Page 37 of Walking the Bird

23

Eleni sat spinning the stem of the wine glass as she waited for Alex to arrive. Once Aiden and Jordan took off, the group collectively decided to spend the afternoon beside the pool, the guys talking in secret on one end and the girls enjoying frozen drinks on the other. Eleni spent the time listening to how simple Jordan’s dress was and how well it fit her personality, tuning out the conversation when the subject turned to how soon the couple would announce they were expecting. Sometime near sunset, Cade came running to the pool, shared something with Ryan and the guys, who collectively jumped to their feet and kissed their wives goodbye. Alex dropped into the chair next to hers, reached for her hand and promptly fell asleep. Eleni woke him before she went up to her room to change for dinner.

“Can I freshen up your drink, Mrs. Nakos?”

Shifting her attention to the waiter who held the bottle of wine she’d ordered when she arrived, surprised to see her glass was nearly empty.

“Yes, thank you.” She offered as her phone began to ring. Glancing at the screen, a wave of nerves came over her as she read Nick’s name.

“Hello?”

“Eleni, it’s Nick. Is Alex with you?”

“No, why?”

“I’ve been calling his fucking number for an hour and it goes to voicemail.”

Eleni didn't care for the urgency in her brother-in-law's voice. Considering what Nick did for a living, she knew better than to ask too many questions.

“I can give him a message if you’d like.”

“Listen, Eleni, I know the two of you are going through some shit. But Stavros needs to hear from him tonight before his meeting with Abernathy.”

“Why?” The question was out of her mouth before she could think.

“Come on, Eleni. You live in the real world, doing the books for more than a handful of influential men. You’ve seen what Stavros is capable of and how big of a piece of shit Abernathy is. Alex may want to believe his hands are cleaner than mine, but we both know the shade of crimson he washes off at the end of the day.”

Eleni held her breath as the reality of it all flooded her mind with the truth.

“Tell him to call me tonight, Eleni. Before all hell breaks loose.”

Nodding her head, Eleni lowered the phone, catching the time as she pressed the screen to end the call. Two hours had passed since she’d left Alex beside the pool, two hours since he’d lied to her for the final time.

“How could I be so stupid?” She chastised herself, pushing away from the table, anger building inside her chest as angry tears welled up in her eyes.

“Mrs. Nakos?”

Eleni didn’t bother to wipe away her tears as Melinda and Cade approached the table.

Dropping his hand from Melinda’s, Cade jogged the short distance to stop a retreating Eleni.

“Eleni, stop. Talk to me.”

Shaking her head, Eleni moved to step around Cade, “I have to go.”

“Go where? What about Alex?”

Anger like she hadn't felt in her lifetime filled her chest. “He lied to me!” Eleni shouted. “He made me believe things would be different, but it was bullshit.”

Spinning on her heels, “Ms. Stuart, please tell Kennedy thank you for a lovely meal. And if you happen to see Mr. Nakos,” pain gripped her chest as she spoke his name. “Tell him there is an envelope waiting for him with the concierge.”

Alex whistledas he stepped out of his villa and onto the wooden path toward the private cabana where Eleni waited for him. He felt confident about tonight, ready to put the nightmare of the last few years behind them. Alex was prepared to come clean to his wife, confess how broken he’d felt when he couldn't give her the one thing she’d asked for. Tonight, he had a proposition for her, an idea he hoped she’d be open to.

Rounding the first corner, Alex slowed his footsteps when he noticed someone wearing the same kind of hoodie from last night, standing outside the staff entrance.

“Hey!” Alex shouted, gaining the individual’s attention who locked eyes with him before taking off at a dead run. Earlier in the day, Cade shared how Melinda had received another security alert, this time from the barriers which separated the resort from the shacks where he’d seen the men dragging a boat into the water. Jumping over the decorative hedge, Alex raced after the voyeur he suspected was the infamous Diablo.

Eleni repeatedly mashedthe elevator button, scanning the panel over her head to see when the door would open. She needed to get upstairs, sign the divorce papers and get the hell off this island.

---