AllFreeNovel
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Gone.
As easy as that.
It takes a moment for the fact to settle.
My hand feels strangely light.
My chest too.
I linger a moment like someone standing next to a grave. Only, I’m not mourning. I’m taking perverse satisfaction from the sight of the clear water.
The bathroom door opens and slams.
Taking a deep breath, I exit the toilet. An attractive woman gives me an absent smile as she goes into the stall next to the one I vacated.
I move on autopilot to the vanity. The world isn’t spinning, but I’m off-kilter. A little drunk. I wash my hands and splash cold water on my face, not caring that I’m ruining my make-up.
Someone else walks in. I barely spare the woman a glance as I tear a paper towel from the dispenser and dry my face.
She stops next to me and takes a tube of lipstick from her bag. “You, um, have something here.”
It takes me a moment to realize she’s talking to me. I catch her gaze in the reflection of the mirror.
She points at the area underneath her eye. “Mascara. Do you need help cleaning that up, love?”
Shaking my head, I yank another paper towel from the dispenser, wet it under the tap, and scrub away the mascara smeared under my eyes. In the reflection staring back at me, my tanned skin is pale.
I straighten. I can do this. I can have fun.
As he promised, Colin waits outside the door. “Are you sure you’re fine?”
“Yes,” I say, my voice belonging to someone else.
“I think you had a little too much.”
I head toward the dance floor. “You already said so.”
“I’ll get you a glass of water. If you’re not feeling well, we can call it a night.”
I rub my forefinger over my naked thumb. Backward and forward. It’s hot in here. Suffocating. I want to go outside, strip my clothes, and swim for miles and miles into the ocean.
“Bella?” Colin stops me with a hand on my shoulder. “Do you want me to take you to your room?”
I’d rather go to the beach where I can breathe easier, but my finger is bare and it’s my birthday. If that even makes sense. We’re here to have fun. To be free.
I open my mouth to say no, but the word gets stuck in my throat as I lift my gaze to the bridge in front of us where everyone is dancing except for one man. He grips the rail in both hands, staring down at me with the darkest, most demonic eyes I’ve seen, looking like the devil in a black suit that molds to his tall form and broad shoulders. The lights dance over his face, illuminating the devastatingly handsome features I know better than my own.
Angelo Russo.
He stands there as if magically conjured by the act of flushing away his ring.
Adrenaline bursts through my veins. My heartbeat quickens. My mind can’t decide if the reaction is from shock, fear, or excitement. It can’t interpret the emotions rushing through me.
I pinch my eyes shut and open them.
The spot where he stood is empty.
There’s no man, only dancing couples.
Am I seeing things now, things that aren’t real? Is his hold on me so big that I’m hallucinating just because I finally scraped together enough courage to chuck away his damned ring?
I swallow.
“Bella,” Colin says, giving me a gentle shake.
“Yes.” My voice is surprising calm. “Please take me back to my room.”
“Come.”
He takes my hand and clears a path through the dancers until we reach Ryan and Celeste. Ryan has his hands on Celeste hips, rocking her to the rhythm of the music. He stares into her eyes with an intense expression.
Wow.
I’ve never seen my brother show that much emotion.
Colin taps him on the shoulder and says something. Ryan looks at me. Someone bumps into my back, making me stumble. Colin catches me.
Tilting his head toward the exit, Ryan takes Celeste’s hand and moves in that direction. Once we’ve cleared the dance floor, he pauses.
“Bella had too much to drink,” Colin says loud enough to be heard over the music. “I’m taking her to her room.”
I wish he’d stop saying that. It’s true, but I don’t want the whole nightclub to hear him.
Ryan studies me with keen attention. “Are you all right?”
“Yes.” It’s a lie. I’m still shaking from what happened, from what I thought I saw. “I’m tired. I just need to rest.”
My brother nods. “We’ll come with you. Give me a moment to tell the others.”
“Aw.” Celeste pouts, taking Ryan’s hand in both of hers and holding him back. “I’m having so much fun, baby.” She makes a puppy face. “We haven’t been out in a year.”
My sister-in-law is tipsy. If the situation wasn’t so stressful, it would’ve been funny.
“We’re here for Bella, remember?” Ryan says.
“No.” I clutch my bag under my arm so that I can grip the rail in my free hand to better keep my balance. “You should stay. Colin can walk me to my room. The party doesn’t have to end because I had one glass of champagne too many. I don’t want to spoil everyone else’s fun. Besides, it’s better if you stay to keep an eye on the others.”
