Dark Stranger Immortal (The Children of the Gods #3)(52)

“Maybe I should go down and reassure Andrew that I’m fine. He won’t rest until you let him see me anyway. Don’t underestimate him, Andrew has his resources. He is an undercover government antiterrorism agent, and before that he was Special Forces.”

“In this case, I’d better not have him wait any longer…” Kian smiled at her. “Get dressed. If he wouldn’t be satisfied with talking with you on the phone, I’ll bring him up here.”

“Thank you, I know he’ll want to see me.”





4 6

A N D R E W

Down at the lobby, Andrew paced restlessly, shooting murderous glares at the security people watching his every move. He was beside himself with worry after calling Syssi nonstop for the past two days and leaving urgent messages on her voice mail—to no avail. How sick could she be not to answer any of them, or check her messages? Did this new boyfriend of hers do something to her?

And where was Amanda? He was so sure the woman would take care of Syssi. Why didn’t she pick up Syssi’s phone?

Andrew’s hand went to his concealed weapon.

Don’t be an idiot. He dropped his hand back to his side and went back to glaring at the bank of elevators, waiting for the boyfriend to show up, so he could tear him a new ass.

As he waited, several loads of people got out of the elevators. It didn’t escape his notice, however, that only two out of the three served the general public. And as soon as the doors of the third one opened, revealing an extraordinarily good-looking man, Andrew knew it was his guy.

It wasn’t that Kian and Amanda looked alike, they didn’t; Amanda being a brunette and this guy being a reddish, dark blond. But it was the towering height and the level of physical perfection they shared that made it obvious the two were related.

His good looks aside, the man appeared tired, and his haggard appearance made Andrew’s gut clench with worry. Dispensing with polite introductions, he pounced on the guy. “Where is my sister? Is she all right?”

“Syssi is fine. She was unwell, but it’s all over now, and she’s getting better. I’m Kian.” The man offered his hand.

“I know.” Reluctantly, Andrew shook what he offered. “Andrew Spivak, as I’m sure you were informed by your goons. But although I’m happy to hear Syssi is feeling better, I need to see her with my own eyes…”





4 7

K I A N

A s Kian assessed Andrew, taking in the steely determination and the barely contained aggression wafting off him, he realized Syssi had been right. Her brother would never back off or be placated with a mere phone call. And what’s more, Andrew Spivak didn’t seem like the type to issue empty threats he had no way of backing up either. Kian had no doubt that if denied an audience with his sister, the guy would come back with a SWAT team and storm the building.

“I sympathize. I have three sisters of my own… Come, I’ll take you to see her.” Kian led the way toward the elevators.

He couldn’t believe he was allowing a practical stranger into his sanctum sanctorum.

Well, whatever. He could always thrall the man to forget the place later.

And besides, this was Syssi’s brother, which made him part of the family…

Sort of.

And yet, even though these were all valid excuses for his easy acquiescence to Andrew’s demands, Kian suspected the real reason behind his caving in so quickly was his fatigue. He was just too tired to argue.

As soon as the doors closed, Andrew pinned Kian with a hard stare.

“Sorry about the goon remark, I know your people were just doing their job.

But why the high level of security? What kind of business are you running that demands it?” he asked, his eyes holding Kian’s with relentless scrutiny.

Kian countered, leveling Andrew’s unflinching stare with a hard one of his own. “I assure you there is nothing nefarious about our conglomerate, besides enemies who wish to destroy it and my family along with it.” Kian crossed his arms over his chest, his hard frown daring Andrew to further his insulting insinuations.

“Okay then.” Andrew nodded his acceptance of Kian’s brief explanation, then mirroring Kian’s pose, leaned against the elevator’s wall and crossed his arms over his chest and his legs at the ankles.

“That’s it? No more questions? I would’ve expected more from someone like you.” Kian exited into the penthouse’s vestibule, holding the elevator’s door open for Andrew.

“For now, it will do… I know when people lie to my face, and you were telling the truth…”

Kian opened the door to his home and motioned Andrew to go ahead.

“That’s a very useful talent to have.”

“I know.” Andrew looked around the place with appreciative eyes. “Nice place you got.”

“Thank you.” Kian closed the door behind them. “Please, make yourself at home while I get Syssi.” He pointed to the couch.

Andrew was about to sit down when he got caught with his butt in midair as Syssi rushed in at full speed to hug him fiercely. “I’m so sorry I had you worried. They held me for observation down at the clinic, and my phone was up here. Kian was with me the whole time I was sick, so no one heard it ringing. We just came back up here a short time before you showed up and didn’t have the chance to check yet…”