Free The Greek's Long-Lost Son by Rebecca Winters

looked lean and dashing in his swim trunks. Her brother was the personification of the Olympic silver medallist who’d won one of the few medals for Greece in the downhill and giant slalom. He was an icon in his own right.
    “Hello, Nikos. It’s good to see you. Where’s Renate?”
    “Upstairs unpacking.” His glance alighted on Dax. “Who’s this?”
    “My friend, Dax.”
    “Haven’t seen you around here before.”
    “Ari invited me.”
    Knowing Ari felt uncomfortable, Stella put a hand on their shoulders. “Hurry on upstairs and get ready for bed. Don’t forget to brush your teeth. I’ll be up in a few minutes to say good night.”
    She gave them each a kiss before sending them off. Without the boys around, it was easier to deal with Nikos. “Is Stasio still up?”
    “They’re out on the patio. Are you joining us?”
    “Not tonight. To be honest, I’m exhausted. Tell Renate I’ll see her in the morning.”
    “How come you let Ari bring someone? This is our family time.”
    Stella bristled. “I can’t believe you just said that. He’s not going to be here the whole time, but even if he were, what difference does it make to you? You’ll come and go as the mood suits you. As for the girls, they’re two and four, hardly company for a six year-old all the time.”
    He looked taken back. She couldn’t remember the last time that had happened.
    “Since when did you become so prickly? I hardly know you like this.”
    “I didn’t pick this fight, Nikos. You did by being offensive, not only to me but the boys.” Theo had shown more loving kindness to Dax than Nikos had ever shown to Ari.
    “Stella?” he called her back, his dark eyes angry. “What’s gotten into you?”
    “I’m still the same person. I’ve just decided to speak my mind the way you do. Sometimes it’s not pleasant is it? Good night.”
    She walked up the stairs without looking back. It had felt good to be honest with him. However, there was no deluding herself. For as long as he stayed on Andros with his Austrian skier wife, also an Olympian, Nikos would make her and Ari pay the price.
    That was still on her mind when she reached her room and discovered her son waiting on the top of her bed in his pajamas. Somehow it didn’t surprise her.
    “Hey, honey…why the long face after such a wonderful outing?”
    “Mom? Do we have to stay here for our whole vacation?”
    Thank you, Nikos!
    “It’s what we’d planned.”
    “But I want to be with my daddy. He has all these fun things we can do at his house.”
    She’d thought this was about Nikos, but it clearly wasn’t. Stella took a steadying breath. “Haven’t you been enjoying it here?”
    He averted his eyes. “Yes.”
    “But?”
    “I like being with him. He’s awesome. Dax says so, too.”
    “I noticed. Is it like being with Uncle Stasio?” He was Ari’s hero.
    “Kind of, but he’s my papa,” he said quietly.
    His papa…
    “I wish we could go home tomorrow.”
    Knowing he already felt this strongly about his father, she had no doubt this was going to be a permanent situation from now on. But she needed to know a lot more about Theo’s agenda. He wouldn’t always have this much free time to spend with Ari. Her greatest desire was to protect their son from being hurt.
    The fear of history repeating itself was uppermost in her mind, especially when things were moving so fast. Their lives were changing in ways she hadn’t thought possible a week ago. Certainly Ari’s world had undergone a total transformation.
    “Tell you what. Your father will be calling me in a little while and we’ll talk. I’ll let you know what we decide in the morning.”
    His crestfallen look spoke volumes. He wanted answers now, but she couldn’t give him one. “Okay.” He slid off the bed and darted out of her room.
    Her mind on Theo, she went into the bathroom to brush her teeth. If he’d flown straight to Paloukia, then he was probably home by now. She decided to get ready