The Private Serials Box Set (40 page)

   “What are you talking about?”

   “After you fell asleep, I went downstairs to the bar and he was there.  So I spoke with him.”

   The anger drained from her face, her features softened, and she moved closer to me by just a bit.

   “So, he’s here?  And he knows I’m here?  What did he say?”

   “He didn’t have much to say, love.  I made it pretty clear that he wasn’t to speak your name, and I just explained the situation.  He knows Edgar is after him and pretty upset he took off with his money.  He also knows we have a solution for him.”

   “Did he agree to your plan?”

   “I didn’t tell him yet.  I told him we’d meet this morning.”  I paused, watching her face give away all the emotions she was feeling as she took in the new information.  “I wanted to give you the opportunity to talk to him, to tell him what needed to happen.”  I searched her eyes, hoping she would give me a clue as to what she was thinking.   I knew Lena didn’t love Derrek anymore, hadn’t for a while even before I came into the picture, but he was her husband.  She’d spent many years with him and I’d be a fool to think there wasn’t at least one small part of her that cared what happened to him.  “I know I spoke with him last night without you, but I wasn’t even sure he was here.”  My hand found her face again, trying to offer her something soothing, something warm and gentle when I knew there must have been so many thoughts racing through her mind.  “I needed him to know that I wouldn’t allow him to hurt you, see you, or even think about you without my permission.”  She leaned her cheek into my touch, which only intensified the possessive feelings that were growing inside of me.

   “He needed to know you’re mine now: my life, my responsibility, my property.  I own you.  Just as much as you own me, Lena.  I just needed to make that clear to him before I let him see you again.  I’m sorry if that upsets you.”

   She shook her head just slightly, bringing her entire body to lie right next to mine.  “That doesn’t upset me.  I
am
yours.  I never belonged to Derrek the way I belong to you.”

   I knew it was true, even before she’d admitted it, but no words had ever been more beautiful coming from her mouth.  I leaned forward and kissed her, my hand moving from her cheek to the back of her neck, holding her firmly to me, giving her everything in that kiss.  I pulled away just far enough to speak.

   “So, you’ll come with me then?”

   “Of course.  He needs to understand this is his best option.  I can reason with him, I think.”

   “All right, then.”

   I watched her roll away from me and walk naked to the bathroom, then I heard the water start to fall from the shower.  I closed my eyes and prayed I wasn’t making a mistake, hoped I wasn’t walking the most precious possession I had into a trap.

   Two hours later, we’d walked through the iconic and somewhat ancient streets of Athens.  The streets wound through the village, slowly descending toward the water, where boats lined the marina.  Some small boats, some enormous boats, and most falling somewhere in between.  Lena and I, hand in hand, came upon Derrek standing exactly where I’d told him to meet us.  His back was to us as he looked out over the water.  The sounds of our footsteps alerted him to our arrival, and he turned just as we approached him.  When his face came into view, I felt Lena’s hand grip mine more tightly.

   “I see you made the smart choice to meet me here,” I said, coming to a stop just feet from him.  The blue water behind him, glittering and beautiful, was a stark contrast to the dark circles and bags underneath his eyes.

   “Yes, well, I didn’t really see another option.”  He glanced at Lena and my gut clenched, watching as his eyes roamed over her body from head to toe.  Luckily for him, he didn’t look longingly at her, just seemed to be taking inventory.  “Lena,” he said to her in greeting, coldly, and I felt her stiffen beside me.

   She nodded in response, but said nothing.  I pulled her a little closer.

   “You look well,” he said.  Again, not in a way that made me think he was admiring her, but just making an observation.  Before I could cut in and redirect the conversation, she responded.

   “Two months in paradise will do that to a person.”  Her words were short and powerful.  I got the feeling she wanted him to know that life without him was better for her, that she’d been able to move on and find happiness even after he’d tried to ruin her.

   “Yes, well, isn’t that what we’re all after?  A little piece of heaven?” His arm swung out to motion around him, to show us that we’d invaded his paradise and that he wanted us out.  “Now, tell me what you want from me so we can get this show on the road.  Jessica doesn’t know where I am, or that you’ve come to force my hand.  I’d like to get back to her and the girls before she gets suspicious.”

   “Already lying to her?”  Lena’s voice rang clear and sharp amidst the sounds of the marina—water slapping against the sides of boats, birds calling out overhead, sails being filled with wind.

   “I’m here because your
boyfriend
basically threatened me last night and that’s the only reason.  The instant either one of you insinuates that my relationship with Jessica is anything in comparison to the sham of a marriage I had with you, this conversation will be over.  The way you feel about Lena,” Derrek said to me now, pointing a finger in my direction, “is the same way I feel about my family.  Threaten them and you’ll never see me again.”

   “Well, I won’t threaten you, but I will tell you if you don’t cooperate and take the help I’m offering, you probably won’t live to see your girls start school.  And I can’t guarantee Edgar will spare their lives either.  This isn’t a threat, Derrek, this is reality.  The choice is up to you.”

   All three of us were silent for a moment as he contemplated his next move.  There was a part of me that hoped he walked away, hoped that Edgar came looking for him and delivered whatever punishment he thought his money was worth.  Another part of me, the part that loved Lena and wanted her safe and sound, was silently begging him to trust me, to let me help him, even if he didn’t deserve it.

   “As much as we all want to be rid of each other, we’re basically all in the same boat, and we’re all looking for the same resolution: to be done with Edgar forever.  And each other.”  I let my words sink in, my gaze holding steady with his.

   Derrek took one more pause then sighed loudly.  “What’s the plan, then?”

   “First,” Lena started, and I watched Derrek’s expression move from indifference to surprise as he realized she was running the show, “I’m going to need you to sign divorce papers.  And those papers officially transfer most of the money you took from our marriage back to me.”  Derrek moved to argue, his mouth popping open almost instantaneously, but she didn’t let him get a word in.  “Don’t worry, I’m leaving you enough to start a new life with your family, but I’m taking most of it, and I’ll pay off your debt to Edgar.”

   That last bit surprised him, and I could see him mulling it around in his mind, trying to fit the pieces of the puzzle Lena and I had built together.

   “Why would I give you all of my money and trust you to pay off Edgar?”

   “You won’t have any other choice,” she replied, her voice cold and flat.  Derrek moved from foot to foot, his nerves giving his uneasiness away.

   “Why wouldn’t I have any other choice?”  His voice was low and teetering on the edge of scared and nervous.

   “Because, Derrek.  You’ll be dead.”

Chapter Eight

   It took Derrek about a minute to think about the deal Lena was offering him, even though she wouldn’t elaborate.  But after that minute he decided he needed to bring Jessica into the discussion.  Lena didn’t miss a beat and agreed, which only made me admire her more.  The idea that she was willing to have a civil, albeit strange, conversation with her husband’s mistress only made my affection for her grow.

   Derrek called Jessica and we all agreed to meet at the bar of the hotel after Jessica arranged for childcare for their girls.

   Lena and I sat at a table, she with her vodka martini and me with my scotch, and my hand rested firmly on the fleshiest part of her thigh.  For just one moment I was irritated by the pants she was wearing, wanting my hand to be on her skin, to feel the heat radiating off her, but my thoughts were cut short by the sight of Derrek and Jessica walking into the bar, hand in hand.  I had never met Jessica, but her face gave all her feelings away; she was scared, nervous, and trying like hell to appear the exact opposite.  The most prominent thought circulating through my mind was that she couldn’t hold a candle to Lena.  She was nothing in comparison.  I couldn’t help but wonder how Derrek could leave someone like Lena behind in favor of Jessica.  The quandary was short lived though, because it didn’t matter why he’d left Lena.  She was mine now.  His loss was my ultimate and phenomenal gain.

   Lena didn’t stand as they approached our table, so I followed her lead and remained seated as well.

   “Lena,” Jessica said in greeting as she pulled a chair out and took a seat.  “I’d say it was nice to see you, but honestly, I’m a little irritated by your appearance in Greece, so I won’t insult you by lying.”

   “Funny.  You didn’t have a problem lying to my face about sleeping with my husband and ruining my marriage.”  Lena’s verbal jab was sharp and hit its target dead center.  I watched as Jessica scrambled for a response, but Lena wasn’t waiting for her and just continued on.  “I’m not here to fight with you, Jessica.  In fact, I’m here for something quite the opposite.”  She reached down into the bag sitting by her feet and pulled out the manila envelope, sliding it across the table to where Derrek had sat next to Jessica.

   “It’s simple, Derrek.  You sign these papers, we fax them back to the US, to Preston’s brother.  When the money is transferred and safely received in my account, you’ll get the other manila envelope in my bag that guarantees your safety along with the safety of Jessica and your girls.”

   “What’s in the other envelope?”  Jessica asked.

   “That’s not up for discussion,” I interjected.  We needed to maintain the upper hand and giving them too much information too early wouldn’t be wise.

   “You expect me to gamble my future on some mystery envelope?”  Derrek’s voice was growing irritated and angry.

   “This isn’t a game,” Jessica added.

   “You’re right.  This isn’t a game.  This is life and death, I’m afraid,” I said sharply, trying to show them I wasn’t trying to play with them at all.  “I want out of this mess just as much as you.  We’ve all got something important to us on the line.  This isn’t a gamble; this is a way out.  For all of us.”

   “I’ve never given you any reason not to trust me,” Lena said, her voice a little softer than before, her eyes focused on Derrek.  “I gave you, arguably, the best years of my life.  My youth.  Possibly my only chance at having a family.  But I never lied to you.  I’ll remind you, you’re the one who got us all into this mess.  Be a man for once in your life and make the right decision.”

   Derrek took the envelope, opened it, and his eyes moved over the pages of the document.  He flipped through it, taking his time examining the fine print, then put it down on the table, bringing his eyes to Lena’s again.  “You expect me to give you everything besides two million dollars?  You think I’m going to just hand everything I’ve worked for over to you?”

   “The way I see it,” I said, slowly turning my glass of scotch in my hand, “your negotiations are with me from here on out.  From what Lena’s told me, most of your money came from the merge of her father’s company with yours.  You got most of your wealth directly from your marriage to her.  She deserves
all
your money for what you put her through, so walking away with two million and your lives is more than you deserve.”

   “How are we supposed to live our lives with only two million dollars?” 

   “That’s not my problem to solve,” Lena stated coolly.  “However, if you’d prefer to keep all the money you’ve practically stolen from me, I’m sure it’ll come in handy when Edgar comes for you.  Although, I’m not sure if he makes the effort to find you he’ll let you live.”

   Jessica looked at Derrek with legitimate fear in her eyes and it occurred to me that perhaps he hadn’t been very forthcoming about all his dealings with Edgar.  I watched as she mentally put two and two together, watched as she considered what Lena had said, and saw the moment she realized the lives of her children were more important than money.

   “Sign the papers, Derrek,” Jessica said, her words harsh and angry.  He sighed loudly, but then pulled a pen from his jacket and signed the documents, and slid them across the table to me.  I felt Lena relax against me just a little when the papers were in my hands and I could only imagine the relief she was feeling at that moment.  For once, she’d won a battle against him.  For once, she was going to get what she deserved, something that was taken from her.  If I hadn’t been sitting across the table from her now ex-husband, I would have turned and kissed her gently, showed her exactly how much I understood what those papers meant to her.

   I pushed the papers in front of her, and handed her my own pen.  She took it from me, smiling, and signed her name next to Derrek’s for the very last time without hesitation.  I put the papers back in the envelope, making sure the clasp was shut, and looked to Derrek.

   “I am going to fax these to our lawyer, and once everything is finalized I will be in touch.  Do not leave Athens.  If you leave without seeing this plan through, Edgar
will
find you and there won’t be anything for me to do to save you or your family.”  My eyes darted to Jessica and I saw the fear in her eyes as she nodded slightly.  She understood the severity of the situation.

   “You want us to just sit around waiting for you?” Derrek asked, sounding annoyed.

   “I’ll remind you that I’m the one with the plan.  If you follow my instructions everything will be fine.  You have my word.”