Page 9 of Her Greek Protector

Kassi paused outside the library, using her fingers to wipe the tears from her cheeks. “I’ll just…oh, what am I going to say?” She looked at him. “It won’t matter. They’re going to have the same reaction I did.”

“It will all be fine.” Alexi turned the door handle and then stood aside while Kassi preceded him into the room. He found himself nervous about the coming revelation and rubbed his hands on the worn jeans someone from the cargo ship had loaned him.Maybe I should have gone upstairs and found some different clothes…

“Come on in,” Kassi called.

He took a breath and then pushed the door open, stepping into the room. Hismitérasurged to her feet, her hands held over her mouth. Hispatéraslooked at him, tears pouring silently down his cheeks as he sat frozen in his chair.

“Mitéraplease don’t cry.” Alexi wrapped her in his arms. She was crying brokenly now, and he closed his eyes and thanked the gods above for giving him this second chance. “Shush, I’m alive.”

She pushed away from him, clasped his cheeks with her hands and then placed kisses all over his forehead and his cheeks. “I prayed for a miracle, but when they called off the search… And then we saw a picture… I was afraid to hope and be disappointed.”

“I’ll explain everything in a minute.” He turned and took the few steps that brought him in front of his father’s chair. He went to his knees and took the hands of the man who had raised him. “I’m so sorry to have put you through this. My yacht sunk and when I washed up on an island, my memory was gone. I didn’t know who I was or where I’d come from.”

Vasil Moustakas pushed himself to his feet, Alexi rising with him. Vasil clasped his son’s face, kissing him on both cheeks before turning to his wife. “Alexi’s come home!”

Alexi felt his mother’s arms wrap around his waist and then Kassi joined the group hug, tears running down all their cheeks. Only the sound of a hesitant voice from behind him broke them apart. “Excuse me.”

Alexi turned his head and saw the young woman he’d rescued in the foyer. There was something familiar about her now that he could see her face, but he couldn’t find the answer he sought. Pain lanced through his head, but he ignored it as he gazed upon her. She was the most gorgeous woman he’d ever seen and he had to clench his hands to keep from reaching for her.

Kassi was the first to speak. “Aimee, Alexi really isn’t dead. Leo was right! Isn’t that great news?”

The young woman looked at his face and paled, swaying as if she was going to pass out. He rushed towards her, intending to catch her. Instead, she held out a hand to ward him off and darted from the room.

“What in the hell?” Alexi looked around, but no one in the room had an answer for him.

Kassi shook her head. “I don’t know what’s wrong with her. I’ll go find out…”

“Okhi! Stay here and I’ll go, since it appears my arrival is the cause of her upset.” Alexi strode after her. She hadn’t gone up the stairs, but had hurried towards the kitchen. He found her there a few moments later trying, unsuccessfully, to wipe the face of a small toddler.

He stepped into the kitchen. “We meet again.”

The young woman spun around, a little boy with midnight black hair and deep blue eyes held in her arms. The toddler instantly held his arms out with a cry of delight. “Dadda!”

“No, oh no, sweetie. That’s not daddy.” She looked at Alexi. “You’re the other brother, the twin who supposedly died at sea? Alexi?”

Alexi nodded, his gaze directed towards the child. “He thinks I’m Leo?” Alexi couldn’t believe how much the little boy looked like he and his twin had as toddlers. His mother had a picture of them both on her dresser, and Alexi was certain that if she compared the picture and boy even she would have difficulty seeing a difference.

The young woman nodded. She seemed flushed, as if hot, but the kitchen was no hotter than the rest of the house. “An easy mistake to make.”

Alexi walked closer, fascinated by the child. “How old is he?”

“A little over a year and a half.”

“And Leo is his…father?”

Again, the young woman nodded.

The toddler once more held out his hands. “Dadda!” When his demand to be transferred to Alexi’s arms didn’t gain a response, he kicked his feet. Storm clouds filled his frustrated eyes. “Dadda!”

The young woman held the toddler out, giving Alexi no choice but to take the boy into his arms, immediately calming the threatening storm. “Easy there.” Alexi looked at the young woman. “What is his name?”

“Damien.”

My brother has been busy while I was keeping danger away. Another reason I need to find the threat and eliminate it. The playboy of Greece must have gotten careless or he allowed himself to be used.

Damien squirmed in his arms, his little hands reaching up and touching Alexi’s hair and his cheek before clasping his head on both sides and staring into his eyes.

Alexi smiled.At least he didn’t just abandon the child.“Hey, little guy.”