Page 152 of Dagger in the Sea

“I’m an impatient man, and I don’t like being ignored.”

“The money owed to you is ready. I have it,” Luca said. His fingers flicked out at me, and I raised the briefcase in my grip.

“Hmm.” Fokas smashed his cigarette in a full ashtray at his side and leaned back in his chair once more. “The ten million plus the hundred fifty-thousand?”

“Ah, I think you are being greedy,” said Luca. “This, what you are doing now, will only bring terrible attention to your organization, and my father will not be pleased. It will ruin your agreement with him. All imports will have to stop. Do you understand?”

“No, I don’t.” His jaw stiffened.

“KírieFokas. I oversee the work in Greece forSignorAliberti. I say who, when, where, and how to fuck yourself. There are hundreds of men like you looking to do business with my father. In fact, I met someone in Mykonos this past week who made me a very tasty offer for working that particular island. The best island, eh? But I’m a man of principle. You and I are already doing business, and I would like to be loyal to our agreement. You know, in the Ionian Sea I have new Albanian friends who service those islands with their power boats. Those boats could easily cross to the Aegean.” Luca casually stroked his jaw.

Fokas’s upper lip stiffened, he remained silent.

“You took the boy. Congratulations, you’ll get money. Why shouldn’t you for such an impressive act? But not ten million. His sister is my family. Be sensible. Take this—” Luca gestured at me, and I took the briefcase with the hundred and fifty and put it on the desk. I opened it, and Fokas’s eyes darted to the cash and lingered there. “—it’s what’s owed you from that sailor friend of yours, yes? Lower the ransom for the boy to one million and you’ll get it.”

Luca and Fokas had a stare down, seconds ticking into minutes.

“These people have the money,” Fokas said.

“You know,” said Luca, his voice casual. “I hear the marijuana from the island of Crete is amazing. Maybe you could help me with that? I always need a fresh supplier.”

More business opportunities. More bargaining. Fokas slanted his head in that particular Greek way.

Luca raised his chin at me. “Make the call.” He turned back to Fokas.

I phoned Petros. “Hold please,” I said, and then handed the phone to Luca.

Luca took my phone. “One million by tonight.” He closed the phone and handed it back to me.

“The girl, Adriana, delivers the money to the drop off point.” Fokas licked his full lower lip.

The fuck had tossed his match and the gasoline blazed in my veins. My muscles tightened, keeping the roar of my rage in check. It was Luca’s place to respond. I had to remain unmoved.

“Absolutely not,” Luca said through gritted teeth.

“She comes with the money or I keep the boy. Very simple.”

“Why?”

“She may be between your brother’s legs, but for me she is a star. And I want to see this star fall from the sky and come down to earth for a change. I want her and her fancy family to get their hands dirty for once, not to send their slaves to do their work for them. If she does not come, the price goes back to very, very high. You understand?”

* * *

“Motherfucker!”I spat out, climbing into the back seat of the car next to Alessio.

Luca slid into the front, Ciro slamming the doors after us.

“What happened? Did you see him? What did he say?” Alessio asked.

I filled him in as the driver swung the car out of the nightclub and back into traffic on Poseidónos Boulevard. Alessio’s eyes blazed and he exploded in acidic Italian at his brother, hands waving in the air, punching at the seat in front of him.

Luca remained unmoved, his lips pressing into a firm line. “We’ll be there with her, Alessio. He just wants a show. He wants to leave his mark like a fucking dog peeing on a tree.”

“He’s not going to leave his mark on her!” Alessio’s voice boomed.

I scrubbed a hand down my face. “She can do it,” I said. “She’s more than capable.”

“You are so certain?” said Alessio, his tone ironic.

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