Page 49 of Dagger in the Sea

Alessio piled a dish with fruit and slid it toward me, his eyes boring into mine. Always watching out for me. I took a slice of melon and nibbled on it as he lit a cigarette.

“We have about five more hours to Mykonos,” said Alessio, stacking his lighter on top of his pack of cigarettes. “What would you like to do today on the island,cara?”

“We both have a lot to do,” I said. “You have to check in at the store and the beach club. I need to talk with—”

“Yes, but still, I want you to have a good day today. You need it. How about lunch at Nobu, and then—”

“Alessio, wherever we go there will be lots of people and photographers, and I don’t think I can do crowds right now, especially not paparazzi. Not right now. I don’t want you worrying about me when you have so much to deal with today. Please. I’d prefer to stay on the boat. I’ll be calling and texting everyone from here.”

His head jerked back. “You are coming to the party, aren’t you? You set up the whole thing. You—I need you.”

“Of course I’ll be there. This is a very important night for both of us. I just need some time before the event starts.”

“Okay,” he said, his eyes darting to Turo. “Whatever you wish.” Alessio swung me into his lap, pulling me close.

“Grazie.” I stroked his tattooed arm. “I’ll be at the party a few hours before it starts.”

“Don’t worry, bro, I’ll hold your hand today,” said Luca on a lazy laugh, diffusing the tension. Alessio only scowled at his brother and planted a quick kiss on my cheek.

Turo visibly stiffened. He eyed the waiter who stood like an obedient soldier at the edge of the deck, and the man scurried over. I imagined Turo had that effect on a great many people. Even though those eyes of his were now shielded by sunglasses, his glare was powerful, the set of his jaw sharp, the tightening of those sculpted lips adding to his sudden fierceness.

“Sir?”

“Another espresso,” Turo said. “Make it a double.”

Mykonos

16

Turo

Psarou Beach was insane.

We were anchored in the cove facing the shoreline where the party would be held tonight at a beach club. On the shore, tall straw umbrellas and loungers stretched back onto the beige sand, row after row after row. Frankly, I couldn’t see much of that sand.

The party Alessio was throwing tonight at the Delfini Beach Club to promote his new collection was meant to kick off the summer season, but this place was already crowded with swimmers and cocktail drinkers, and quite a number of yachts, large and small, were moored all around us. What must this place be like at the height of the summer season?

“Look at that monstrosity,tsk,” Gennaro said, his sharp gaze chewing on a massive beast of white metal anchored farther out from us. “Those Russians…”

“You don’t like Evgeny’s new yacht,ZioGenni?” Alessio asked.

Gennaro made a hissing sound. “No taste at all. Onlylook at me and how big my cock is.”

Alessio let out a dry laugh and muttered something under his breath as he scanned the huge ship with masts as tall as any city skyscraper.

Gennaro turned to me. “Alessio designed this boat for his father,” he said, tapping his fingers on the table. “It’s all about discretion. TheAllegra’sdark color reflects the sea. It does not show itself off from hundreds of miles away like—” he slanted his head toward the Russian giant, his hand swiping the air “—that monstrosity.”

“These new Russian billionaires want to be noticed,” Luca said. “Ev is enjoying himself.”

“Yes, he likes to enjoy himself,” muttered Gennaro.

“He’s here with his daughter,” Alessio said. “She’ll be at my party.”

Luca stretched out in his chair. “Which one?”

“Which one haven’t you screwed yet?” Alessio shot back.

Luca smirked. “I don’t remember.”

---