Besides, you'll need your strength...for later."

Dinner was a fantastically romantic affair as Tessa seemed to have acquaintances all over Athens. Tessa and Casey had a private meal on the rooftop of one of the most elegant restaurants in Greece. They took a long walk down the shop streets, doing nothing more than talking and enjoying each other's company.

Tessa watched her companion ooh and ahh over the jewelry displayed in the shop window. Large diamond wedding sets were displayed prominently, but Casey seemed the most impressed with the small delicate pieces. Tessa stood close behind her until Casey could feel Tessa against her back. Tessa spoke in a tone so soft and low only Casey could hear her.

"I'd like to see you wearing one of those for me someday."

Tessa could scarcely believe her own ears. Did I just ask her to marry me?

"All you have to do is ask, love," Casey said, realizing that time might be a long way off for them. Oh, please, ask me someday when you're serious.

Tessa was once again thrown for a loop by Casey's response.

Casey seemed to take everything in stride. Nothing Tessa said or mentioned as a part of her horrible past seemed to set her back.

For perhaps the hundredth time that weekend, Tessa tried to push down the fear that rose like bile in her throat. There will come a time, little one, then I'll be the cause of your pain.

Tessa quickly squeezed Casey's shoulder. It took a great deal of control not to wrap her arms around Casey right there on the street. She had to remember who they were and where they were.

Athens may not be Mkonos, but it was d.a.m.n close. Too close to take chances in spots where prying eyes might be keeping tabs.

*So far, nothing they'd done in public could be misconstrued as anything more than the fact that the two women were perhaps becoming close friends.

Casey felt the contact as Tessa squeezed her shoulder and she leaned back against her just slightly in reply. Tessa explained the way they would have to act in public, and while Casey hated the idea, she understood. She'd been there before, anyway. It wasn't like it would be any different in the States. The one difference in Athens was that everyone seemed to know Tessa. Business owners, students, even women on the street nodded and greeted her using her t.i.tle, Kare.

They decided to take a break and sat outside at one of the local tavernas to enjoy a gla.s.s of retsina. The owner led them to the best table without having to be asked.

"How does everyone know you here?" Casey asked.

Tessa searched Casey's eyes and another piece of that wall around her soul gave way. "Are you sure you want to know?"

Casey understood the logic in that question. Tessa was asking her if she wanted to hear about that horrible past she kept referring to. "Yes, I want to know all of you. The good and the bad."

Tessa motioned to the owner to leave the bottle when their drinks were brought around. She wasn't sure where to start. She couldn't tell her too much, but she didn't want to lie about who she'd been, about who most people thought she still was. Tessa shook her head, tossing her bangs from her eyes, and cleared her throat.

"Athens used to belong to me," she said. "I controlled everything that came in and went out via the docks. The men in the unions were loyal to me, not because they wanted to be, but because they were afraid of me. Everyone paid me to control the city. From the prost.i.tutes to the police, I ran their entire lives through my own reign of terror that lasted for nearly ten years.

These people are not being polite because they respect me.

They're doing it out of fear. Because they know what I've done...

what I could do again."

Tessa watched the deep green eyes as she spoke, searching *for some sign of revulsion or abhorrence. What she found nearly melted her stoic will. Tessa saw her own pain mirrored in Casey's eyes, which filled with tears and radiated a depth of emotion that Tessa hadn't had directed toward her since she was a girl when her father was alive. It was unconditional love.

"How did you become that way?"

Tessa thought about how to answer. The truth was that on an Easter day, twenty years before, she had her world pulled out from underneath her. Everything she'd been taught about honor, trust, and integrity became a lie. In the s.p.a.ce of a few moments in time, an eleven-year-old Tessa Nikolaidis found out that only the strong got what they wanted, that wealth and power were the ultimate weapons of destruction, and that there was only one thing people understood. Fear. How could she tell Casey she spent the last twenty years becoming the kind of person who existed for only one thing-revenge?

"I guess it started when my father was murdered. I became a little disillusioned after that."

Casey became light-headed and couldn't take her eyes off the red awning behind Tessa. Tessa watched as Casey flinched at some memory, her face taken over by a far-off expression.

"Casey, are you okay?" Tessa reached across the table and covered the smaller one resting there. "Your hands are ice cold.

Casey?"

Casey shook her head to clear the cobwebs and locked on to the blue eyes in front of her that were filled with concern. The red awning behind where Tessa sat filled up her field of vision.

"I'm sorry, honey. I'm just getting one of those weird feelings, you know? It seems to be pa.s.sing." Casey finally lifted her head.

Her bright smile eased Tessa somewhat. "Would you mind if we just went back home?"

Tessa smiled slightly at the sound of that-home. Coming from Casey's lips, it had a sound of love and permanence to it.

"Yeah, I think that's a good idea. Let me settle the bill. Will you be okay here for a few minutes?"

Casey nodded. "I'm fine now, really. Pick up a bottle of retsina, too."

*Tessa rose and with a worried glance at Casey, walked inside the small taverna.

Casey sipped the rest of her wine and pushed the empty gla.s.s aside. An older woman in her forties scooped up the gla.s.s and set in on a tray.

"Efcharisto. " Casey smiled, thanking the woman.

"You do not belong with her," the woman said softly.

"I beg your pardon?" Casey said.

"The Kare, you don't know the kind of woman she is. The kinds of things she does."

Casey's voice took on a hard edge. "I know exactly what kind of woman she is, thank you. She is trying to forget what happened in her past."

Casey added this last, and she wasn't sure why she felt like she should explain to this stranger. The woman looked toward the door, watching for Tessa's return.

"You think it is her past that haunts her? Do you call a few days the past?"

"What are you talking about?"

"Do you know what happened to the young men who shot at you on Sunday?" The woman looked again at the door and leaned closer to Casey. Casey's eyebrows rose in surprise. "Yes, I know who you are, Ca.s.sandra Meridio."

The woman juggled her tray in one hand and pulled a folded piece of the Ta Nea out of her ap.r.o.n pocket. She held the newspaper clipping out for Casey to see. Casey's picture was displayed next to a feature on the incident in front of the church.

"What happened to them?" Casey asked hesitantly, suddenly afraid of the answer.

"All but one returned, the man who shot the gun. No one has seen him since the day Tessa took him for a car ride here in Athens. It is rumored that his arkhedhias were delivered to your father in a sack."

"You're wrong." It was all Casey could think to say, but it came out weakly.

The older woman spied Tessa coming back to the table. She took a rag and pretended to wipe the table clean. "If you're so sure *she has changed, ask her what became of George Mikolo," she added quickly before turning away.

Tessa walked back to the table and thought that Casey looked even worse than when she left.

"Come on, let's get you home." Tessa frowned.

The quick ride back to the estate pa.s.sed in silence. Casey wanted nothing more than to discount everything the stranger said. But something nagged at her insides; something told her Tessa wasn't being completely honest with her. She couldn't put her finger on it, but the thought fluttered quickly in and out of her conscious mind for days now. She knew Tessa was protecting her from certain aspects of her dark past, but she wondered if that was the only reason Tessa shut her out.

Tessa drove with both hands on the wheel, pondering Casey's silence. She bit her lip, cursing herself silently for bringing up her father. It seemed like it would only take the tiniest of things to jog Casey's mind, and once again, she would be thrown into the horror of that day. Tessa watched Casey's pain at not being able to remember, yet so sure something was wrong. It broke her heart that she couldn't ease her suffering, but if she revealed everything, wouldn't it only cause Casey more needless pain? You're lying to yourself again. Is it really Casey's well-being you're worried about or that you know if you tell her what you're really about, she'll leave you?

The five-minute car ride seemed to last an eternity for both women.

Tessa set the cup of hot tea on the end table by the overstuffed doublewide chair Casey sat in. "This will warm you up at least."

Tessa knelt in front of Casey and rubbed her hands to get some warmth into the freezing limbs.

Casey didn't look up and finally Tessa stood to move away.

Casey's hand shot out and took hold of Tessa's long, slender fingers.

"Sit here with me," she said, moving over in the large chair.

Tessa smiled softly and tossed her jacket over the sofa. Casey watched as Tessa also removed her pistol from the small of her back. Tessa eased her frame into the chair, and Casey easily slid *into her lap. The contact Casey established seemed to calm Tessa's fears considerably, and Tessa wrapped her own warm embrace around Casey.

"Honey, what can I do?" Tessa asked.

Casey's body shook slightly, and Tessa realized it wasn't the shiver that occasionally ran across Casey's skin when Tessa touched her. Casey was trembling. Tessa pulled her closer, thinking at first that it was the memories of that day causing Casey's condition.

Oh, little one, if I tell you why you have these dreams, it will only cause you more pain.

"Talk to me, Casey. Tell me what's wrong."

Casey buried her face against the smooth, dark skin of Tessa's neck. She loved the scent of Tessa's skin. Casey shook her head, unable to speak. How can I ask her? It will change everything if I do. If I ask her, isn't that the same as telling her I don't trust what she's been telling me, and if I don't ask, will I ever be able to trust her completely?

Tessa felt tears on her neck and knew that this was more than just a piece of Casey's old nightmare brought to life.

"Honey, what is it? Are you having second thoughts about us...about being with me?"

Casey nodded against Tessa's shoulder as her tears continued.

Tessa took in a deep breath and held it momentarily before releasing it. She could feel the hot tears burning the backs of her eyes, but she didn't want to give in to them. She never knew it could happen so fast or that it would hurt this much. She swallowed down the pain that clutched at her chest and tried to sound sympathetic, although her own heart was breaking.

"It's all right, baby, shh. I'll take you to the hotel. You don't have to stay here tonight, I understand."

"No, that's not what I mean." Casey sobbed as she lifted her head to look into Tessa's tear-filled gaze.

"What?" Tessa gently brushed the tears from Casey's cheeks.

"Has someone hurt you? Have I done something to hurt you?"

Casey shook her head but still the tears rolled down her cheeks.

"I need to ask you something, but I'm afraid of what you'll think of me after you hear what it is."

*Tessa tilted Casey's head up to look into her eyes, br.i.m.m.i.n.g with tears. "Is it something about my past?"

Casey nodded.

"Something you've heard that I've done?" Tessa asked knowingly.

"Yes." Casey nodded again.

Tessa pulled Casey close and she tucked her head snugly under Tessa's chin. "You can ask me anything you need to. I won't ever judge you for that."

"Do you promise your answer will be the truth?"

Tessa searched the room as if unconsciously seeking a way out. Can I tell the absolute truth? The woman in her arms shook with her sobs, and Tessa's heart felt like it was being ripped from her chest. She knew then what the answer to any question Casey asked of her would be. Even if Casey guessed, Tessa would own up and admit the truth to ease Casey's hurt.

"On one condition," Tessa said softly, pulling Casey's head up to look at her. "Only if you'll stop crying for me, all right?"

Tessa whispered tenderly and kissed Casey's forehead.

They sat that way for a while until Casey calmed her nerves and stopped the flow of tears. Tessa sat back and ran her fingers through the short blond hair, holding on to Casey tightly with her other arm. "Nikki," Casey started without raising her head. "I need to know who George Mikolo is."

Casey felt Tessa's body tense under her. She said nothing more, waiting for Tessa to respond. She felt in her heart that when Tessa gave her word to tell the truth, she would.

Tessa froze at the sound of the man's name. Where did Casey hear about him? Tessa searched her brain for the few people they'd crossed paths with since dinner. The woman at the taverna.

Now she remembered how the woman had moved away quickly when Tessa made her way back to the table and how Casey had looked rather ill. The question was...who was the woman?

"He's the man who shot at you last weekend," Tessa said.

"Did you kill him?"

"No, love, I didn't kill him," Tessa said softly.

"Did you hurt him?"

0.

*"Well, that depends on your definition. I think I scared the holy h.e.l.l out of him, but no, Casey, I never touched him."

"But that woman back at the taverna, she said you cut off his b.a.l.l.s and delivered them to my father as proof that you murdered him. Why would she say that?" Casey raised her head and looked into Tessa's eyes.

"Because that's what your father asked me to do. That's what I used to do. I told you the men in Athens feared me. It's because that's the way I handled disloyalty. It was my trademark."

A small shudder ran through Casey's body.

"My father?" Casey whispered, but she seemed to be directing the thought at herself, so Tessa remained silent. "Why is George Mikolo missing?" Casey asked after digesting the last bit of horror.