Total pages in book: 74
Estimated words: 70320 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 352(@200wpm)___ 281(@250wpm)___ 234(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 70320 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 352(@200wpm)___ 281(@250wpm)___ 234(@300wpm)
“God, it only took a shooting.”
“You know how it goes. There haven’t been any more shootings since that one though, so it’s okay.”
“Right, sure, that one was fine, no biggie. Just one casual shooting.”
“Why are you asking about that?”
I look across the boat and spot Peter lurking nearby. He’s doing his best to read a newspaper, but I know he’s watching me, just making sure I’m safe. It’s annoying, but also kind of sweet.
“No reason. Just curious, I guess.”
“Well, listen, I’ve got to go. I love you Adrienne. You’re safe and okay, right? Peter’s not being a total prick?”
“He’s a prick, but he’s also okay.”
“Good. We’ll see you soon. When things get better here, you’re coming straight home. I’m so, so jealous you get to lounge around Greece, but I bet you’re getting homesick.”
“You have no idea. I love you too.”
“Bye!”
She hangs up. I stare at the phone and close my eyes. Was there a moment for me, when I realized I could be more when I’m with Peter? Will there be a moment still when I understand that I can’t be anything without him? Maybe we’ll stay stuck in this dance, forever caught by circumstance.
“How’s she doing?” Peter sits down beside me.
“Good. They’re still in the honeymoon phase.”
He smiles, head tilted. “I’d say that never lasts, but I’m starting to wonder.”
I grin back at him despite myself. “Cut it out, you weirdo. Ever since you started calling me agapi mou, it’s like you really think you’re in love.”
His smile doesn’t falter and he doesn’t deny it and I feel like something might crack in my heart. That silence stretches for a moment until he picks up my coffee and takes a sip before handing it back to me. I hold it in my hands and feel the warmth in my fingers.
“We need to contact Reina when we’re back in the city. I want you there for that.” He puts a hand on my thigh. “But if something goes wrong, if things get more dangerous, I’m going to drag you to the airport by your hair and throw you on the first flight back to the States if I have to. Can you make that deal with me?”
“I’m not going to promise I’ll leave willingly.”
“Doesn’t have to be willingly, little killer. Just so long as you’re safe.”
I shake my head, smiling. “Idiot. Asshole.”
“Is that a yes?”
“That’s a solid we’ll see. Best you’ll get.”
“I’ll take it then.” He leans back in his seat. “We’ll go see Reina together then and figure out how much shit we’re in.”
Chapter 16
Adrienne
Reina sits on a bench alone near a canal in the Stavros Niarchos Park, a bit of green space cut up by perfectly symmetrical paths and waterways in the heart of Athens. Peter keeps me from charging forward as we stand in a small grouping of trees watching the people all around her. Nobody is suspicious, but then again, I’m exhausted and running on fumes and all I want to do is talk to my sister and figure out what the heck we are going to do now.
After my patience finally breaks, I say to him, “Are we hiding here all day? She might leave if we don’t get out there.”
Peter shakes his head. “We have to be careful. My father knows about my safehouses in the city. He might have people following us.”
I chew on my lip and let that sink in. After the ferry, Peter took us to a small apartment in an ugly section of a city that had only the bare minimum of furniture. I got a couple hours of sleep, but he woke me up early and we left, spending a few more hours moving around the city seemingly at random, sitting in cafes, and basically killing time until the meeting. He didn’t want to stay still in case someone was watching.
He’s completely paranoid now and I’m not sure if it’s a bad thing.
He has good reason to be paranoid.
Which makes this so much worse.
“Come on.” He moves forward, back onto the path, and walks over to where Reina’s anxiously smoking a cigarette.
My sister relaxes as we approach. She looks the same as she did last time—tired, strung out, but holding it together. Peter stands next to her and I take the open seat on the bench.
“You two look like shit,” she says, glaring from me to Peter. “I hear things did not go well on Crete. Tell me what happened, s’il vous plait.”
Peter fills her in. When he’s done, she scowls and rubs her face. “Merde. Merde, merde, merde. That is very bad. The Filos are actively against this then? And I wonder who else they dragged into our mess. Your family?”
“I think my father is agnostic about the deal itself. He’s more pissed that I turned my back on him and went against orders.”