Chapter 7
Leo woke up just before dawn to find that Gemma had fled the hotel room. His first response was to call her and demand she return, but then he wondered if she’d fled because she’d discovered his true identity. I can’t let anything stop me from getting those stock certificates back.
He dressed quickly and then called his driver. He had Gemma’s address from the stock transfer letter and also the private investigator’s report. He gave his driver the address and then settled back, watching as they travelled away from the touristy part of Washington, D.C. and entered what he could only describe as slums—rundown apartment buildings, older cars in need of repair, and graffiti painted on the sides of buildings and overpasses.
They came to a stop in front of a large apartment complex. “Sir, are you sure this is the correct address?” his driver asked.
“Is this the address I gave you?” Leo surveyed the neighborhood, vowing Gemma would not spend one more night in such surroundings. He’d enjoyed having her in his bed, and her response had indicated she felt the same. While he convinced her to return to Greece with him, he would make sure that she was pampered and treated like a princess there. Surely that would go a long way towards convincing her to sign the stock back over.
“This is it. Do you want me to go up?”
Leo shook his head. “No, I will go.” He exited the vehicle and made his way to the apartment’s entrance. The lock was broken and only one door closed tightly. According to his information, Gemma lived on the third floor. He turned towards the elevator only to see an “Out of Order” sign taped haphazardly to the doors. “Dekára. I guess it’s a good thing I haven’t already hit the gym.”
Leo climbed the three flights of stairs, barely breaking a sweat by the time he stood in front of the door leading to Gemma’s home. He knocked once on the door and then he was staring into the Gemma’s frazzled face.
“Alexi!” Her eyes widened. “What are you doing here?”
“Well, since you didn’t see fit to say goodbye, I came to check on you. We are not finished, you and I.”
Gemma backed away from him. Her face was pale and it appeared she’d been crying. Before he could investigate the cause of her tears, a little boy with deep blue eyes and dark hair latched onto her leg.
Gemma picked the child up in what seemed like panic. Leo frowned as she ignored him in favour of whispering to the child, backing away into the small apartment.
Leo watched her retreat, noticing an open suitcase sitting on the worn couch. She’s leaving? Why?
A knock came on the door and a young man stepped inside. “Sis! Hey, Sis!”
Gemma came back with the child in her arms. She gave Leo a stern look before addressing the newcomer. “Tyler! What are you doing here?”
“I just came by to see if you had any news on the tuition money.”
Gemma’s shoulders slumped. She shook her head. “Tyler, it’s only been a few days. I need more time.”
“Well, yeah.” He ran his fingers through his hair. “I figured you might.”
“Did you have any luck finding a better paying job?” she asked quietly, trying to cut Leo out of the conversation.
Leo wasn’t content to be ignored. He made a point of studying the apartment, making sure both Tyler and Gemma knew he was there. The child in her arms watched him carefully, one thumb in his mouth.
“No such luck. Hey, kid. Come here, buddy.” Tyler took the child from Gemma’s arms, kissing his tummy and making him giggle. “Did you have a good day?”
The child clapped his hands on either side of Tyler’s cheeks and made a big production of kissing him on the lips.
Tyler grinned and hugged him close. “That’s the best thing to happen to me today.” He set the little boy down near some blocks and turned to Leo. “You her new boyfriend?”
“Tyler!” Gemma flushed red.
Leo was still trying to figure out the dynamic between these two siblings. “Something like that. You are Gemma’s brother?”
“Yeah, Tyler. Sis has been helping me finish school. She’s a real gem, aren’t you, Gemma?” Tyler laughed at his own wordplay.
Gemma looked very uncomfortable. “Don’t you have someplace to be?”
Leo hid his smirk. Anxious to be alone with me again? As soon as your brother takes his kid and gets out, you and I can discuss the future, he promised Gemma silently.
Tyler consulted his watch and grimaced. “Yeah, I’m supposed to be at work in ten minutes.”
Gemma gave a look of disbelief. “The pizza shop is on the other side of D.C. That’s at least a thirty minute drive this time of day.”
Tyler waved her concern off. “Yeah, I’m not worried. Who else are they going to get to drive around this town until two o’clock in the morning?” When Gemma glowered at him, he rolled his eyes. “Fine, I’ll call and tell them I’m going to be a little late.”
He reached down and tickled the boy. “See ya, kid.” He nodded to Leo. “Nice to meet you.” He stopped, as if remembering that Leo hadn’t actually introduced himself, but shrugged. “Have fun.”
He left the same way he’d entered, slamming the door behind him. Leo frowned, wondering why he didn’t take his child with him. He turned to Gemma to see her picking up the little boy.
She squared her shoulders. “I think it’s time you left as well.”
“And I think you should tell me what arrangement you and your brother have. Are you his babysitter and bank?” Leo’s tone was aggressive. He suddenly had a suspicion that while Tyler was content to play college boy, his sister was working herself to the death to provide money for his tuition and helping to raise his child. Tyler looked to be in his early twenties. Why Gemma would allow herself to be used in such a manner puzzled him.
“My brother has nothing to do with us.” The child squirmed and Gemma put him down.
The door opened before she could say more. Tyler popped his head back in. “Hey, I forgot to tell you. They’re offering free vaccinations at the medical clinic on campus this weekend. I thought maybe we could take Damien…”
Damien? Leo looked at the child and the light dawned. Damien is a child, not Gemma’s husband. His sense of relief was palpable.
Gemma eyed him with a frown and then turned away. “I’m not even sure what shots he needs…”
“Don’t you have a copy of his vaccination record around here somewhere?” Tyler asked. “I could drop it by the clinic on one of my deliveries later.”
Gemma hesitated, seemingly torn between getting the documents and not leaving Leo alone with Tyler and the boy.
“Sis, get a move on. I’m late, remember?”
Gemma scurried out of the room, leaving Leo and Tyler alone with the child. Leo took advantage of her absence. “Damien…how old is he?”
Tyler grinned. “A year and a half. He’s a good boy.”
Leo nodded. “His mother… She is not in the picture any longer? Your sister is helping you raise him?”
Tyler looked confused and then started laughing. “You think Damien’s mine? Wow! That’s the best one I’ve heard all week. I can’t keep a plant alive, let alone a little kid. No, Damien is Gemma’s.”
Leo digested this news. “And the kid’s father?”
Tyler shook his head, “No idea. She won’t talk about him. I’ve not actually seen her spend any time with a man since… Well, years. You’re the first guy she’s hung out with since Damien was born.”
They both stopped talking as Gemma reappeared. “Here are the records.”
Tyler took them. “Great! Okay, now I’ve really got to run.”
“Don’t get a speeding ticket.” Gemma advised him as he slammed back out the door. “Your insurance is already high enough…” Her voice slowly trailed off. She looked at Damien and then back to Leo. “I really wish you would leave.”
Leo looked at her suitcase. “Going somewhere?”
Gemma followed his eyes and bit her bottom lip. “I have a friend who lives down South. I thought I might visit her for a few days, but I can’t afford to take the time off. Obviously.” She nodded towards the door Tyler had just exited.
Leo looked at her for another moment. He turned on his heel and stepped out the apartment door. “Gemma, it was a pleasure. I will see you again soon.”
Gemma shook her head. “I don’t think that would be a very good idea. I’m really busy and…”
Leo gave her a smile. “I can see that. Until we meet again.” He let the door close, an idea forming in his brain. Damien was old enough to be Alexi’s child. If that was the case, he deserved to be raised with the full benefit of the Moustakas family at his disposal. Not in these squalid conditions.
Gemma might think he was dumb, but now that he knew the truth, nothing was going to keep him from taking Damien home to meet his grandparents and assume his rightful place in the family—not even Gemma.