She’s in a long red gown, moulded to her curves so well it might be one of those spray-on dresses. The man across from her is in his fifties, beer gut so large even his expensive suit can’t hide the flab as it pours over his belt. He licks his lips every time she takes a sip from her drink.
He licks his lips a lot.
As she turns to signal for the waiter, I see the glassy look in her eye. It’s not alcohol; or notjustalcohol. Something far stronger has been added to the mix.
Now I’ve seen the signs, I hear it in her laughter, in her voice—even though she’s far enough away that I can’t make out her words.
“She’s something, right?”
“Hm?” I turn back to Maxwell, realising I’ve been blanking him for minutes. “Sorry, I was away with the fairies, there.”
“You like her?”
My mouth works at the air like a fish, struggling to find the right words.
He claps me hard on the shoulder. “Don’t worry. I can see you do. Want me to set something up for the two of you? I can have a quick word with Allain, get it sorted.”
“Allain Black?” I feel like I’m missing three words for each one I hear. Not enough to get the gist of things, probably drawing the wrong meaning. “He’s here?”
“Right over there.” He points to the corner of the room where the man in question is absorbed in a conversation with someone who may or may not be District Commander for the police. “She’s been with him since she was eight, but he doesn’t mind sharing.”
The words flow in and out of my brain while my eyes stay locked on Allain. I suddenly wish I had something stronger in my glass because I’d knock it back with just one gulp.
No. The words he said can’t mean what my brain insists they mean. Despite not wanting to know, not wanting to expose whatever’s left of my picked over heart, I frown at Maxwell. “Sorry, I don’t understand.”
“I’m sure you can pick it up as you go along,” he says with a grin that oozes across his lips like grease. “She’s a sweetener for investors if they’re into that sort of thing. Once you’re alone in a room with her, you can do whatever you like.”
He turns back to where Esme is halfway through her next glass and gives a soft shake of his head.
“She really is something special. A bit old for my tastes now, but if you’re into girls your own age…”
A surge of bile shoots up the back of my throat and I grimace, then take a large swallow of my refreshed water to force it down. “No need, thanks.” Then I add the lie, “I’ve got a girl.”
Maxwell laughs. “We’ve all got wives and girlfriends. One thing doesn’t have much bearing on the other.” He must clock something from my face because he shrugs. “Let me know if you change your mind.”
My hand tightens on my water glass so much I’m afraid it’s about to break. A white-hot fury cleanses all thoughts from my mind, leaving behind only its towering rage.
I wish the tumbler would break, would shatter, so I could shove a shard of it straight through the carotid artery of the man smirking at me. Sending his blood spraying across the room, across the ceiling, across the drapes that probably cost half my mother’s annual salary.
Kill the man who, from his admission, was fucking my girl when she was a child.
Mygirl.
Except she’s not my girl any longer. She made that entirely clear.
I nod because he’s expecting a response, closing my eyes for a moment, and wishing I were anywhere else. Anywhere else in the world.
Anywhere away from these men, talking, laughing, all certain they’re so much better than everyone else because of their wealth. Men who don’t think the normal rules apply.
These men who’ll lock me up if I do anything even close to what I want to do. Burn this place to the ground and make sure the corpse of every overentitled fat fuck in the room is added as kindling to make it grow.
“You okay there?”
“Sorry,” I say again, opening my eyes. “I’m a bit dizzy to tell you the truth.”
“Yeah. You look like shit.” He moves a couple of steps away. “Don’t let me keep you. This event’s more for your benefit but if you don’t want to be here…”
“I absolutely do. I’m so grateful for the opportunity.” Another rush of nausea swings through me, leaving me spinning. “I might just pop to the bathroom for a minute, see if they’ve got an aspirin or something.”
