Page 13 of Her Greek Protector
“No, I only know a few words and phrases. Kassi’s been helping me.”
“Ah!” Alexi cocked his head. “Where is your young charge this morning?” It was barely seven o’clock in the morning. Aimee had been in the garden with him for at least thirty minutes and he didn’t know how long she’d been sitting there before he arrived. She didn’t show any signs of needing to go check on Damien. Was she neglecting her duties in order to keep him company?
“Damien is with Kassi. They had a sleepover last night, which roughly translated means, Kassi fed him way too much sugar and he’ll be crabby all-day long.” She paused for a moment and then murmured, quietly enough he assumed it was meant for her ears only, “Maybe I’ll just let her keep him all day long.”
He hid his smirk. “I wasn’t aware that Kassi and small children got along well.”I wonder how many other things I’ve missed.“So… Leo is Damien’s father. I confess to being surprised that my brother would tie himself down with child.”
Aimee looked slightly upset. “Leo loves Damien. Just like he loves his mother.”
Alexi shook his head, sure he’d misheard her. “My brother has never loved anyone but himself, at least, not for more than a week or two.”
“Well, he’s changed then. Why do you look so surprised?” Aimee’s jaw jutted out.
“Well, I must admit the thought of my brother settling down with just one woman is hard to fathom. He has a certain reputation…”
“Which he has set aside to be with the love of his life.” Aimee was very defensive. Alexi wondered why. He seemed to be missing something. The way she talked, it was as if she assumed Alexi knew what that was.What am I supposed to be remembering?
“And the love of his life is whom?” Alexi asked softly, hoping he hadn’t angered her to the point where she would leave.
Aimee gave him an incredulous look. “So, it’s true then? You lost your memory during the shipwreck?”
“Nai. Why do I feel like there is something I should have remembered?” Suddenly, a pain lanced through his head and he had an image of Gemma standing next to a tall statue, a monument they’d visited together when he’d been in Washington D.C. two years earlier. He rubbed at his temples and then his eyes opened wide as he realized what had been nagging him about Aimee. He’d seen her before, with Gemma… He closed his eyes and strained to complete the picture, ignoring the knives digging into his skull.Gemma had pointed Aimee out as being her best friend! Aimee knew Gemma!
“You! You were friends with Gemma!” She nodded. “But how did you come to be here? Is Gemma here?”
Aimee frowned. “Alexi…” She struggled with her words, finally just stating baldly, “Gemma is with Leo.”
“Why would Gemma be with Leo?” Alexi paused. His suspicions went wild.Had Leo met Gemma while looking for him and plied her with his charm and charisma?Gemma was a good, sweet girl who wouldn’t have been any match for the likes of his playboy brother. And what game was Leo playing, toying with Gemma and Damien’s mother at the same time? That was so typically Leo. Alexi’s anger was swift and fierce.He’ll answer to me when I see him. I can’t believe he would treat Gemma so callously, and in our parent’s own home!It was incomprehensible, even where his brother was concerned.
“Where is she? I was planning to go to her in the States, but if she’s already here, that will make things much easier. I won’t have to waste time getting her to come to Greece and meet my family.”
“Easier?” Aimee asked cautiously. “Meet your family? Alexi, has no one told you?” She looked so horrified, Alexi knew he wasn’t going to like what she next told him.
He froze. “Told me what? It seems there are many things I have missed.”
Aimee gave him a sad look. “Leo and Gemma got married less than a week ago.”
Alexi reared back as if someone had hit him in the face. Anger at his brother rushed through his veins.That can’t be! I was going to take care of her! And Leo doesn’t really care for her, not if he could have a child with another woman.
He stood up, making his headache worse, but he had to know. “Where are they?”
“Looking for you.”
“And Damien’s mother? Where is she?” Aimee just stared at him and he had a sudden suspicion that he was asking the wrong question. Taking a calming breath, he asked, “Who is Damien’s mother?”
Aimee stood up with him, her eyes pleading with him to be calm. “Gemma. Alexi…I thought you knew…. They met in Paris a few weeks before you came to Washington D.C.”
The auction!Several things suddenly made sense. How happy Gemma had been when he’d first arrived in Washington D.C. She’d asked him his name and he’d naturally assumed they’d never met before. He’d felt a special connection to her, not necessarily a romantic one, but he’d appreciated her company and her love for life. They’d spent three beautiful weeks together, and the few times he had allowed himself to explore the path of romance with her, she’d responded whole-heartedly. He’d come to care for her during their time together, and even though he wasn’t madly in love with her, he felt very protective towards her.
He tamped down his emotions, striving to remain calm. “I did not know. How long have they been together?”
“Only about a week and some? After you died, er…were declared dead, Leo found the stock certificates and tracked Gemma down in the States. He didn’t know who she was until then. It’s a very convoluted story with a happy ending…”
“I don’t wish to hear of it right now.” He walked a few feet away, pushing his hands into the pockets of his robe as he tried to deal with the flurry of emotions the news of Leo and Gemma’s wedding had evoked. Since arriving back in Greece, his plans for his future had been changing like the wind. He’d just discovered the necessity of protecting Gemma sooner rather than later, only to find out that Leo had already cast himself in the role of protector. A role Alexi wasn’t convinced Leo could play for any length of time.
Leo will need to prove he’s worthy of Gemma’s devotion and that he could ensure her safety and happiness. Only then will I be able to let go of what might have been.
He needed to speak with Gemma. Immediately!
He also planned to speak with Leo. Alexi wanted his brother to know that he would be watching and making sure Leo treated Gemma like a queen. The moment Leo failed to do so, he would have to deal with Alexi, like it or not.
Right now, however, he needed to focus on the most pressing matter in his life—identifying and eliminating the threat. Seeing that Leo was now, for the immediate future, in charge of Gemma’s protection, Alexi could give the emails his undivided attention.