Page 57 of Overdosed

I ENTERED THE ROOM decorated with purple fabrics with stellar constellation patterns. The thing that caught my attention, though, was the crystal ball sitting in the middle of a round table surrounded by tarot cards and candles. I found it funny, and I didn’t take the whole thing seriously because it all seemed too extra. The room was dim, and there were also two purple chairs. I sat in front of the older lady with burgundy hair reaching her chin, pale complexion, and icy-blue piercing eyes. Her lips were painted a deep shade of purple, and she was dressed in a black turtleneck with a heavy, layered stone pendant around her neck, matching the color of her eyes, and a floral wraparound skirt.

“Hello, dear,” the lady spoke, her voice modulated. “I’m Aura.”

“Melanie,” I replied, skeptical about the whole experience.

“Let’s unravel your future, Melanie. Please let me see your hand, dear.”

I cleared my throat, adjusting myself on the chair before I stretched my hand out to her. I thought she would be looking at the crystal ball or using the tarot cards, but instead, she gently took my hand and carefully scanned it for a few seconds before speaking.

“I see a thrilling time in your near future,” she started with such a cliché phrase that I barely fought the smile desperately forming in the corner of my mouth. She seemed very serious, though. She looked at my hand intensely as if she was hypnotized. “Something unexpected will happen tonight. It’ll usher in the dawn of a new era in your life. You have a secret admirer at your fingertips who helps you when you need it. His intentions aren’t clear to me, though.” As she continued, she kept proving me right when all she would say were the typical things said by someone like her until she said something that piqued my interest, making my hair stand on end. “Blood-related men fighting for your affection. I see forthcoming nuptials, but they are blurry. I see darkness approaching you. A storm, a devastating hurricane. A new life overlapping with death.”

I snatched my hand away, looking at the lady with anger in my eyes. That was not what I was expecting to hear. It was supposed to be fun, not terrifying. “Okay, that’s enough.” I shrieked, abruptly getting up from the table before I rushed out, my heart pounding.

I stormed out to the hallway, breathing heavily. Luckily, it was empty as everyone had a scheduled appointment with the fortune-teller, and mine ended early. There was only Shane waiting for me. He was on the phone when I left, but as soon as he noticed me, he frowned and ran toward me with concern written all over his face.

“Are you okay, baby?” He put one of his hands on my arm and the other under my chin, watching me carefully.

“Yes,” I replied, a little out of breath. I didn’t want to worry him with something as ridiculous as a fortune-teller’s predictions, most likely a bunch of horseshit she repeated to everyone else. “It was just too stuffy in there. I couldn’t breathe.”

“Are you sure?” My explanation didn’t seem to convince Shane, but I put a forced smile on, hoping I would sound more assured this time.

“I’m fine. I just need some fresh air. Can we go outside?”

“Of course, babe. Let’s go.” He took my hand, still scrutinizing me as he led me down the hallway.

SHANE AND I stood on the hotel’s balcony above the gleaming Park Avenue. I inhaled slowly, intensely focusing on the starlit sky, and then exhaled a few times. I couldn’t get the fortune-teller’s words out of my head.

A devastating hurricane?

Life overlapping with death?

I shook my head, dispelling the haunting thoughts.

“What happened in that room, Melanie?” Shane’s husky voice reached my ear from behind as he slid his hands around my waist, kissing the top of my head. “You got scared, didn’t you?”

I let out a quiet sigh. “Maybe a little bit.”

“I’m sorry, Melanie. I shouldn’t have booked you a session with her.” His tone was apologetic. I turned to face him, our gazes locked.

“No, Shane. I shouldn’t have taken her words so seriously.”

“What did she say?”

I frowned, shaking my head slightly, my lips curled up in a soft smile. “It was some rubbish talk. Never mind.”

Shane tilted his head to the side. His eyes darted between mine. He rested his hands against the railing behind me, trapping me between his arms. “Melanie,” he started, his voice low and tone soft. “No matter what she said, I’m here with you. For you.”

I nodded, appreciating his words that meant a little too much to me. Shane bit his bottom lip as if slightly nervous. I frowned, watching him carefully because it was something new to me. He put his fingers under my chin, tilting my head back.

“Melanie, I fell for you,” he whispered, looking deeply into my eyes, and my heart skipped a beat. My eyes wandered all over his face as if looking for some kind of confirmation that it wasn’t just a dream and I wouldn’t be waking up in a moment. I brought my hand to his face, gently caressing his cheek. My breath was ragged and heavy, the excitement, a feeling of unearthly joy rushing through my veins. Shane covered my hand with his, turning his head to the side to leave a soft kiss on my hand that he kept holding in his. He focused his eyes back on me, running his teeth over his lower lip. “I fell pretty damn hard, and there’s no turning back for me. And it scares me….”

“Scares you?” I asked quietly, startled.

He softly nodded his head yes. “I’ve been stone cold my whole damn life. Immune to that shit they call love. I thought it didn’t exist… until I met you.” He paused, our eyes connecting. “You’re like a fire melting the ice I’ve surrounded myself with. And it scares me because, at this point, I can’t imagine my life without you in it.”

I looked at the devilishly handsome man before me, feeling like the happiest woman on earth. Shane was a perfect balance between a big bad wolf, who’d kill for me in a heartbeat, and a Prince Charming, who knew how to make me feel like the only girl in the world. Add to it a perfect lover—quite a deadly combination.I fell for him too. I fell for this dangerous, reckless man, a criminal. Unconditionally. Irrevocably. I fell for him despite knowing the risk that love could entail. But I didn’t care. Shane knew how to make me feel alive. He knew how to embrace the demons lurking inside me so that I forgot they existed. I fell for him, despite knowing this love would be a constant dance with the devil. Yet, I couldn’t resist him. I was willing to take the risk because before him, I didn’t live. I only existed.

“I can’t imagine my life without you either, Shane,” I whispered before he crashed his lips to mine like the hungry wolf he was.

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