“Appreciate it.”
We finished up the call and I sat for a time, thinking over the conversation.
Johnny Baros wasn’t the kind of guy to go out of his way to find out information unless he had a damn good reason. Knowing that he’d tracked down Bolter all the way to Queens didn’t sit right with me one damn bit.
Then again, there was something about what Baros had said. He’d told Bolter that Nico didn’t seem too concerned about where I was, just that he was annoyed to be without me and my skills. Of course, there was always the chance that Nico had passed the information through Bolter to get to me, to trick me into letting my guard down.
I had to stay frosty. Men like Nico knew the value of keeping their targets off-step.
Last thing I wanted was for him to get the drop on me.
* * *
One week later…
I was excited as all hell, practically feeling like a damn kid. I was on my way back to my place to take a quick shower and change before heading over to Georgia’s. Just the thought of seeing her and my girls was enough to make the workday drag, and by the time I’d clocked out for the day, I felt like driving a hundred miles an hour back to my house.
I was careful, of course. Last thing I wanted was to wrap my car around one of the towering pines that lined the road to my place. All the same, I couldn’t wait to get over to Georgia’s, to scoop her into my arms and plant a big kiss on those sexy as hell lips of hers. There’d be more kisses, one for Danae and another for Daphne. After that, the night was ours. I’d planned on making her dinner—pastitsio, Greek lasagna.
I’d never imagined I’d be the sort of man that would not only be somewhat domesticated but would love it. The three women in my life were bringing something out of me that I never realized I possessed.
In fact, I was ready to take my relationship with Georgia and the girls to another level—I wanted them to move in with me. It was a huge step, but I couldn’t think of anything I wanted more. The house was plenty big, with more than enough space for the girls. Georgia could have a huge home office to work on her books. All the same, if she didn’t like living out in the middle of nowhere, I’d be more than happy to buy a new house in town, or even in Denver.
I pulled up to my place practically buzzing at the idea of proposing the idea that she and the girls move in. Not wanting to waste a second, I hurried inside and went up to the master bedroom on the second floor, throwing off my work clothes and quickly showering before changing into something a little more comfortable for the evening.
Once I was dressed in jeans, a pair of sneakers, and a gray T-shirt, I stepped out onto the balcony overlooking the first floor. The place was dead silent, as usual. As I stood among the silence, I closed my eyes and fantasized about what it would be like for the house to be filled with the sounds of my children.
It wouldn’t be just a house any longer but ahome.
A small smile took hold as I entertained the fantasy. Before I could get too lost in it, however, the buzzing of the burner phone in the bedroom caught my attention.
It had to be Bolter. Truth be told, the idea of hearing from him again caused my stomach to tense. He’d told me that Nico hadn’t seemed too bothered by my leaving, and no news was good news on that front, as far as I was concerned.
I stepped back into the bedroom, laying eyes on the phone where it sat atop my nightstand. It buzzed and buzzed, then stopped. Relief washed over me, lasting just long enough for the phone to start buzzing again.
Seconds later, I had it in my hand. Sure enough, the call was from Bolter.
“Hey, Bolt,” I said, taking a seat on the edge of my bed. “What’s up?”
The voice on the other end did not belong to Bolter.
“Alexandros.”
Nico.
“First of all, congratulations on your new family. Second, you’d better pay attention, and pay attention well. All four of your fates depend on it.”
Chapter 22
Alex
“Nico. What the hell do you want?”
He let out a dry laugh of mild amusement.
“Now, that’s no way to talk to your boss and the man who put you through medical school. I want this to be a nice conversation, nice and reasonable. Can you do that?”
“No nice and reasonableconversation starts with someone threatening the other man’s family.”