“Your wickedly possessive and equal parts horrifying threats are somehow romantic in a way,” she teases as she hands me the thick, sparkly diamond bracelet. “I don’t want anyone touching me but you, Kostas. No one.”
Settled by her fierce words, I take the jewelry and connect it around her delicate wrist. Not letting go of her hand, I draw her palm to my mouth and kiss it, my eyes searing into hers. She grins at me before pulling away to put on some diamond dangly earrings.
“I’m ready,” she finally says, “and you look handsome as ever.”
Gently, I grip her neck and run my thumb along her throbbing vein. “Are you sure you wouldn’t rather stay here instead?”
She clutches my wrist at her throat. “I’m sure. I’m excited to do this. But I’m already tired, so maybe we can cut out early.”
“Deal, wife. And then you’re mine.”
“I already am.”
I watch Talia like a hawk as she moves about the room as though she was born to do this. Eyes follow her everywhere and they all smile for her. Irritation burns inside me each time I see her mother and stepfather, but they’re wise enough to avoid me. They’re proud of her and that makes me happy for her. Doesn’t mean I have to fucking socialize with them, though.
Aris comes to stand beside me and follows my stare, simply sipping from his tumbler of amber liquid without saying much else. After a few moments, he points at them, still holding his glass. It sloshes slightly.
“It’s her fault, you know,” he says, his words sharp and furious.
“Talia?”
He turns and offers me a cruel smile. “So quick to blame your wife and you don’t even know what I’m talking about.”
I grit my teeth. “Out with whatever the hell you’re going to say, asshole.”
“Not your wife.” A laugh escapes him. “Her mother.” He turns back to look at them and scowls. “Our mother would still be—”
“Oh, honey,” Selene coos. “There you are.” She bounds over to Aris, her big boobs nearly bouncing out of her dress in the process. “Been looking everywhere for you.” Her gaze follows his, which is still locked on Talia, and she huffs. “That’s an awfully daring dress to wear in public.”
Before I can snap at her, Aris shuts her down by snagging her wrist and pulling her to him. “That mouth always gets you in trouble. Keep it up and I’m going to find something to keep it quiet.”
Rather than being intimidated, she giggles and presses her tits against him as she kisses him. When they get a little too into it, I step away from them on a hunt for Talia. A waitress walks by with a tray filled with plates of dessert—pomegranate themed—and I grab one from her. I take a small bite and lift my brows in surprise. It’s delicious.
Talia’s eyes catch mine as her mother speaks to her. She pales at my looming presence. I don’t miss the slight wobble of her feet, and the breathy way she asks for them to excuse her. Then, she makes her way over to me, forcing a smile.
“I know this is awkward,” she breathes, sounding tired and overwhelmed. “But thank you for letting them come. It means the world to me.”
I give her a simple nod and then grab her elbow to lead her over to an abandoned table. Once she’s seated, I set the plate down and give her thigh a squeeze.
“You did a wonderful job. I’m impressed, but not surprised,” I say, smiling at her.
Her smile falters and her face seems to pale more. She blinks as though she’s slightly dizzy. Now that I think about it, while everyone else was eating, she made her rounds instead. When she looks down at her lap, I pick up the fork and stab at a piece of the dessert.
“You haven’t eaten a thing tonight,” I tell her, offering her a bite.
She lifts her gaze and eyes the food warily before darting her attention to her mother nearby. “I’m fine,” she utters with a frown, not taking the bite, but instead waving it off.
“You’re nervous and overwhelmed, which is to be expected,” I placate as I set the fork back down on the plate. “The next restaurant opening in November will go off even smoother.”
“That’ll be tricky with school and all,” she mutters, reaching for an untouched glass of water in front of her. “I enrolled for a full load. But I’m pretty sure I can make it all work.”
Opening this restaurant took up all her damn time.
But school too?
There’s no fucking way.
“Make the new restaurant your focus. We both know school was just something to pass the time for you. You have this now.” I wave in the air as if to back up my words. “Now eat this. You’re about to pass out.”
She eyes the forkful of pomegranate dessert like it’s poison. “Something to pass the time? You’re being a dick, Kostas.”
I grit my teeth, darting my gaze around to see if anyone heard her. Luckily, everyone is focused on chatting and eating dessert.
“Eat the fucking food,” I grit out.
Her cheeks bloom red with the first flush of color all night. “No,” she says stubbornly.
“You’re hungry. Eat.”
“I loved doing this restaurant, but I want to finish school. Something you said I could do,” she bites out. “I’ll figure out a way to manage both.” She swats away the fork and it’s really starting to piss me off.
I pin her with a hard glare. “Eat the pomegranate, Persephone.”
“I said I don’t want any, Hades.” Her nostrils flare and she swallows hard.
Fury rises up inside of me like fire from the depths of Hell. Is this how the fabled god felt when the one he loved refused to eat the pomegranate that would keep her bound to him for eternity?
Obstinate women.
“Fine,” I snap, setting the fork down with a hard clank. “Be that way.”
She flinches at my tone. “I’m not being any way, Kostas.” She rises quickly from her chair, swaying slightly. “I need fresh air.”
“You’re not going,” I lash out.
“Outside or to school?” she challenges, tears welling in her pretty eyes.
I’m an asshole.
“School,” I growl. “You have the restaurants, and you have me.”
A tear races down her cheek as her blue eyes flash with betrayal at my words. I never said I wasn’t a liar. School is a waste of fucking time and energy. She’s a Demetriou now and doesn’t need it.
“Then I’m going outside, boss,” she sneers, her red bottom lip wobbling.
“Get your air and dry your tears.” I clench my teeth before pinning her with a hard glare. “And then come back to eat your fucking pomegranate dessert.”
We both know the meaning behind my words.
You eat it. You stay.
That’s the end of our motherfucking story.
Five long minutes pass before my blood runs icy cold.
Fuck this.
Fuck her attitude, too.
I stalk out of the restaurant and into the pouring rain. It’s cold and immediately saturates through my tux. In the dark, I scan the buildings and trees, searching for her.
Nowhere.
“Looking for your wife?” Aris asks, pressed against the wall, just under the awning of the building. “She went that way. Said she was running away from the monsters.” He snorts at his joke. “Something could happen to a woman all alone…”