Page 48 of Russian Bratva Boss's Captive Virgin

Lights streaked and burned out through the lens. Beautiful, but I had other things on my mind. Gianna’s posture tensed and she let out a deep breath.

“I’m going to have to go back to New York,” she said, her voice just above a whisper, “I can’t trust the lawyer—”

“Not to get bribed again?” I interrupted. “We can set up a flight for you from Athens. We should be in port tomorrow.”

My words sounded calm, at least to my ears but I was anything but. The idea of Gianna flying out of my life had my pulse rocketing. The last few weeks had been… something I hadn’t realized I needed. But if she wanted to go, I’d only lose her now if I tried to stop her.

“You’d just buy me a ticket and say goodbye?” she asked after pulling away. Her eyes studied my face lit only by the stars and moon.

“I’d put the ticket on your tab, but with the inheritance you stand to get, I figure you’re good for it,” I replied, earning no laugh. Sometimes the joke was for the teller. “As for you leaving, I already told you I wouldn’t stop you. Any ‘alleged’ kidnapping ended after you escaped.”

“That’s not what I mean and you know it.” Gianna’s finger jabbed at my chest playfully. She rolled her eyes. “I was going to ask if you wanted to come with me, but since it seems like you want to get rid of me…”

“I would. I mean we still haven’t finished that snooker game.” A sigh slipped past my lips. My head shook. “I told you my family is kind on the diplomatic shit list in the US. It’s like they think my father’s some sort of international crime boss.”

Gianna fell into a fit of laughter. I joined. When she recovered, she shook her head. A grin came to her face, proud and boastful. She smiled like that before every potentially game-winning shot.

“My father didn’t just know some lawyers or judges,” she said, shoulders squaring, savoring the moment, “there’s a city councilman who owed my father a favor.”

“And now he owes you the favor?” I added.

“Funny how it works out that way,” she replied. “According to my new lawyer, that councilman has contacts in a senator’s office. With a couple of campaign contributions, he’d be happy to get you, the respectable international banker, off the list, let you accompany me back to the States.”

“And you’d need to borrow more money for those contributions?” I teased and pressed my lips together, head shaking. “Converting my… completely reputable foreign funds into campaign contributions sounds illegal, Ms. Marciano.”

“You already said I was good for it,” she replied, leaning closer, one hand on my thigh, “and I think kidnapping is a worse crime.”

She stopped inching toward me only a few away from our lips meeting. Hers fell into a frown when I didn’t react to her kidnapping jab.

“I suppose if you could get me off the list, I’d accompany you to New York,” I said. “Some of your father’s associates won’t be happy about how it’s going to play out.”

“I’ll make the call,” she said before pulling back.

She bent over the telescope. It swiveled to another section of sky and we fell silent. My hand rubbed circles on her side.

“It is kind of screwed up, you know.” Gianna broke the companionable quiet. “I feel safer going home with my kidnapper by my side than alone.”

I chuckled in response but said nothing. A few seconds later, her head rose from the eyepiece. She frowned at me.

“Aren’t you supposed to get all huffy and complain about me bringing that up again?” she asked.

“Oh, it wouldn’t stop you, would it? All part of my plan,” I replied, giving her back a pat. “Every time I annoy you in the future, even when we are old and grey, you’ll always compare it to me kidnapping you, and it won’t seem that bad.”

Her eyes darted wide, a swirl of emotions gave way to a mask she hadn’t worn since her father fled the boat. Only then did I realize what I’d just said. We laughed it off and enjoyed the show in each other’s company. As new as our relationship was, such thoughts were too early, even if my plans were already in place.

THE END