Claimed by the Sicilian Tycoon (Criminal Seduction #3)(27)

“I just wondered where we were going to get food from.”

He waved a hand around, taking in the streets around them. Numerous lights were twinkling, discreet signs advertising this restaurant or that. The choices were endless. “Wherever you would like.”

“Truly? Wherever?”

“Absolutely.”

“Then can we get some fried chicken?”





Chapter Thirteen



She took him to one of her favorite places—well, one of the sisters’ favorite places actually. They rarely got to go very often because the prices, to them at least, were a little steep. To Andros they would amount to very little.

Located by Kings Cross, Benny’s Fried Chicken was tucked away in a rundown little side alley. One blinking red light advertised its presence, and Lyra’s stomach clenched the moment they pulled up on the main street and she spotted it. When the car door opened the smells assaulted her, and her stomach practically ate itself.

“Oh, God, can you smell that?” she moaned. “I’m starving.”

Andros frowned. “If you were hungry why did you not say so earlier?”

“I was waiting, and it’s fine. I often don’t eat much during the day.”

“But you had lunch?” he asked.

Lyra shrugged as she slithered out of Andros’ car. The driver, was, as always, perfectly silent, simply giving his employer a nod. Perhaps they communicated through gestures and grunts, Lyra thought, because the man seemed to be permanently on hand, materializing out of nowhere.

“Lyra?” Andros prompted, as he held out a hand.

She took it, steadying herself on her impossibly high heels. “The apartment doesn’t have any food in.”

“But…there is a shop on the bottom floor.”

“I know.”

“Why did you not purchase yourself something?” he demanded. “Or order something from the personal shopper. That is their job. To get you whatever you need.”

Lyra almost snorted at the idea of sending Melissa off to get her a sandwich. The woman would probably spit in it. “It was fine. I had coffee and some milk.”

“You have not eaten all day?” he asked and he sounded aghast. “Good God, Rossa, why did you not go and buy yourself something?”

She shrugged again, and watched the driver pull over into one of the bays opposite the alley. He was so going to get ticketed, Lyra thought. London was a nightmare for parking. “Why don’t you have a bodyguard?”

“What?”

“I was just thinking. You’re super rich, shouldn’t you be surrounded by security?”

Andros frowned as he squeezed her hand to pull her into the alley. “Larsson is my bodyguard as well as my driver. We do fine. I am not well known in the media. But look, do not change the subject. Food. Speak.”

It seemed she was going to have to be honest again, and Lyra sighed a little inside. “Well…I only have so much money on me, and well, I didn’t want to waste it on food. It’s emergency money.”

“You are serious?”

“Yes, Andros,” she said, hunger making her a little snappier than she would usually be. “Obviously I am not rolling in cash, otherwise I wouldn’t have asked you to look after me would I?”

His eyes widened as he took in her meaning, and Lyra’s stomach gave a little flip. He thrust a hand into his pocket, pulling out his wallet. A moment later and a wad of cash fell into her hand. “Here.”

She looked down at it, shocked by how much was there. Shocked that he’d given her actual cash. She’d merely been hinting that perhaps he could have some food delivered…not this…this was… Lyra shook her head, holding the money out. “What are you doing? I don’t need that.”

Andros placed the wallet back in his pocket and nodded in the direction of the chicken shop. “Of course you do. As you say it is part of the agreement that I look after you.”

Lyra clenched her hands around the money, and at last—perhaps it had been inevitable that it was going to happen—felt that nasty sting in her chest. It was the same one she’d been used to when some rich person told her she hadn’t cleaned the floor properly, or someone sent her back with a drink for mixing it wrong.


“Andros,” she whispered. “This is really embarrassing. I did not mean for you to give me money. I just thought perhaps you could arrange for some groceries to be delivered to the apartment.”

He closed her fist around the cash, and with his other hand lifted her chin. “No, what is embarrassing is you starving all day and me not even considering the fact.”

“I’d hardly call it starving, and besides I’ve gone way longer without a decent meal.”

“As have I,” he said, and she could see from the look in his eyes that he was not joking. Her very early research on Andros had not given her much. A self-made man, he had come from humble beginnings, that much was reported, but as he himself had said, the media did not pay much attention to him. Maybe because he owned a whole lot of it? “And it will please me for you to have cash on hand,” he added.

The idea of being able to go and buy some groceries was persuasive, making Lyra’s embarrassment wobble a little. The kiss he then planted on her lips wobbled it even more.