assembled into one night's worth, I pulled on my oversized Led Zeppelin T-Shirt and crawled lazily into bed.

My phone rang at 8:00am sharp and I almost had the gall to throw it across the room. Who the hell? Groaning and squinting, I put the phone to my ear.

"Hello?" I asked in a husky voice. There was a click indicating that someone had just hung up. Still barely awake, I flipped through the 'recent calls' tab on my iPhone. The most recent was from a number '0'. That was strange. My head hit the pillow again, but this time the smell of bacon drew me back to a seated position. If Woody was cooking again, I called first dibs! I grabbed my pair of shorts from of the floor and pulled them up before rushing through the white French doors. Gio was seated and staring at a local newspaper at the table next to the window and Woody was perched comfortably in front of the frying pan. I smelled melting Ricotta and sizzling green onions, driving every sense in my body wild.

"I knew it. Nothing gets the gills up faster than a stuffed omelet!" Woody smiled at me, looking well rested and freshly shaven as usual. Gio grinned at me over his newspaper and I smiled back.

"I don't think I want these adventures to ever end." I sighed hopelessly, letting my eyes roll over the beautiful sunrise across the ocean. I was in Greece, and what a fantastic place it seemed to be—the little I had seen thus far.

"Then don't let them!" Woody said and winked. "Coffee?" I nodded. He handed me a cup and I closed my eyes, taking in the delicious steamy scent. I took in the opportunity of observing the suite. It was all Mediterranean style. Sandstone walls and floors were all clean-cut with large flat decorated rugs. The most spectacular was the wide glass doors leading out to the view and pool, which Gio had opened. The warm breeze blew the linen curtains against the life-sized vases and I had to inhale the sea air at least 5 times before it sank in.

"I don't think I ever want to leave." I breathed.

"Oh yeah?" Gio peered at me over his circle glasses. "That's what you said about Manchester."

Oh, so I did. A girlish giggle escaped my lips. "Well, that too. I think I'll just have to live in both places then."

Gio started mumbling something about having told me so. "Wait 'till you see Morocco." He said. I looked around and noticed the rest of our clan was missing.

"Where's Will?"

Gio folded his newspaper and walked to the coffee machine for more coffee. "He had some business to take care of—what was it with you two yesterday?" I only latched onto one word. Business?I dreaded to think it involved someone named Allison.

"Eva?" I was catapulted back into focus.

"Oh, err... nothing!"

"Bloody Hell, woman, if you don't tell me what has been going on between the two of you, I'll ask him myself!" He looked pretty serious. I bit my lower lip.

"Oh alright!" I said. "I thought there might have been something between us, but clearly there's nothing, alright?" Woody reacted as one of my girlfriends did at work when she overheard a piece of juicy gossip. I glared at him and he went right back to what he was frying. I half-expected Gio to freak out about it, but instead he pulled up a kitchen stool and sat next to me. Ugh, say something!

"I thought this might happen. Will's had a troubled past, Eva, I don't think he's the man for you."

I knew it! "Do you know what happened?" I asked, incredulous.

"No." He said. "But I just know it wasn't good. Plus," He added with a wink "There are a lot of fine young men here, so I'm sure you'll find some handsome young Grecian who will sweep you right off your pretty toes." He touched the tip of my nose and I smiled. "Just like your Father did to your Mother." He reminded me. I wanted to know so badly the story of how my Mother and Father met. If Gio knew the story, I was going to want to hear every detail.

But he was also right. As much as I hated it, and probably my Father at times too, Gio always knew what should be done. Maybe now that my mind was off of Will, I could do some proper sleuthing (as Holly called it) in the great city of Athens. The only thing I dreaded now was having to go alone with Will to Santorini, even if it meant finding a clue to my Father's possible hidden safe located in the archives there.

"Oh, that reminds me-" Gio said. "The archives are closed this weekend, but I have your plane leaving first thing Monday morning." After the charity event, here in Athens.

"That's fine." I nodded. "Oh, I suppose I should go shopping for a dress!" The last formal event I went to was my high school prom. I folded my hands nervously in my lap. What if I forgot how to be elegant? I wasn't even very elegant in the first place, so realistically I wouldn't have forgotten anything.

"Don't you worry about the dress." Gio said, smiling mischievously. "I have it all taken care of."

We devoured Woody's excellent meal and I decided that it was time to do some exploring while I still could. I had never ventured outside of the estate while we were in Manchester, but I didn't want that to be the case in such a breathtaking place as this. I threw on a white T-shirt and my favorite tan linen pants and left out the door knowing the pair of security were not going to be too far behind. I decided to pretend they weren't there. I was entirely acclimated to bodyguards—well, Charles—hanging around my whole life.

The city was bustling at the seams and I hardly recognized it from last night. Merchants now crowded the streets. Every colorful sight and smell was exquisite. I spotted a small shop renting out scooters and bikes and I rushed over to pick one up. That seemed to be the only proper way to see the city! Since I understood nothing of what the merchant said, I just handed him whatever money Gio had exchanged into the Greek Drachma and chose one of the scooters.

I fastened the helmet that came with it and zoomed off towards the city, ready to find some adventure. The road was bumpy and hilly in some spots and smooth in others, but it was completely worth taking my own vehicle. I was trying hard to relate to how my Father felt seeing if for the first time.

I spotted a quiet circle overlooking part of the city and decided to stop, my foot resting on the ground for stabilization. There was a group of young boys playing some version of dodgeball below. This part of Athens was certainly older than the area where we were staying. The weather was crisp and cool and the sun was just peaking over the tall structures. I closed my eyes for a second. The air smelled sweet, like a bakery was nearby. I decided within myself that I would have to stop by and pick something up for the crew.

The calm was disturbed by the sound of a loud vehicle. A black Mercedes roared into the alley bellow and a man dressed in all black came out of the driver's side. He shooed the boys playing dodgeball away. Curious, I pulled my scooter to the side and crouched behind a makeshift ledge of uneven white bricks. How many black Mercedes and men in suits were there in Athens? Oh shit, what if it's someone from WWM? With the benefactor event here coming up it wouldn't surprise me. The man who originally stepped out of the vehicle gave a nod to the car and a woman climbed out from the backseat, using his hand to stabilize her. She was tall and slender with creamy skin and an explosion of blond curls cascading down the back of her black Calvin Klein suit. The woman was so stunning I couldn't seem to tear my eyes away from her. I had never seen her or any of the others present before, which meant that they likely had nothing to do with WWM at all.

I couldn't see well from the ledge but one thing that stood out the most was her velvet scarlet lips. She was looking toward one of buildings, as if waiting for someone. Two seconds later a man appeared from a building to the left. He wore a trim dark suit with his styled wavy dark hair. I squinted my eyes. He looked so familiar. It wasn't—Will?? I gasped aloud, then covered my mouth and whirled back to facing the road, sinking with my back against the brick.

Will?I shouted in my head. Will?!I fumbled with my satchel and pulled out a pair of small bird-watching binoculars Charles had given me as a gift years ago. They were almost smaller than my hand, but they would do the trick. I propped my elbows on the brick and pushed my helmet back to see better. The woman was close to him, laughing about something. My heart felt like it was in my throat.

Could that be Allison? Someone else? I zoomed down to their hands. He was handing her something. It looked like a lump-sum of cash. I strained to hear what they were saying, but couldn't. The driver got back in the car and started the engine. I watched in horror as their mouths were inches apart, then she kissed him on the cheek, her lipstick leaving a mark.

"Goodbye, darling." She drawled. My heart was beating so fast I thought it might explode. He turned my direction, eyes downcast. Before he could look up, I slammed back down to the ground, binoculars at my chest. So there was another woman. Maybe Allison? I remembered the way he gasped when Gio mentioned that name.

So... those looks he gave me, that kiss... It was all just a minor infatuation. Furious, I heaved my duffel bag over my shoulder and revved the scooter to life. Will was a complete liar, like the rest of them. Nothing set him apart from the other thousand morons I dated.Why on earth did I ever kiss him!? The wheels spun into the ground, propelling me out into the street. I turned sharply down one busy street and then the next, not fully aware of where I was going or even what I was doing. An errant tear streaked across my face. As I reached to wipe it away, a large dark force slammed into me from the side, the impact slinging me from the scooter. My world went pitch black.

*****

"Miss! Miss!" Something was shaking me to life. "Call an ambulance!"

My head felt like it was throbbing. In a daze, I opened my eyes. I was in the arms of a man—or an angel—I couldn't decide which. Was I dead? If he was an angel, he was an angel with blond hair and blue eyes bringing me gently into focus.

"Oh thank God, you're alright!" My head felt like it weighed a thousand pounds. I instinctively lifted my hand, realizing that the heavy metal contraption was my helmet.

"Here, let me help you with that." He unbuckled the helmet and my long hair cascaded out from underneath. I looked around and realized I was lying down, a pair of arms holding me up. Whoever this man was, he spoke with an accent, and it wasn't British.

"What happened?" I asked. I felt like I had been hit by a bus or a train. Where were the bodyguards?

"Are you looking for those two men who said they were with you? They went for an ambulance."

"What happened?" I asked again, feeling more alert.

"It was all my fault. I hit you with my car. I'm so sorry, I didn't see you." Car? Felt like a bloody tank. I was alert enough to discover my angel was a man. A young man not much older than I was. I tried to sit up. "Don't move. Not until they get here."

"Th...thank you." I said weakly.

"Thank you for what?" He admonished. His voice was so charming my head didn't hurt for a moment. "I'mthe one who almost killed you!" Yes, thank you for that. I shook my head. In the distance I heard sirens. But I didn't want to go... or stay.

"Can you stand up?" I nodded and slowly, ever slowly, stood up. As if I didn't have enough bruises already. Gio should lock me up! I brushed off my linen pants. No holes or rips from what I could tell. I could see the security running back and before long and they were asking a hundred questions. The ambulance arrived and I told them I was fine, but they insisted on taking me into a hospital. They escorted me inside the ambulance but I kept looking back to see if the man was still there. The blue-eyed stranger stood close-by, concern etched in his face.

"What's your name?" I called out.

"Austin!" He yelled back. Austin. I smiled a little and let my head collapse on the pillow softly. I was either dead and in heaven or on cloud nine.

******

His heart sank a little lower the closer they came—the closer shecame. They were running late which was never a good sign. The vehicle screeched to a stop and Loraine stepped slowly out of the vehicle, looking every bit the Devil in Prada she was.

"Hello, love. I've missed you." Her voice tore through the morning silence. Blond hair framed tired grey eyes. Who knows when she'd last slept, running around doing all of Lench's dirty work.

His fists clenched by his sides as she stepped towards him, her black heels clacking on the pavement.

"Cut the shit, Loraine. I have his money." She stood there looking jilted, but he knew she was too smart for that. He pulled out the cash.

The look on her face was disappointment, as if she expected him to put up a fight like last time.

"You'd better watch your tongue, doggy." She walked so close he could practically smell the harsh stain of liquor and cigarettes on her breath. Lench sure knows how to pick them.

"Bad boys never get treats."

His jaw clenched. The last time she provoked him to anger, her 'boys' had him beat within an inch of his life. He looked anywhere but in her eyes. Her lithe fingers grazed his as she retrieved the money. There was a new bruise on her left wrist.

"Tell Lench he'd better hope I don't find him. She was mine." He couldn't even think of the blinding pain he felt bringing up her up again.

"Sure I will—" She looked around as if someone was listing and leaned in even closer.

"I see you have a new employer. You did well for yourself. She's...cute--"

"Leave her out of this!" He snapped. He looked into her devilish grey eyes. Somehow, he could break her, somehow he'd find a way.

"Look, Lench is getting bored of the games you're playing. He wants me to tell you that one more mess up will send your cutie pie to Hong Kong—if you know what I mean." Will could feel his blood boiling.

"If you touch her, I will kill you."

"Oh, like Ally, I suppose?" Her sadistic smile could freeze the gates of hell over. He would drive a knife into her heart right now if he—

"Just think of that the next time you're late on your payment." She moved closer to him until her lips next to his ear. "Or think of me." She kissed him on the cheek and he froze in place. It took everything he had not to lash out this time. He stood helpless as she walked back over to the car.

"Goodbye darling." She called over her shoulder. The vehicle roared off down the road and he was left alone. Eva was in serious danger now. In a way Loraine was right; his selfish actions caused Ally to be killed and now it would be Eva. He should have left for Singapore and slip under the radar like he planned to. But he couldn't abandon Eva now. She needed him. And he needed her; more than she knew.