And with a very good right hook.
The drinking and talking continues. Adrienne leans against me, looking happy and sleepy. “Can I ask you something?” she whispers quietly as the night begins to wind down.
“Anything you want.”
“When are we going to get an apartment of our own? I’m so tired of living in your bachelor pad.”
I laugh and kiss her. “Tomorrow, we’ll start looking. How’s that sound?”
“It sounds perfect. I want to stay here in Athens though. I don’t want to go back to the States.”
“There’s nothing for us back there. No, I was thinking we’d stay here and start building something for ourselves. Buy some clubs and restaurants. Take over some of the territory up for grabs now that Filo is dead.”
She frowns at me. “You mean, you want to become a crime lord yourself?”
“I want you to be my crime queen. If you want it.”
She considers for a moment before a wicked gleam burns in her eyes. “Sounds like fun.”
I kiss her slow and deep. The woman of my dreams.
The party breaks up after midnight. The French leave, all except Reina. Katarin kisses Adrienne’s cheeks and promises to get together with her soon. Those two get on famously well. “I’m happy you are back,” she says before Balaska pulls her off into a town car and they’re whisked away.
Reina smokes her ever-present cigarette. “What will you two do now?”
“We were thinking about starting something of our own,” I say and drape an arm across Adrienne’s shoulders, pulling her tight against me.
“Ever think about working in Greece?” Adrienne asks.
Reina shakes her head. “Absolutely not. I’d rather be shot dead.”
“Worth a try.” Adrienne smiles awkward and slips forward from my grasp. She approaches her sister and hesitantly gives Reina a hug.
After a moment, Reina hugs her back.
“I’ll be around for a while longer,” Reina says and I swear she looks emotional, but maybe that’s just the moonlight glinting off her eyes. “We’ll stay in touch, yes?”
“Absolutely. We’re sisters, right?”
“Oui, sisters.” Reina kisses her cheeks warmly. “I’m glad you came back. Not just because you brought the Germans, although I do like them. Big guns. Not afraid to die. My kind of men. If only I could date them all at once.”
“You’re weird, Reina.”
“And you’re still an American prude.” Reina waves to me and walks off, smoking away as she goes.
Adrienne returns to my arms and snuggles in tight. I hold her on the street like that, enjoying the cool air and the relative quiet. She pulls back and I stoop to kiss her gently.
Her smile lights a fire in my chest. She says, “When we get home, I want to see how long it takes you to undress me.”
“Only if you swear you won’t make it easy.”
“I promise, before the night’s done you’ll have a few fresh bruises.”
I bite her bottom lip as a thrill runs through my skin. “I can’t wait.” I call for a car and hold her hand on the whole ride back like if I let go, she might disappear.
Which means I just have to keep holding on forever.
Chapter29