Page 183 of Dagger in the Sea

His voice lowered. “I’ve been living in my father and brothers’ shadows all my life. I love them and they love me. We are family and that never changes, but I’m not interested in what they do. Stepping away was not easy. It was unusual, awkward, insulting to them. I’ve had to prove myself to them with my success.” He shrugged. “Mostly, I think my father was worried I was gay.”

“You’re definitely not gay.”

Rich laughter erupted from him, and I grinned at the sound.

“Ah, Turo. I want more. More of my own creations. It makes me happy that my work gives others so much pleasure, and I like making my own money. Why not continue to create more and different things? Mykonos was fantastic for me. Now this Miami thing may turn into something. I want to do more of this.”

Alessio’s family seemed to be tight, supportive, and I was glad for him. But both he and I had a need to step out of the shadows into our own sun.

“I know how you feel, Alessio,” I said.

“I can sense this in you. I know these things,” he said. “You must come back to Europe.” He slammed a hand on the bar. “I’m going to be in Greece in August. Come with me. Remember the Greek singer Elektra from my party?”

“Sure.”

“She will be singing at the same club. An end of summer party, and Adri insists I go.”

“Good for the brand.”

“Yes. Close out the season on Mykonos with a bang, get some press. Adri had me design a special necklace for Elektra for the concert.”

“Nice. Adri is going too?” I asked.

“She’ll be there.” He held my gaze. “She and Marko are meeting their parents at their house on Mykonos for a quick holiday before Marko starts school in London. It will be her birthday then too.”

“Her birthday?”

“Hmm. I invited her to this private island thing, but she wasn’t interested. Just wants to be with her family.”

“What private island thing?”

“Ah—this new friend of mine who I met in Mykonos at my party in May, his family owns their own private island in Greece.”

“Really?”

“Yes.” His eyes lit up. “He is the son of a Sheik from the Gulf who bought himself a small Greek island, more like a big rock, a few years ago. They’ve built a house there, only accessible by boat of course. He’s having a small party there and then we’ll all go to Mykonos together on his daddy’s yacht.”

“You know the right people, Alessio.”

“I do.” He grinned. The cat had nabbed the mouse and mightily enjoyed the tasty treat. “Get us another drink. Your bartenders are way too busy. This drink was shit and you know it,” he said to me, gesturing at our ouzo cocktails.

With an unhappy look on my face, I signaled a waitress and she immediately charged over. Alessio ordered two single malt whiskies, and she took away our glasses. Our drinks arrived and he raised his glass.

“Are we drinking to anything in particular?” I asked him, holding up my whisky.

He clinked my glass with his.“La trasformazione.”

56

Turo

“This feels good,and I’m not ashamed to say it.” My mother spread her hands out over her desk and heaved a sigh. Satisfaction, exuberance. The Queen was back on her throne.

“No shame for workaholics like us,” I said.

Six weeks had gone by since Porto had opened. My mother was finally allowed to come back to work, for a few hours a day for the time being. Her face beamed at me, rivaling the beauty of the flower arrangement on her desk next to her. I crossed my arms at my chest and admired her, enjoying her pleasure.

“I have something for you,” she said, laying a thick envelope on the desk.

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