PROLOGUE PART 1

Crete 1900

Gaia was one of the most beautiful girls on the island. She loved to get her hands in the earth and grow things.

The flowers in her garden were admired by all and people at the market lined up every week to buy her vegetables.

Gaia did not lack suitors. All the single young men on the island wanted to court her, but Gaia refused them. Its not that she didn't want to marry, but rather, she wanted to marry for love.

Gaia dreamed of meeting a tall, dark, handsome man who would sweep her off her feet and whisk her away from the island to a big city where they would live happily ever after.

Fate can be cruel or kind. Unfortunately for Gaia, it was cruel.

Gaia did meet a tall, dark, handsome man, but he was not her dream come true. Far from it.

He would be her nightmare. Oh, he whisked her away to the city alright, but there was no happily ever after.

Uranus was notorious. He had taken over his father's small olive oil business when he was twenty-one. Now, ten years later he was an exporter of kalamata olives and olive oil in Greece.

Baskets of olives and bottles of oil weren't the only things packed in the crates leaving his warehouse.

Uranus true wealth was derived from the drugs and guns he sold to buyers in Europe.

Uranus looked like a god among men. Breathtakingly beautiful. He exuded power and fierce sexual energy.

And danger. He was a very dangerous man. Women wanted him. Men wanted to be him. Everyone was warned to beware of him.

Uranus and his men arrived on Crete in the middle of the morning on market day. He was due to meet an American named Arnold Rothstein.

The American had organized the unruly street gangs of New York City into America's first underworld mafia and now controlled nearly all of the city's illegal activities. The American had an interesting offer and Uranus was eager to meet him.

Uranus and his men weaved their way through the crowded street towards the cafe where Rothstein awaited him.

He eyed the vendors as he walked by with an air of indifference. They were all just peasants to him.

Uranus stopped dead in his tracks when he saw Gaia. The girl looked to be around eighteen. She was stunning. The most beautiful woman he had ever laid eyes on.

Tragically for Gaia, Uranus made up his mind right then and there that he would have her. Gaia felt someone's gaze on her. She looked up from her vegetable stand and saw the stranger standing on the other side of the street staring at her.

He was the most handsome man she had ever seen in her life. He was tall, tanned, and with his thick black hair, he was almost the personification of her dream man.

Almost, but not quite. The man of Gaia's dreams was kind, warm, and charming. Gallant like the knights in fairytales.

This man was cold, hard, and terrifying. Everything about him screamed danger.

Gaia quickly looked away hoping he would leave. To her relief, he was gone when she turned her gaze back.

Later that day Gaia arrived home to find two strange men standing outside the door to her house.

She paused at the gate afraid to take another step. Her father came to the door and called her. His face wore a calm expression, but his eyes exuded fear.

Gaia swallowed the lump of fear forming in the back of her throat and slowly walked forward inside the small house. There at the table where she and her father ate dinner together every night sat the beautiful terrifying stranger from the market.

A shiver ran down her spine as she realized her first impression was right. This man was dangerous. Very dangerous.

Her father swallowed nervously. "Gaia, this man has asked to take you into the village for dinner."

Gaia eyed the stranger carefully. "Who will chaperone Father?"

The man's lips turned into a slow smile that didn't reach his eyes. "My men will accompany us."

Gaia's eyes widened. "Father, is that a suitable chaperon?" she asked quietly.

Her father stared at the floor unable to look her in the eye. "You will go to dinner with the man Gaia."

The man looked her up and down slowly. "I'll give you a few moments to wash yourself and change your dress."

His tone was almost a dare for her to refuse him. Gaia nodded and went to her room.

She quickly washed and changed into the only nice dress she owned. It was a silk dress as blue as the sky over the Aegean Sea.

Gaia's mother made it for her before she died. It was her last gift. She missed her mother more now than ever before.

Uranus and Gaia walked side by side down the road to the village in silence. His men followed at a distance.

The cafe was empty when they walked in. Gaia recognized the owner and his wife as customers in the market. Now, they stood to the side silently. Their heads bowed in submission and fear.

Uranus pulled out her chair and gestured for her to sit. Gaia obediently sat down and watched as he took his seat opposite her.

They dined on a meal made with vegetables and herbs she grew herself in her garden at home. It was all she could do not to choke.

Uranus asked her few questions. He wasn't really interested in knowing about her.

They hardly spoke to one another. He watched her every move. His eyes never left her face. The meal was clearly doing nothing to satisfy him because the more he stared at her the hungrier he became.

Gaia felt like a hare caught in the eye of a predatory animal. At last the meal was finished. When the dishes were cleared from the table Uranus waved his hand.

The cafe owner and his wife ran out the back door of the restaurant. Uranus's men exited out the front door locking it behind them.

Gaia had never felt more alone or more terrified in her life. A shiver of fear ran down her spine. Uranus stared at her across the table for several minutes. Gaia's heart beat echoed in the room.

Uranus stood slowly and motioned for her to stand. Gaia sat frozen with fear.

"Up." His voice was low, calm, and sinister. Gaia began to tremble.

"It is getting late sir. My father will be wanting me home." Her voice came out in a breathy whisper. Her fear made him smile. His smile made her blood run cold.

With one sudden swift motion he reached across the table, grabbed her by the arm and roughly pulled her up.

Gaia gasped and before she could scream he dragged her around the table and pulled her back to his chest.

His arm came around her neck and his hand cupped her throat. His other hand gripped her hip tightly.

"Scream, and it will be the last sound you ever make" he whispered viciously against her ear before licking the side of her face.

Gaia whimpered as he pushed her forward and leaned her over the table. He pushed her head down so the side of her face lay against the cold hard surface of the table. For a moment he stared into her eyes relishing the fear.

Her eyes silently pleaded for him to let her be. Uranus threw his head back and chuckled as he undid the front of his pants.

A single tear slid down her cheek at the sound of the back of her blue dress, the dress her mother made for her, being ripped in half exposing her bare backside.