Doukas by Demetra Georgiou
Chapter 23
I try to ignore the man shadowing my every move, as well as the ones standing outside the taverna. Doukas has increased my protection. My first instinct is to tell everyone off and demand they leave me alone, but today I’m not faring very well. Instead, I keep on with my day, making the best of the situation, I ignore them.
It’s now Monday, and I can positively say that two days after my fight with Doukas, I still haven’t recovered. Naturally, he doesn’t make it any easier. Since I haven’t replaced my phone yet, he’s become rather creative. I suspect that one of the packages neatly stacked outside my house holds a phone, but I’m not going to humor him. His brothers and Harmonia never leave my side, trying to anticipate my every need. They put an effort not to be invasive, but they fail miserably.
There are times when I think Doukas and I won’t make it after all, and then his siblings come into the equation. I understand now why they’re so close, and I’ve come to care about each and every one of them. His brothers might seem gruff, dangerous, and unyielding, but there’s more to them. What strengthens their bond is the loyalty they have for each other.
On my part, I haven’t told anyone about what went down on Saturday night, but the Tremes siblings are no fools. No one has asked me why my phone is off, and Victoras was here on Monday when Doukas sent me flowers. Red roses have always been my weakness, and I didn’t want to throw them away. So, I did the next best thing and gave them to one of my servers, Solon, to take them to his pregnant wife.
If it weren’t for the taverna, I wouldn’t leave the house. I managed to barricade myself at home on Sunday, ignoring the incessant ringing of the doorbell and house phone. Finally, I disconnected them both.
Harmonia barges into my office, bringing me out of my reverie. “I’m not your servant,” she hisses to someone on the phone, and I smile despite my sour mood.
She sits opposite me and scowls, probably at something the other person has said. A smile creeps to my lips, and I move my laptop to the right to watch her better. Whatever happens between Doukas and me, I want to keep Harmonia. She’s become the closest thing to a sister I’ll ever have.
“You should tell her yourself,” she says to the other person and promptly gets up, passing me her phone. “Just hear him out. If you don’t like what he’s got to say, feel free to smash the phone. It’s a burner.”
“You know?”
Harmonia nods. “For what it’s worth, he’s sorry,” she says with a faint smile before she exits my office.
“Ria?” Doukas’s uncertain voice echoes out as I bring the phone to my ear.
“I don’t know what you want me to say,” I admit as flashes of last Saturday night come to mind.
“I’m sorry,” he says in a low tone.
Suddenly, the prospect of losing him becomes overbearing, and a tightness settles across my chest. I don’t answer him. I’m not sure where we’re going from now on.
“I love you.”
If I close my eyes, I think I’ll feel his chest vibrating under my fingers as he says those words to me.
“I love you too, Doukas, but that doesn’t change the fact that you overreacted.”
“Ria, I only—”
“Don’t interrupt me, Doukas. Never before has anyone insulted me that much. You asked me if I’m fucking him? Are you for real? If we don’t trust each other, then we might as well call it a day. I don’t even know if you’re telling me the truth about where you are and what you do, but I trust you. Or I used to,” I admit, clutching my stomach, unable to control my body’s reactions at the crippling thought.
“I don’t want to lose you, Ria. Ever since I met you, I strive to give you exactly what you need. Most of the time, I don’t get it right, but I’ll never stop trying. I never thought it possible, but I get extremely jealous where you’re concerned. I’m sorry that I hurt you because this is the last thing I want.”
“I know you mean well, Doukas, but if you don’t trust me, then we don’t stand a chance.”
“I trust you, Ria, just not the others that try to take you away from me.”
“When you were accusing me of fucking Petros, you didn’t show me much trust.”
Doukas remains silent, and only from his somewhat labored breathing, I know that he’s still on the line. “That was an asshole thing to say. I’m sorry.”
Finally, we have a breakthrough.
“I’m sorry for throwing my phone at you,” I admit, and he chuckles.
“Don’t even think about it. I should be the one apologizing for ripping your shirt without… how shall I put it? Yes, sexual intent.”
That surprises a laugh out of me.
“Oh, baby, I’ve missed your laugh. I wish I could see your smile.”
“I miss you too, Doukas. How’s Romania?”
“Cold, like me. It suits me.”
“You’re not cold,” I admit in a low voice.
“You’re my sun, Ria, and you’re not with me.”
What can you say to something like that? The thing is that he seems to mean every word. That’s why it’s so hard for me to associate Saturday’s asshole with my Doukas on the phone.
“What are you doing now?” I ask, in need to change the subject.
I need to think some more, and over the phone, nothing is ever resolved.
“Our meetings for the day are over, and I’m waiting for Alexandros to go on a road trip.”
“Where to?”
“We’re going to drive about three hours to visit Dracula’s castle, and it’s all Harmonia and Icarus’s fault.”
I bark out a laugh, thinking how put off he must feel. “Why is it their fault?”
“Because Icarus not only mentioned his vampire theories to Alexandros, but he went ahead and showed him my sister’s emails.”
“I’m sure you’re going to have a great time, but just in case, go prepared.”
“I will,” he promises with a chuckle. “What are your plans for the day?”
“I have a meeting later with a marketing expert. Giorgos set it up, but after visiting his website, I don’t think he’s within my price range.”
“Ria…I really don’t want to argue because I know how sensitive you are on this subject, but this is one thing I’ll never back down. Perhaps not now if you don’t want to, but I want you to start getting used to the idea that money is not an issue for you. Not anymore.”
“Doukas…”
“Just try it, okay?”
“Okay,” I agree, but I doubt it will ever happen. “When are you coming back?”
“On Saturday. Can I see you?”
“I’d like that.”
“Good, it’s a date then. When will you replace your phone?”
“Soon, I guess. I have a doctor’s appointment on Thursday with Harmonia. Maybe then,” I muse, making a mental note to remind Harmonia of her appointment with my ob-gyn.
“If you want, I can get one of my brothers to bring you one or even give you a burner phone until you buy your own.”
I frown at his words. “I’m speaking from a burner phone. Harmonia even said I could smash it if I wanted to,” I joke.
That makes Doukas laugh, and I close my eyes, picturing those perfect dimples I’ve missed so much.
“You’re speaking from Giorgos’s phone. I think he and Harmonia quarreled. I know my brother isn’t attached to his phone, but I’m sure he’d appreciate it if you returned it to him.”
At first, I’m too focused on the sound of his laughter for his words to register, but when they do, I follow suit. That girl doesn’t believe in taking things lying down. She retaliates.
Someone says Doukas’s name, but I don’t want to end this call. At least not without telling him something important.
“I love you, Doukas.”