The Greek's Stolen Bride Read Online Free PDF Page B

the morning, the air was drowsy with heat.
    Her heart pounded. Her palms dampened once more. She still had thirty minutes to wait before Theo's hour was up. Before he left--and would he take her with him? How ?
    The minutes passed with torturous slowness, until finally at five minutes to ten Ariana made her way inside to the cool stillness of the marble foyer. In the distance she heard the insistent beep of the timer her father had set and then his smug, self-satisfied chuckle. Atrikes had failed. Disappointment flashed through her. Had he really been so arrogant to think he wouldn't fail? And now that he had, would he renege on their bargain? She had no answers.
    "You are not the first, as you know," she heard her father say as he walked towards the foyer. "And you will not be the last."
    "I tried all my tricks," Theo replied with a laugh. He sounded so incredibly relaxed. "You are a clever man, Leotokos."
    They came into the foyer, Theo looking as relaxed as he had sounded, her father smiling smugly although his eyes were cold and hard.
    "I hope," Miles said, "you do not experience any adverse consequences with the news of your failure."
    "I have more faith in my clients than you do, I think."
    Miles's smile widened. "Indeed you do."
    Who would her father call, Ariana wondered numbly. Who did he know to ruin a man like Theo Atrikes, a man who seemed powerful and rich and utterly unafraid? Yet she did not doubt that her father could ruin him. Would ruin him.
    Theo turned to smile at her. "Ah, Miss Leotokos. You have heard of my failure, I trust?"
    "I have," she said tightly.
    "It's a clever little puzzle, and one I cannot solve, to my own shame. I told you I liked challenges, so I suppose I shall have to find another."
    "Indeed."
    "Would you do the kindness of escorting me to your father's boat?" Theo asked, the question slipping out so innocently, so innocuously that Ariana had to blink at its smoothness. He turned to her father. "Can you spare your daughter for a moment, Miles?"
    Miles frowned, and Ariana lowered her gaze. "I do not think--she began, demurely, knowing her father would resist if she seemed eager.
    "No, go ahead, go ahead." He turned to Theo. "We will meet again one day, perhaps."
    "Perhaps," Theo agreed amicably, and stretched out one hand for her father to shake. "It was entertaining, at any rate, Miles. Thank you for your hospitality."
    "My pleasure." Miles's lips stretched in a sly grin and Ariana looked away. She could not stomach any more of the charade.
    "Shall we?" Theo asked, and she looked up into his jade-green eyes, lit with amusement. How could he find any of this funny?
    She nodded, tried to slow the steady drumming of her heart as Theo led her out of the villa. Freedom was so tantalizingly close, and yet still so unbearably far away. She squinted, saw Aries sitting in the yacht that bobbed by the dock, its engine idling. How was Theo going to to deal with him? How was any of this going to work ?
    "Relax," Theo murmured. "You look terrified."
    "What are you going to do about Aries?"
    "Aries, is it? Don't worry."
    Ariana listened to the crunch of gravel under their feet, her whole body vibrating with tension. Did Theo have a plan at all? It certainly didn't seem so.
    The boat loomed closer, and Ariana watched as Aries straightened. Tattoos riddled his powerful biceps and his face bore a wicked scar down one cheek. He was not, she thought with a lurch of panic, a man to be trifled with.
    "Hey there," Theo greeted him, all affability as he strolled towards the boat. "You're Aries, yes?" Aries jerked his head in an unfriendly nod. "Mr. Leotokos wanted to see you up at the house. I can wait here, no problem." Theo smiled, looking so friendly and relaxed, Ariana almost believed him. But Aries didn't.
    "Mr. Leotokos texts me if he needs me," he said, patting the bulge of a phone in the pocket of his black jeans. "I received nothing."
    "No?" Theo raised his eyebrows, shrugged. "I don't know, then. I'm