Page 18 of Claimed Gem
Stephanie leaned toward Chris and Ries heard her whisper, “What did he ask him?”
“His name.”
Ries bit back the grin that wanted to form, not wanting to give the boy any sense that he wasn’t in a heap of trouble. It amused him that Stephanie had chosen to come to a country where she didn’t understand even the most basic language. She was clearly smart but also clearly so new to Greece.
I could change that if we spent enough time together.
What am I thinking?
Now isn’t the time for a thought like that
Ries blamed his wayward thoughts on the heightened awareness he had of Stephanie since their almost-kiss a few minutes earlier. The feeling of her hands on him, the heat that shot through him, the warmth at her gentleness...
With some effort, he directed his focus back to the matter at hand. He leaned back in his chair and stared at the boy in front of him for several long moments, waiting for the kid to fully understand the amount of trouble he was in.
When the boy dropped his gaze and Ries caught a faint tremble in his lips, he knew he’d waited long enough.
“Do you speak English?” he asked, not wanting to listen to Stephanie and Chris go back and forth if it wasn’t necessary.
The boy nodded and Ries sat up, placing his hands between his knees and leaning forward. “I would suggest you use your words when answering me.”
The boy nodded and then looked up. “Yes, I speak English,” he said in a trembling voice.
“Good. Now, tell me: why were you sneaking around here spying on me?”
Piotr swallowed audibly and then whispered, “There’s this man…”
“What man?” Ries fired back sternly.
“Down at the docks. A group of us boys met him down there. He showed us your picture and offered us money if we would search the town for you.”
Ries exchanged a look with Chris and then pressed for more answers. “How many kids are looking for me?”
“I don’t know,” Piotr shrugged. “Maybe a dozen. Maybe more.”
“And the man pays you whether you’ve seen me or not?”
“Yes.”
“When? When do you meet with him?”
“At sunrise. On the docks, pier 9.”
Ries made sure Chris had the information written down and then he sat back again. “So, what shall we do with you?”
“I’m really sorry, Sir.” The boy squirmed, showing his youthfulness.
Nine. Maybe ten.Ries thought.
“I’m sure you are. Chris, have someone from the security team take this young man home and impress upon his parents that if he doesn’t lie low until this is over, we’re going to press charges.”
Chris nodded, taking the boy by his elbow and led him from the room. Ries waited until they were gone before gesturing to Stephanie to return to the penthouse apartment.
As they boarded the elevator, Ries was anxious for Chris to return so that they could begin planning a way to take the assassin down. He might be meeting his little juvenile army each morning, but if Ries had his way, he’d be meeting a Kafatos security team tomorrow morning.
Two short hours from now.
He escorted Stephanie back into his apartment and then headed for the kitchen. “Want some coffee?”