Page 14 of Her Greek Protector

Chapter 4

The next day…

Alexi entered the breakfast room and nodded to both of his parents who were already seated and eating. “Kalimera.”

“Good morning, Alexi. You look like you are feeling much more rested,” Tressa told him as he kissed her on both cheeks.

“I am.” Alexi took a seat and then ordered some black coffee from the maid who appeared at his back. He’d suffered with a headache for most of the prior day, but he’d managed to hide that from everyone except Aimee.

Kassi entered the room, still in her pajamas and looking as if she had just woken up. Tressa made a noise of disapproval at her niece’s attire, but she didn’t seem to notice.

Alexi arched one brow. “Cousin, I see you have no pressing plans for today?”

Kassi stuck her tongue out at him and slouched into a chair on the other end of the table. “I received your summons, so talk. I’m going right back to bed after you say whatever is so important it couldn’t wait until this afternoon.”

Alexi hid his grin at her grousing. “I am going to work today….” He held his hand up when his parents started to object. “With Leo not around, someone needs to see that things are running smoothly.”

“Alexi, there’s no need for you to do that. There are competent people in place handling everything.” Vasil assured him.

Alexi set his cup down and met everyone’s eyes. “Let me be clear, I am going to work today. I was not asking permission.”

“Surely another day of rest…”

“Mitéra,I understand your concern, but trust me, getting back to work is good medicine for me. Now, I have a request, but before I make it, was anyone able to contact Leo?”

Kassi shook her head. “I sent both he and Gemma emails, but neither of them has responded as of this morning.”

“I would like to be notified immediately when you hear from them. Which brings me to my request… I would like news of my miraculous return from the dead to stay within the walls of the estate.”

Vasil spluttered. “What is this you ask of us?”

“Why?” There was a look of confusion in Tressa’s eyes.

“Alexi, surely you won’t be able to keep something like this quiet for long,” Kassi commented.

“And why not? As far as anyone is concerned, there is only one Moustakas twin alive. They will see me and naturally assume I am Leo. My hair is longer, my skin darker. People will believe what we want them to.”

He paused and once again met everyone’s eyes. “This is important to me. I would like you all to assure me that my return will be kept as quiet as possible.”

“But, why?” Vasil demanded. “Alexi, this makes no sense.”

“I have my reasons and would ask that you simply honor my request. I have no intention of sharing the details at this time. I’m asking you to trust me.”

He could see the hurt in his parents’ eyes, thinking that he didn’t trust them, but until he had a chance to evaluate and identify the threat to himself, Leo, and the entire Moustakas family, the less they knew the better.

“It’s going to be difficult,” Kassi warned him. “There are reporters camped outside the gates and they have been there for a week now. They want an interview with the new groom.”

“And they will have to deal with their disappointment. I will not be giving any interviews, either as Leo or myself. Do I have everyone’s support in this?”

“What about when Leo and Gemma return?” Tressa asked.

Yes, what about that? Leo and I will need to have a long talk, as well as Gemma and I. But before that, I hope to have some idea of the nature of the threat so that a solution can be found. I refuse to isolate myself from my family any longer.Alexi nodded, satisfied with his conclusion.“We’ll deal with that when the time comes. Kassi, I trust you will let me know the minute you hear anything from Leo or Gemma?”

“I will. Alexi, are you sure you know what you’re doing?”

Alexi nodded and picked up his coffee cup, wishing he felt as confident as he acted. He was flying solo here and making decisions that would affect them all, but he refused to remain hostage to the threatening emails. He would not hide away in a bedroom or isolate himself from everyone he cared for. Never again. What he had been doing before the accident hadn’t really been living, but simply existing from day to day. He’d been given a second chance and he wasn’t going to waste a minute of it.

*****