Page 105 of The Lieutenant

Almost.

I doubted that was entirely possible. He was a man on a mission. It had been three days since our return to Greece, three days spent getting to know each other, the powerful man allowing me to hound him with questions. I had close to half a notebook full of wonderful notes, thoughts and bits about the experiences he’d allowed me to share with him.

He tossed the napkin, lifted his eyebrow, and sat back in his seat. We were at yet another gorgeous outdoor café, this time nestled right on the beach. The scent of the Aegean Sea mixed with the incredible smell of delicious food.

“Let me think. At first, I was certain I was going to become a comedian.”

Now I was the one choking on my wine. “What? Are you serious?”

“I am. I watched some variety special when I think I was eight and a comedian was on. I mimicked his act for weeks until my father finally sat me down telling me in no uncertain terms that he wouldnotallow a son of his to ruin the family reputation.”

“So your father dictated the careers of his children.”

When I started to write that down, he gently placed his hand on top of mine. “Don’t write that, Kara. The last thing I want is to disparage my family in any way. We might have a love-hate relationship at times, but I respect my parents in what they tried to do and how they brought us up. If I’d told him I wanted to be a doctor, he would have supported me one hundred percent. Even an attorney or an engineer. What he wanted isn’t so different than any other father. He required the best for us. All four of us.”

“That still didn’t answer the question.”

He rubbed his index finger across my palm, sending a wave of tingles down the center of my back. “I put some thought into being an author. I used to read constantly. I always had a book in my hand. Thrillers. Crime stories. Fairytales. Hell, I didn’t care. My brothers made fun of me, but I kept up the practice even as I began excelling in sports. But honestly, I don’t think there was any doubt that I would end up in the family business.”

“Why?”

“Because my father always made what he did look as if he was having the best time of his life. He’d come home with a smile on his face. He laughed and joked. Yes, of course, I saw him angry several times, but he never took his tough day out on our mother or his children. I admire that in a man.”

Just hearing the way that he talked about his family brought angst about losing mine. While Havros had made a deal with the devil, so to speak, in his search to find answers about my mother, I didn’t put any weight on learning the truth. Maybe there was no direct evidence to find.

Maybe Don Coppola was a snake, vengeful to the end.

I couldn’t dwell on it or I’d lose my mind.

“That’s amazing. You should pen a story someday. Even if you do so for relaxation and nothing more.”

His eyes lit up and he leaned further across the table. “That’s an excellent idea. Now, what did you want to be when you grew up?”

“A ballerina. You see how that worked out. I have long legs, but the rest of me isn’t exactly petite.”

“I think you’d have made an incredible ballerina, but if it’s any consolation, you’re damn good at what you do.” Havros shifted his hand, running his folded fingers under my jaw.

The shivers continued.

I’d held back telling him anything. He wouldn’t understand, but time was running out and I had no other choice. As had happened so many times around this man, my stomach was in knots. A tremendous part of me didn’t want what we shared to be broken. But as with all good fairytales, there was always an end.

“Thank you. I think I’ll stick to what I’m doing. I don’t have that kind of discipline.”

“Now I will agree with that statement.” He laughed, but the look in his eyes darkened. “You’ve been trying to tell me something for days.”

I looked away, pulling my hand into my lap.

“You going to tell me you’re leaving. Yes?”

Sighing, all I could do was nod. I was such a damn coward.

“You were offered a sit down with two major networks who are vying to produce a six-part series, a biopic on mafia organizations set to air next year. Correct?”

I snapped my head in his direction. “How did you know?”

He lifted his glass of wine, the wicked smile I’d seen dozens of times cruising across his handsome face. “I have my connections, Kara. All over the world. This is very important to you and I understand why.”

“So you don’t care I need to leave?”

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