He opened the door and a sliver of light poured onto the terrace. Black suit. Broad shoulders. Straight lines. His head turned just enough to meet my gaze. Blue.
“It means ruler of men.”
An icy breeze almost swallowed his words before they reached me, whipping my hair at my cheeks.
And then he was gone.
I grasped the railing and looked to the sky.
My breath came out steady.
The knot in my chest loosened.
The tremor in my veins became the hot buzz of an electric line.
And then I did it for everyone who couldn’t.
I did it for every bruise.
Every scar.
Every slap against my face.
Most of all, I did it because I wanted to.
I screamed.
Days bled into nights.
The next few months slipped away, consumed in a whirlwind of parties, vacations, races, and weekend spa retreats. Drugs and booze were as easily supplied as the silver platter of fresh fruit and croissants that sat on the twelve-seater dining table every morning.
I was young.
Pampered.
Full of ennui.
I imbibed anything that made my heart race. Made me forget. Made me feel alive.
Sometimes, it came in the form of a Colombian-imported powder.
And other times . . . blue.
“To live the life of luxury.”
That drawl slid into my blood and warmed me from the inside out.
I lounged on a chaise near the pool in a shimmery gold gown, my hair pulled into a messy updo, a dress strap sliding down my shoulder. It was an unseasonably warm March night, and I was taking advantage of it.
I bit into my strawberry as my gaze met Allister’s. “Jealous?”
“Closer to apathetic.”
The glow of the pool lights cast him in shades of silver, blue, and shadow. Navy suit and tie. Polished Rolex and cufflinks. He stood in front of the terrace doors of my home, a tumbler in hand. His warm gaze took me in, from my hair, to the bowl of strawberries and glass of tequila on the table beside me, to my red velvet stilettos.
“Don?
??t tell me my husband’s stories were boring you.” Antonio had a way with words, keeping others on the edge of their seats, yet I couldn’t force myself to listen to the same tale over, and over again.