Free A Perfect Love: International Billionaires VI: The Greeks by Caro LaFever Page B

there?
    “Tamsin.”
    The nurse had told her in no uncertain terms not to upset him, yet she could barely contain the bitter words and angry emotions from erupting. Haimon had promised her the hotel would stay safe. He’d promised her he wouldn’t let his dirty business ruin what she’d created.
    He’d lied.
    Still, he’d lied so many times before. Even at sixteen she’d known she had to extract absolute confirmation that he’d done what he told her he’d do for Rafe if she agreed to his demands. So why did this last betrayal surprise her? She should let it slide right off her back like she had so many other times.
    Shouldn’t she?
    “The hotel is gone,” she blurted.
    He waved her words away, as if they meant nothing. “I know that.”
    Their home gone meant nothing.
    A caustic accusation bubbled in her throat and before she could stuff it down, it burst out. “How could you?”
    “I had some bad luck with a deal.” He sighed. “I needed to raise some funds to cover the debt. You know how it goes.”
    “Bad luck?” Her hands shook so hard she stuffed them between her legs. “You promised.”
    The low murmur of the nurses standing at their station filtered into the room. The click, click, click of the monitors behind the bed pinged in her head and on her nerves.
    “None of that matters now,” he finally responded. “What matters is what we do going forward.”
    We.
    Her hands fisted between her legs. All these years, she’d been part of this man’s orbit because she had to be. The boys were his, and the boys were the only thing she had. So she’d stayed. No college or love life. Instead, she’d spent her time raising the twins, figuring out how to run a business, trying to keep Aarōn and Isaák insulated from Haimon and his filthy ways. She’d asked for only one thing. One promise.
    “There’s no we now.” Her words shot from her with firm conviction.
    “Don’t be daft.” He shifted on the bed, an irritated frown on his face. “We have a common enemy. Don’t you forget it.”
    “Rafe is not my enemy.” He hated her, but she didn’t share the sentiment.
    How could she hate him for being bitter and angry about what Haimon had done to their family? At sixteen, she’d known the Vounós would be devastated at their patriarch’s suicide. Not until yesterday, though, had she realized how complete their devastation had been.
    Last night, instead of sleeping, she’d again spent hours staring at the hotel’s gilded ceiling, running Rafe’s accusations through her head over and over. Like an endless drone those words of his had moaned in her brain, wafting around her perceptions of her life and her memories of the past.
    When her stepfather had come to her ten years ago, he’d gone straight to the point. He’d been sorry about the news of Loukas Vounó’s suicide, sad to see such a smart man do such a stupid thing, yet this changed everything. Without their patriarch, the Vounós would have no money coming in and no more status to lean on. Combine this loss of lifestyle with the disgrace of the suicide and they would no longer be welcome in society or Haimon’s home. He would no longer tolerate any relationship with the remaining family—including hers with Rafe.
    She’d objected, fought hard, but he’d held the winning hand.
    We are moving to London, Tamsin. Of course, your mother and your brothers will need you there. Your loyalty to your family comes first.
    At sixteen, she hadn’t been strong or wise enough to strategize a way around the surprising announcement of the move. And then Haimon had dangled the carrot in front of her.
    Break all contact with him, Tammy, and I’ll provide the money for his schooling.
    Insuring Rafe would be able to achieve his dream, even if his father was dead and his family’s finances would grow increasingly precarious, had seemed paramount to her. Her stepfather had made it clear. There would be no money and no influence with Loukas Vounó out of