Page 197 of Dagger in the Sea

The next morning I detected the maid stifling a smirk with a huge grin as she served us our icedfreddoson the patio. It all came back to me. Adri and I had neglected to clean up the outdoor kitchen island after our parfait fest, and we’d left our clothes and towels strewn on the ground by the pool.

Oh well.

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Turo

Alessio arrivedin Mykonos as did Tricia, the two of them staying at a resort nearby. Marko had a couple of good friends over to swim in the pool and have lunch, while Adri and I, Alessio, and Tricia discussed business in the small dining room inside the house. Rashid’s island paradise was a go ahead, and we were planning on all the details of our premiere event set for next May.

Tricia was all set to cast the right escorts for the club and would communicate with contacts in New York and Paris to find the right men and women along with two she had in mind from our Chicago stable.

“I really like the name,” said Tricia, shutting down her laptop.

“Me too,” said Alessio.

“Good. Club Dionysus, it is,” I said.

“I’ll do a few sketches of a Greek “D” for the logo and the necklace, and I’ll email you,” said Alessio.

“Don’t forget,” said Adriana, “one as a sign of their membership and their pledge of privacy, the other on a very long, strong chain for activities.”

“I won’t forget, Adri. Trust me,” said Alessio with a wink, pushing his chair back from the table. “Tricia and I are going back to the hotel to get ready for the concert. We’ll see you there.”

“Yes, we’ll see you there,” said Adri.

We showered and changed, and Marko was at the front door waiting for us. Dressed in black jeans and high tops, a black graphic tee, his long hair in his face. “I changed my mind. I want to go to the concert with you.”

“Really?”

He hadn’t wanted to do much since we’d arrived but stay home. He hadn’t come with us for lunch in town or to a beach club yesterday or the day before.

He shrugged in that Greek way that said,isn’t it obvious?“It’s Elektra. You don’t miss a live of Elektra’s.”

“That’s right, you don’t.” Adri smiled huge. “Let’s go then.”

We made it to the Delfini Beach Club which was crawling with people and loud as fuck. We found Tricia, Alessio, and Rashid and his friends at a table. Many people came over to Adri and took pictures with her. Adri introduced me and Tricia to most of them, Tricia making notes in her Blackberry and conferring with Adri. Marko and I sat together and sipped on sodas. He seemed uneasy at first in the crowd, but then he settled, especially when a friend of his came over and sat with us.

Thunderous applause and cheering roared through the club as Elektra took the stage. Electric guitars and synths exploded and her strong voice filled the air. Her energy was off the charts. She was a remarkable, athletic performer, prancing on the stage, her incredible voice piercing our hearts. Her joy in reaching out to her fans was palpable. She gave her audience everything, singing a mix of her own original rock ballads and pop hits, and many Greek classics, from what Marko told me, for over two hours to a thrilled, throbbing crowd, all of them on their feet, swaying, dancing and singing along. Arm in arm, Adri and Marko sang together.

“She is hot as fuck!” Alessio whooped and applauded.

After her final set, Elektra found us, and the photographers in her wake swarmed her and Adri and Alessio, the three of them showing off their new Alessio jewelry. Alessio kept his arm tightly wrapped around Elektra holding her close as the lights flashed over them, talking in her ear as she laughed. After, I asked Adri if Elektra was still seeing that young actor.

“No, that’s over. I think Alessio may be in for a good time tonight.”

“Here’s hoping,” I quipped.

Fireworks went off over the shore, behind the stage, cracking and popping their fiery colors in the sky over us, their reflection in the sea electric. My arm slid around Adri pulling her close. The last time we were here, things had been so different, what we’d believed about each other, about ourselves.

Adri turned her face up at me, the flashes of light washing over her beautiful, relaxed smile, gleaming in her eyes. Color and brilliance.My lovely, lovely girl.

She kissed me, her lips whispering against mine, “Take me home.”

* * *

The next dayAdri’s parents arrived in Mykonos to celebrate her birthday.

“You’re positive you don’t want to go out for dinner, darling?” Liana asked, settling into one of the easy chairs in the shaded outdoor living area, her gaze darting to the outdoor kitchen where Chef Pavlo and Magda were busy grilling and arranging dishes.

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