The Greek Tycoon Box Set: The Complete Serial: Books 1-10 (13 page)

“They loved you,” Carla murmured. “I can’t believe it.”

“You can’t believe it, huh?” Atreus teased as he drove. Carla feigned displeasure.

“You know what I mean,” she said. “It’s a figure of speech. I know my grandparents are wonderful people, but I never expected them to be as welcoming as they were. It’s . . . a dream come true, honestly. But I do wish my parents were here.” Her eyes shifted to the mirror, where she could watch Dios snooze in his car seat. Atreus patted her hand sympathetically.

“I know, my love. They are in spirit. And I think they would be so, so proud of you. It’s like I told your grandfather - you’re the best woman I’ve ever known.” Carla smiled.

“It means the world to me that you asked him for my hand. I think it means a lot to him, too, actually.” Although Carla wasn’t Charles’s daughter, after the death of her parents, she was the nearest thing to a child he had. “His saying yes to you means everything.” She didn’t have to say anything more. Atreus knew how touched she was, and he loved her for it.

Onella had arranged for them to stay at a luxe hotel in the heart of London, and when they arrived Atreus kissed Carla’s forehead and clapped his hands.

“Alright! Let’s go get settled. Onella said she’ll be waiting for us in the bar in an hour.” Eagerly, Atreus handed his keys to the valet and began to wrangle a drowsy Dios from his car seat. Carla frowned.

“The bar? Atreus, we can’t bring Dios in to a bar, he’s too small! It’ll be too loud for him, and too many people—”

“It’s
fine
, my darling. Onella has arranged for the house child sitting services to stay with Dios for a bit. Just a few hours or so. You’ll hardly realize you’re going without him.” Atreus waved away Carla’s concerns as they entered through the glass doors into the fine interior of the hotel lobby, outfitted with lush rugs and overstuffed chaises. Carla pursed her lips.

“I thought I made myself clear, I would take care of Dios on this trip!” Carla was softened somewhat by Atreus’s insistence that she enjoyed herself, but her point still stood.

“Yes, but you don’t have to do it alone. Just for one night, αγάπη μου. Relax.” Begrudgingly, Carla agreed.
 

Their hotel suite was large and extravagant, with an expansive bedroom for Carla and Atreus and an attached nursery with a crib for Dios. They had a living room, a beautiful bathroom, and even a full kitchen – though Atreus assured her, they would not be doing any cooking themselves. The pair changed into evening attire and made Dios comfortable in a pair of striped pajamas. When the nanny arrived – a large German woman by the name of Gerta – she was wonderfully personable and immediately took Dios off his parents’ harried hands. After Carla kissed Dios and offered Gerta her cell phone number three times over, Atreus ushered her out of the room.
 

“We will have to over-tip her, for putting up with your insanity!” Atreus laughed as they made their way into the dimly lit, fashionable hotel bar.
 

“I’m just nervous! I don’t like leaving him alone,” Carla said, brushing hair behind her ear.
 

“Darling, he isn’t alone. Gerta seems highly capable. Hell, if we were attacked by brutes, I would want Gerta on my side of the fight!” It was true that the woman looked formidable, but Carla would still worry. Before she could spout more anxieties, though, Atreus spotted Onella at a chic little table across the room.

“Nella!” He cried as they approached, and the siblings embraced.
 

“Oh, I’ve seen enough of you to last a lifetime. Let me see my new sister!” Onella teased, holding Carla at arm’s length to get a good look at her. “Engagement looks well on you, Carla.” She hugged her tightly. “I am so honored to be your sister.” She shot a look to Atreus over Carla’s shoulder. “And don’t you forget, mister – I’m the whole reason you met! I think that earns me immunity for life from your jokes!” Atreus held up his hands in comedic surrender.
 

“I owe so much to you, sister dearest.” He laughed. Onella gestured to her table.
 

“Sit, sit. I ordered you drinks; I hope you don’t mind. Champagne! Do you like champagne?” Carla giggled.

“I think we will have drunk more champagne in the past few days than I have in my entire life!” Carla exclaimed. “Yes, Onella, champagne is perfect.”
 

They spent the evening talking and drinking, tucking into small plates and making plans for the duration of the trip. It was decided that the family would go sightseeing with Dios the following day, and the next day would be another visit to Mary and Charles’. After that, Onella insisted upon taking Carla to an exclusive bridal boutique in town.

“I know it’s so early to start thinking about dresses,” Onella said, pouring another drink from the bottle service. “But this place is fabulous, and they’re by appointment only. It’s absolutely once-in-a-lifetime.” Carla agreed, and promised to ask Mary if she’d like to come along. “The more the merrier!” Onella said.

“Dios and I will have to busy ourselves elsewhere while you ladies shop. Maybe we’ll ride the Eye, or go for a boat trip down the Thames. I think he’d like that,” Atreus said.
 

Carla smiled at her fiancé.
 

“I think he would,” she replied. As she sat gossiping and planning with Onella and Atreus, Carla felt a warm feeling wash over her.
This is what it feels like to find your place in the world
, she thought.
And I’m right where I ought to be.

*****

It was very late in the evening when Carla and Atreus headed back to their hotel suite. They had utterly lost track of time and came stumbling into the elevator shushing each other and trading playful kisses.
 

As the elevator door closed behind them, Atreus grabbed Carla’s arms and pulled her closer to him. He kissed her over and over again, his kisses becoming increasingly passionate. Apprehensive, yet excited, Carla embraced him. She’d never made love in an elevator before.
 

Knowing time was of the essence, Carla allowed her lust to take over as she quickly unzipped Atreus’ khakis and stroked his length—he was already waiting for her. He moaned as she rubbed him and unbuttoned her blouse.
 

His tongue followed the length of her neck, along her chest, and onto her nipples. She stroked him harder and felt him growing.
 

“Atreus, you are so bad,” she whispered in his ear.

“Me, dear? You are the bad one,” he said as she felt hands moving up her skirt. As he tugged longingly at her panties, the elevator suddenly stopped. They quickly pulled themselves together; Carla buttoned her blouse and Atreus zipping his pants as another young couple entered the elevator. Carla blushed as the young man made eye contact with her before turning and winking at Atreus.
 

Atreus put his arm around her, laughing quietly to himself as the four of them stood in awkward silence for the remainder of the ride.
 

Once on the twentieth floor, Atreus led Carla through the elevator door and turned to the young couple and said, “Have a nice evening.” The door shutting before the couple had a chance to respond.
 

Carla hit Atreus playfully on his arm. “I am so embarrassed, Atreus. I hope we don’t run into them again.”

“Don’t be embarrassed, I am sure they would have done the same thing,” Atreus whispered as he opened their suite door.
 

The room was dark when they entered, with only thin beams of moonlight filtering in through the gossamer curtains to illuminate the living area. Carla kicked off her heels, and Atreus shushed her once more.

“Oh, it’s fine,” Carla said, finally rid of all her worries from before. “I’m sure he’s fast asleep!”

“Let’s peek in on him and Gerta,” Atreus said. “I’m sure she’ll be glad to go home and get some sleep in her own bed.”
 

Together the happy couple tiptoed quietly into Dios’s room. To their surprise, the lamp in the corner was turned on – and Gerta was nowhere to be found. Confused, Carla looked about the room.

“Did they fall asleep in the living room?” she asked Atreus. He poked his head out into the larger room and returned looking pale.
 

“They’re not in there,” Atreus said. Carla was at Dios’s crib, her body stiff as an icy cold washed over her.
 

“Atreus,” she said, her voice trembling. “Where is our son?”

The End
(of Book 3)

Continue on to read Book 4…

THE GREEK TYCOON

Book 4:
 
Bringing His Baby Home

By Kay Brody

Chapter 1

“Where is our son?” Carla said.

She turned back to Atreus, all the color draining from her face.

Atreus’ eyes darted across the hotel room. He dashed over to the heavy drapes and pulled them back. A flicker of hope ignited in his chest, then died as he flung them to the walls to reveal the bare blackness of night and the lights of the London skyline. No Dios.

“Dios?” Carla called out. She hurried to the bathroom and her eyes were assaulted by its empty whiteness. Its gleaming luxury tiles that she had admired just hours before were now oppressively bright and meaningless. “He’s not in the bathroom.”

Atreus snatched up the telephone by the bed and hit zero.

“Goodnight, Recep—”

“Where is Gerta?” he demanded.

He watched Carla as she got down on her knees and looked under the bed.

“Gerta finished her shift thirty minutes ago,” the receptionist said.

“Where’s my son? She was supposed to be caring for him. Give me her number!”

“I’m afraid it’s against our policy to give out staff—”

Atreus’ cell phone buzzed in his pocket. He slammed down the hotel phone and picked up the call.

Unknown caller
, the screen read.

“Atreus Kostas,” a deep voice said from the other end of the line.

“Yes?”

“I know where your son is,” the voice said. “But before I go any further I need you to make a promise.”

“Anything,” Atreus said, stunned.

“You will not tell Carla, the police, or anyone else anything about this call,” the voice said. “Do you agree?”

How does this guy know about Carla?

The first person that came to mind was Brian, Carla’s vengeful ex-boyfriend.

“What if I don’t?” Atreus said.

“Then Dios dies,” the voice said.

Adrenaline bolted through Atreus’ veins.

“What do you want from me? Money? I’ll give you however much you want. Anything.”

“What I want is for you to follow my instructions,” said the voice. “If you follow them exactly, Dios will be released to you. If you make even
one
deviation, you will never see your son again. Do everything I tell you to do. Nothing else. Do you understand?”

“Yes,” said Atreus.

He glanced over at Carla, terrified by what was to come.

“Good,” the voice said. “First, call Carla to you and tell her that you need to talk.”

Atreus swallowed.

“Carla?”

She looked back at him as she made her fifth sweep through the wardrobe, fear in her eyes.

“Yes?”

“Come here, please,” he said. “I need to talk to you.”

“That’s it,” the voice sneered.

Carla came over to him.

“What is it?” she said. “Who’s on the phone?”

“Tell her it’s Serene.”

“It’s Serene, my darling,” Atreus said. “Nothing to worry about.”

The voice at the end of the phone filled with rage.

“I didn’t tell you to call her
darling
!”

With his loss of control, Atreus could easily identify the caller as Brian.

In the moment that followed Carla looked at Atreus with wide, searching eyes. His heart ached to have to deceive her, but he vowed to himself that he would straighten everything out once he had Dios safely back in his arms. He would make it up to her for the rest of his life if he had to.

“Tell her to sit on the bed.”

“Sit on the bed,” said Atreus.

“Atreus, what’s going on?” Carla asked.

“Please,” he said.

She sighed and did as he said. “Don’t you think we should be out there looking for Dios?”

“Tell her to look under the pillow.”

“Look under the pillow,” Atreus repeated.

Carla did as he asked and found a letter. Her eyes scanned over it.

“What is this?”
 

“Now, without another word, go into the bathroom and lock the door,” Brian said.

“What?”

Atreus heard Dios whine in the background and it felt like his heart might drop out of his chest.

“Do it!” Brian screamed.

Atreus hurried into the bathroom and twisted the lock behind him.