Page 146 of Dagger in the Sea

“You said Fokas has been bringing in blow to Greece from Latin America via Western Europe?” I asked.

“Si,”said Luca.

“Where in Western Europe?”

He sucked on his Pellegrino, draining it, his eyes on me.

Ah, here it comes.

He set the bottle on the table. “Through my father in Napoli. You had asked me if I thought the shooting was meant for me.”

“I did.”

“I still think it might be.”

“How?”

“My father beat out a rival to do business here. Ventura is their name. They were very pissed off. Also, one of their capo’s girlfriends happens to love Alessio’s jewelry.” Luca laughed.

Alessio rolled his eyes. “She’s a model. The week before we came here she did a naked modeling shoot in a magazine wearing only my necklaces and rings, and she sang my praises in an interview,” said Alessio. “He got pissed, and had a couple of his goons trash my store window in Milano in broad daylight.”

“I found him,” Luca said, a hand down his chest. “He threatened me then. So yes, it passed my mind that they could be behind the shooting that night which is why I wanted to get on the boat right away.”

“Does your father know?”

“No. I didn’t want to bother him with this bullshit,” said Luca leaning over, his arms planted on his legs.

“Maybe it’s time you did,” I said. “This isn’t bullshit anymore.”

“So now we wait for that fuck to call Yianni back?” Alessio asked.

“Yeah. We wait,” I replied.

He cocked his head toward Adri who was still on her phone. “How is she really?” His voice was low. “First the shooting, now this.”

“She’s doing well, actually, all things considered,” I said.

“If she’s still with you, you’re doing something right,” he said.

“I do a lot of things right, Alessio. A fuck of a lot. Especially for Adri.” That was the truth, and it settled in my chest, my gut.

“You be good to her. She deserves the best,” he said.

“I know.”

Alessio put out his cigarette. “You two stay here at the resort tonight so we’re all together, eh? Get your own room though.”

“I was planning on it.” I turned to Luca. “I need a gun.”

“Not a problem.” He slanted his head toward his men. “Come.” We went over, and one of them offered me my choice of weapons. I took the Luger and headed back to Adri who watched me and clicked off her phone.

“We need to stay here tonight,” I said, crouching in front of her again, a hand on her knee.

“Yes, we should.”

“I want to get out of here. I need a shower, a bed with you in it naked, your mouth on me—” She blinked, and I leaned into her, brushing her ear with my lips. “—all over me. And the only sounds I want to hear are the waves crashing on the beach and you moaning non-stop.”

Adri stroked the side of my stubbly jaw, and I let out a breath, my eyes closing for just a moment, that moment under her spell.

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