Legacy of Olympus (In the Gods' Secret Service) (15 page)
Read Legacy of Olympus (In the Gods' Secret Service) Online
Authors: Teri Gilbert
Tags: #Romance, #ebook
No. She flattened her palm against the cool stone railing.
Maybe, at first, that’s what had drawn them together. She’d felt the instant connection the moment they’d been introduced at the station. She could tell Alec had, too. And, yes, she had played up that attraction, using it to get closer to him.
Then something changed. Eleni closed her eyes, trying to remember the exact moment she knew Alec meant more to her than a means to an end. Was it before or after they’d kissed for the first time?
Her pulse quickened. Before. Only hours before, but still...Somewhere between the prime rib and crème brule, she’d made the decision to tell Stephanos she couldn’t use Alec in that manner, and they’d have to come clean before she’d continue with the plan. But she’d never had the chance.
Eleni curled her hand, and pounded the railing. There was something more between them. She’d met many handsome, compelling men working with Stephanos. Not one of them, not a single, solitary one, had appealed to her. So what was it about Alec?
For one thing, Alec didn’t care about her looks. He’d proven that outward appearance didn’t matter to him when he spoke about Charissa. He also treated her with respect, like she had a brain, not something men usually did. They assumed because she was blonde and well endowed, she was short on the gray matter.
“You must really care about him.”
Eleni’s heart jumped at the sound of the French doors opening behind her. “What?”
“I’ve been watching you from the rotunda.” Mallaki gestured toward the six-sided structure towering above the surrounding area on their left. “You have the look of a woman thinking about a man. Am I wrong?”
“No.” She faced him and managed a tight smile.
“I’m a patient man, Eleni.” He took her balled fist and smoothed out her hand. “I know how to make you forget him.”
Tiny muscles in Eleni’s stomach started to vibrate as Mallaki continued to caress her fingers. She wanted to tell him to stop, but fought the impulse. At this point, such a bold move would only put her in more danger.
Mallaki’s voice was low and soothing. “My enemies may not think so, but I am quite tolerant about the things I care for.”
Things. Inanimate objects. That’s how Mallaki thought of her.
He brought her hand to his lips. “I know you have feelings for someone else, but I’m sure in time you’ll come to have the same feelings for me.” His eyes held a dangerous spark.
“We’ll make a good match, Eleni. But I won’t wait forever.”
He ran a hand down the side of her mouth and traced her lips, which started quivering beneath his touch.
Mallaki inched forward. “I’d like to put my theory to the test.”
No. She snapped her head to the left and his lips found the side of her neck instead.
She cringed, not knowing how he’d react.
He chuckled.
Heart pounding, she faced him.
“Not ready to be my lover, Eleni?”
“Why do you want me?”
“Because you’re beautiful.”
She gestured toward the mansion behind her. “I’ve seen Naia and Litsa. They’re much more beautiful than I.”
He frowned, as if considering the validity of her statement. “I’d say you’re all on the same level.”
“Then why
me
, Mallaki? You could let me go.” She suspected it was her unattainable status that fascinated him. Or perhaps her “gift” increased her attraction. He placed his hands on her shoulders. “You have fire, Eleni, a passion visible to anyone who meets you. It brings a man alive.”
“You only say that because you can’t have me.”
He tapped her lightly on the nose. “Be careful, my dear. Can’t is such a strong word. Some might say it’s a challenging one, particularly to someone as competitive as I. It’s not a question of
if
, but
when
.”
She licked her dry lips. “Could we spend more time with each other first, Mallaki?”
He laughed. “I’m feeling magnanimous today. More time together, it is. Let’s say we consummate this relationship in two days.”
The tightness in her chest loosened, and she gave a sharp nod. She’d have to discover what he was up to tonight.
And if she couldn’t...
Well, she’d escape. Or die trying. Either way, Mallaki would never have her.
Alec took another bite of his roast beef sandwich. He, Stephanos, and the team from Miami sat around a plastic foldout table in front of the workout area at Adara’s. The smells of freshly baked bread and greasy french fries filled the air. Everyone had ordered subs from a local shop. They ranged from Adara’s funky cucumber, onion, and avocado, to Quinn’s hearty triple meat double order, to his own rather ordinary horseradish and roast beef. People were engaged in side conversations or busy eating, and Alec found the clanking of cutlery and quiet murmurs a pleasant backdrop.
Stephanos raised his water glass. “To new friends.”
“Hear, hear,” each replied and clinked glasses, Quinn’s motion so powerful, it practically shattered his own tankard. The big man merely inclined his head and grinned.
“Since you’ll be working together, you should know something about each other’s abilities.” Stephanos addressed the group. “We’ll go around the table. Keep it short and to the point. Quinn, you first.”
“You saw my power, purely physical. My ancestor was Zeus. You’d think I could do something with the weather, lightning bolts like Adrian or something cool like that, but, try as I might, nothing.” He shrugged.
“Quinn, here, is being modest.” Adrian made a face. “He’s, naturally, also a direct descendant of Cronus.” He gave him an all-expectant look, as if waiting for some sort of reaction.
Alec searched his memory. He’d heard of Zeus, of course, and knew Cronus had something to do with time.
Adrian gave an exasperated sigh. “Cronus was a
Titan
. You know, those who came first.”
When he didn’t respond, Adrian scowled in disgust. “Cronus was Zeus’s
father
.”
“Oh.” The inane word came out before Alec could stop it.
Quinn laughed. “That’s all right. Adrian here is the only one who thinks it’s a big deal.”
Jules went next. “My power, for lack of a better word, is invisibility.” He tugged a black knit cap out of his front jacket pocket and placed it on his head.
Holy shit. Alec stared at where Jules had been, dimly aware his mouth had dropped open. Just like Eleni with the Blues Brothers. “Can you make others invisible, too?”
“No. That takes more than one of us.” Jules’s disembodied voice came from the area where he’d been sitting.
Quinn planted his massive hand on the spot where Jules’s head should be. His hand suddenly jerked to the side, as Jules struggled to twist himself free from Quinn’s grasp.
Quinn plucked off the cap. Jules reappeared, shot a disgruntled look at Quinn, and then coolly smoothed his hair back into place.
“I’m not about to let all the men go first,” Adara said as she shifted her attention away from Jules and latched onto Alec. She met his gaze with eyes the deepest blue he’d ever seen. At first, Alec thought she wore contacts, but he couldn’t detect a rim or the hint of a reflected lens. And her eyes had a similar intensity to Quinn’s, however, Quinn’s look was warm, where hers was ice cold. “I’m a distant relative of Oceanid, a muse, but I have Poseidon’s blood in me, too. And Ares. My specialties are sea animals, but I’m an excellent warrior.” Her gaze practically shouted out the challenge.
Alec didn’t doubt for a second. There was an undeniable tenacity about her, from the rigid set of her back to the directness of her stare. She wasn’t a woman to mess with.
Her chin tilted upward. “I can take on almost any man.”
“Except me.” Quinn gave a wide smile.
A frown creased the area between Adara’s thin brows. “Maybe. It would depend on the circumstances.”
Quinn stretched his arms wide. “Any time, baby.”
She shot him a patronizing look, then nodded toward the third man. “Go ahead, Adrian.”
“There’s not much to tell. Since Ares is my ancestor, I’m pretty good in a fight.”
“That’s an understatement. Even I wouldn’t want to take you on. You go for the throat and don’t let go.” Quinn wrapped both hands around his own neck and made choking noises.
When all eyes turned in his direction, Alec cleared his throat. To measure up to the rest of them, he’d have to hit the gym more than the once or twice a week he’d managed in the past few years. He wasn’t overweight by any means, but he suspected he’d lose an arm wrestle with any of them, even Adara. “I’m a descendant of Apollo. As you saw, I can shoot a bow and arrow and have some ability to heal minor injuries.”
Stephanos gave him a quizzical look, but Alec still wasn’t ready to buy that he’d brought someone back from the brink of death.
“That’s it?” The woman arched a brow again. “Surely, Stephanos wouldn’t have brought you on if you couldn’t fight.”
He thought of the man he’d stabbed. “I can fight.”
“What’s your
reason
for being here?” Adrian gave him a pointed look that bordered on sullen.
At first, Alec thought Adrian meant in the philosophical sense, but finally decided he meant it literally. “To stop Mallaki, just like you.”
“Yes, but
why
are you involved?” Adara tilted her head.
Alec’s jaw tightened. “I’ve seen the devastation Mallaki can wreak.”
Jules studied him. “That’s not all of it. You’re holding something back.”
“I agree.” Adara’s strange eyes flickered over him.
Heat rushed to Alec’s face. “He’s kidnapped a woman I care about.”
Quinn pounded the table in front of him, causing everything on top to jump, then clatter back to the surface. “The bastard. I say we take the man out.”
The others murmured their agreement.
That
was
the plan, wasn’t it? When you got down to it. Alec tamped down a surge of guilt. They
were
plotting to kill a man. But this was a man who’d killed innocents at Amalgamated and murdered countless others around the world in cold blood. A man who’d tried to kill him.
A man who now held Eleni against her will.
An old adage kept running through his mind—If you could go back in time and take out Hitler, wouldn’t you do it? No matter what the cost?
“You’re worried about her.” Adara turned her perceptive gaze on him.
I’ll be all right
. An image of Eleni’s face, eyes teary, chin raised and slightly trembling, rose before him. “Yes.”
“Men.” Adara scoffed and looked at each of them in turn. “You think women are all helpless and need protection.” Her upper lip curled. “You forget research has proven we can withstand more pain, have greater patience, and are infinitely more resilient than the average male.”
“There you go. That’s the flaw in your logic.” Quinn crossed his arms, an enormous, self-satisfied smile on his handsome broad features. “We’re not average men.”
Adara’s cheeks colored in either embarrassment or anger, but Alec suspected the latter. There was something going on between her and Quinn, something that had started long before today.
He thought Stephanos would comment or step in, but he remained strangely quiet. Alec shifted in his chair. Everyone seemed to be looking to
him
. He cleared his throat. “I agree with Quinn.”
Adara shot him an angry look.
Alec held up his hands. “In regards to the fact we’re not average. Even if we didn’t possess any special abilities, the mere fact we’re willing to go up against Mallaki and his men puts us in a different category.”
“Damn straight.” Quinn stared at Adara, as if waiting for a response, but she just swiveled and looked the other way.
As they finished eating, Stephanos recounted what they knew about Mallaki’s involvement in severe weather across the world and showed them the footage of the aftermath. He then filled them in on the exact details of what he’d seen at Amalgamated.
