Makros chortled. “I never see you lose your calm until you're in her presence.”
“Trust me, brother, that girl could bring out the demon in God himself,” he grabbed a bottle on their table and popped it open. “Your friend isn't coming over anymore?”
“Thank God,” Makros replied.
The music suddenly switched up as the curtains opened, and a girl walked in. Behind her were two men. One unknown, and the other, the infamous agent Niccolo.
“He's here,” Stefanos said, dropping the bottle.
“You know what to do.”
He nodded and hurried away.
Makros, resting on the railings, waited for their arrival. He watched as the usher who walked up to them pointed at him. The girl's eyes shot up, looking directly at him. She bit her lip slowly and nodded satisfactorily. Makros hid a smirk at her pronounced reaction. But as his gaze fell on the man closest to her, his excitement faltered.
The man didn't smile. He sent him a piercing gaze as they began their ascent up the stairs. Makros's gaze didn't waver either. If the agent thought he could be intimidated by mere looks, he had another thing coming for him.
As the barrier opened, the usher gave way for them to pass through.
The girl hurried over to him first. “You must be Makros Crete,” she stretched out her hand. “I'm Vanessa.”
“Vanessa,” he whispered, taking her hands. Bowing his head, he placed a gentle kiss on her hands. As he straightened, he watched her face turn bright red. “Your name is as pretty as your face.”
“You Italian men and your sweet tongue.” She giggled.
“It's sweeter when it's true, right? I'll tell you this one thing: I don't lie.”
“Then I guess I'm in good hands?”
“Literally.” He looked down on their hands, joined together, and slowly dragged his eyes to her lip before resting on her eyes.
She felt like she had been hypnotized. As she gently swayed to the side, his hands dropped from hers. The agent quickly projected an arm to her shoulders and steadied her.
“Thank you, Sam.” She turned her head to him.
“Sam?” Makros chorused with a raised brow.
“Yes, Makros. This is Sam, my bodyguard. The other is Dan, but he'll be watching from afar,” she explained.
“Makros.” He stretched out his hand.
The eyes of the other man swept through him as he accepted the handshake. Their hands held firmly. Underneath the calm exterior were two men from opposite sides of the divide, battling for domination. Makros pulled out first, amusement dancing in his eyes.
“Would you like a drink, darling?” He offered Vanessa as the agent stepped aside, giving them space.
“I'll take anything you offer me.” She reached his chest with her fingers and raised her head to look into his eyes. “Nice tattoos,” she drawled.
He was about to respond when, from the corner of his eyes, a movement caught his attention. It didn't look like he was the only one that had noticed, as virtually everyone's eyes turned to the entrance. His heart skipped a beat as his eyes caught the blazing glare of Leila.
Chapter Thirteen
An Act For Act
In a split second, Leila scanned the demeanor and body language of everyone in Makros’s section. She tilted her head to the side when a girl with platinum blonde hair cascading down her waist, and artificial nails painted a deeper red than her hair tapped her.
“You're to come with me,” she said with an Italian accent that sounded fancy in Leila's ears.
“Sure,” she replied, keeping her eyes on Makros, who hadn't taken his off since she entered the room.
