Page 116 of She Belongs to Me

“Your domain?” I laughed and I sensed two of his men were about to make a bad decision. A single nod was all my men needed. They pointed their weapons at everyone, including Adonis. “I wouldn’t do that if I were you.”

I could tell I’d angered him to some degree.

I grinned in response to his smirk as I walked closer. “Now, it would seem you truly believe you can get away with murder. High-profile murders. In addition to hijacking an international shipment of fine goods.”

“You mean cocaine.”

“I don’t think you’ll find any illegal contraband within my cargo hold. I am a legitimate businessman in Sicily. I can’t say the same thing about you.”

Now I’d really angered him. He realized a plan had been put into place long before this moment.

He huffed and puffed, cursing in Greek. I didn’t bother paying attention because I simply didn’t care.

What I did care about was for him to understand the hot water he was going to be in. “You also threatened someone who was very important to me, someone I’ve cared for since your father had her father killed. Do you remember Gregory Christian? I’m certain you do.”

Adonis tried to act like he didn’t know what I was talking about. “You see, Greg, before his untimely death, had managed to collect some pretty damaging information that he’d expanded on over the years. At first, it was information your father paid a pretty penny for, including making promises to endorse Greg for an upcoming Senate run. However, it would seem he turned against everyone, including your family. Isn’t that right?”

Greg had discovered damning information on dozens on people. The pipeline project had been in the works for almost three decades, but at the time, it had literally been a pipe dream. In order to bring people on board with the project, important people, hands had been greased, the Dimitriou mob used as muscle to ensure people complied.

Greg had made the mistake of bragging at some point. That was all I’d been able to determine. Or he’d used his findings as a threat. That had led to his untimely death.

Over the years, with Greg’s death, it had been assumed the secrets had died with him. But Adonis hadn’t wanted to let it go.

The moment he’d realized who Alexandra was, he’d become convinced she’d been spying on him and was in charge of the list, which could ruin him. No one in the group who’d signed onto the project had believed it would take almost thirty years.

Less than ten had been predicted and the group would be considered some of the wealthiest people in the world. Greed was powerful. Extortion and blackmail were as well.

Adonis looked at me coolly. “You can’t prove anything and I work closely with the harbor patrol. When I hear contraband is being brought in, I lend a hand. Nothing more.”

“Nice thought, but you and I know better.”

“And I haven’t murdered anyone. That’s beneath me.”

I pulled out my phone, taking my time to pull up the videotaped deposition Alexandra had provided while in Italy. She’d been tough, getting through the vast number of questions like a pro. She’d never wavered, easily identifying Adonis as the one using the machete.

The FBI already had it in their possession as they did the vast pages of information and clear details about Adonis’ involvement in various other crimes.

I showed the video to him, studying his reaction.

As expected, he was such a violent man that he reacted exactly as I believed he would. His order in Greek was clear.

Kill all of us.

What he didn’t realize were two important things. One was that I not only knew what he was saying, but had anticipated what he would immediately do and two, that we weren’t the only players crowding onto the big boat.

Adonis weighed the odds of getting away with murdering me with guns blazing and calculating how many other people he could kill.

“Drop your weapons!”

The use of the megaphone was overkill, but that’s the way the police liked to work sometimes. Grandstanding.

Working with them would never be my first choice, but it was the right one so that Alexandra could live out her life. And in truth, so my legitimate business wouldn’t be questioned. Perhaps it was a win for everyone.

Of course, the drugs had been removed long before the ship had pulled into the port.

As the FBI rushed forward, the agents already making arrests, I pulled my men away. I wasn’t the kind of man to gloat, so once Adonis was safely secured, I headed off the ship, my men following.

I finally put my weapon away, taking a quick glance at the bright sun.

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