“That’s for me to fix, and it’s not like I can’t work remotely.” Although Kev is a field agent now, he started as a technical specialist, and that’s where his real skill lies. “And I’ve a bunch of vacation time to use if it comes down to it.”
“You don’t have to do that,” Selena says. “I don’t want you to waste all your vacation time protecting me.”
“You’re family, Selena,” Keven says. “And we protect our family. It’s not up for debate.” He swings his gaze to me. “Right, brother?”
“Right.” Only an idiot would turn down such an offer. I’m not that stubborn to refuse my brother’s offer of help or too proud to accept it. Keven has done more than anyone to keep our family safe over the years, and I trust him with my life.
With Selena’s.
And I could use the backup.
I know who we’re up against. And the truth is, Lawrence won’t stop until we stop him. If he can’t grab Selena, he’ll try to take her out, because she knows too much. She’s a liability, and we all know it.
I’m not about to sit around waiting for him to come at her again.
“You got someplace in mind?” Kev asks.
I bob my head. “I do.”
My lips tug up into a smile as I tilt Selena’s face to mine. “Wanna take a trip to Greece with me, baby?”
26
Selena
“This place is breathtaking,” I admit, as we travel by private car from Thira International Airport in Santorini toward the house that will be our new home for the next couple months. It’s so unbelievably quaint here with all the traditional chapels, white-washed low-rise houses—some capped with vibrant blue roofs—beautiful little towns, stunning crystal-clear sea, and the rugged terrain on all sides as the car drives toward our destination.
“I can’t wait to explore the island,” Cheryl says. “I’m going to get some amazing shots here.”
Keven’s fiancée, Cheryl, is a very talented photographer. She’s in the process of setting up her own studio in Beacon Hill, while finishing up her contract with Sara Lewis, a well-known Boston photographer.
“I knew it wouldn’t take much to twist your arm into coming,” Keven says from the front passenger seat, grinning over his shoulder at his fiancée.
“Are you kidding?” Cheryl arches a brow. “Have you seen how beautiful this island is? Wild horses wouldn’t have kept me away. Besides, you know I hate it when you have to travel for work. I don’t like being apart from you for that long.”
“I’m glad you’re here,” I tell her, snuggling into Keanu’s side. “Helps balance out all the testosterone.” With six male bodyguards, Keanu, Keven, and a local male driver who’s been hired to take us wherever we want to go, I need another female for moral support.
I only met Cheryl an hour before James jetted us out of Boston, but I’ve already warmed to her.
Cheryl and Keven were childhood sweethearts, and she was over at the Kennedys a lot when Keanu was younger. I remember him mentioning her and how much he liked her. They only reunited last year after a few years apart, but Keanu assured me she was easygoing and that I’d like her, and he was right.
It already feels like I’ve known her forever.
And this from the girl who finds it hard to make friends.
I’d completed some research on Santorini over the past few days, while the guys made plans and set everything in motion, but nothing prepared me for the real live experience. It’s beautiful here, and I can’t wait to explore.
Santorini was the site of one of the largest volcanic eruptions ever recorded, and the population lives at an elevated position with a sheer precipice on all sides.
We are staying at a house Keanu has visited before. He actually did a shoot here last year. Friends of his parents own the property, but they only use it a few times during the year, and, thankfully, no one was scheduled to come here at this time, so they readily agreed to let us rent it for the next couple of months. We’ll return to Massachusetts next month to attend James and Alex’s marriage renewal ceremony, but we’ll come back here after unless there has been progress in the case against that bastard Lawrence.
The second his name lands in my head, my body turns rigid. I have barely slept a wink since Friday, and any time I’ve managed to fall asleep, I’ve woken up screaming as my nightmares have returned with a vengeance. I can’t even think about how close I came to being kidnapped again, because I’ve had multiple anxiety attacks since my run-in with him.
But I refuse to let him set me back.
I refuse to let fear and panic take root within me again.
I have the tools I need to manage my anxiety, and I’ll still have my weekly therapy sessions with Denise over FaceTime.
