The King and the Courtesan (8 page)

“What’s my other option?” I asked.

Ezekiel leaned back and stared at me. I couldn’t look away. His eyes kept mine as if he’d physically reached out and held my face. “You can stay with me.”

“Stay with you?”

His eyelids sunk low over his eyes, and his hand touched his chin. It was rare to come across someone this self-assured, but so far, I’d not seen any doubt from him, even when requesting something so insane. “Come back to my penthouse with me. You can live there as you please. You’ll never have to lift a finger in work. No money worries. No handing out sex to strangers, just to me. No abuse from a boyfriend you don’t like.” His eyes were alive now, his voice rushed.

I could only stare, aghast.

“Anything you want could be yours,” he murmured.

All of a sudden my life was a canvas on which I could paint. All those people I had hated at the party—did I want to be them? Of course. I hated them for their frivolous lifestyles and shallow ways, but I’d die to become one of them. What was it like to throw away thirty grand for a surgery you didn’t need, just to fix a bump on your nose? What was it like to live in such decadent luxury that price tags had no meaning? I’d never have to worry about my next hit. I’d never have to clench my eyes and remove myself to a quiet place while I let a strange man touch me in every possible way. I’d never have to bite my tongue and take Blade’s abuse. I’d never have to face Joel’s sleazy face in the morning. I’d never have to wake up when water leaked through my ceiling and dripped on my face. No more microwave macaroni, no more defunct plumbing, no more cold showers, no more buying aspirin for stress-induced headaches. Most of all, no more insufficient funds, no more fear that I’d be thrown out onto the streets, no more fear that I’d wake up dead in a gutter.

“Melissa,” Ezekiel goaded firmly.

There was a small part of me that still pulled away.
Think of the rumors
, it cried.
Think of what he does for a living. This is not a fairy-tale prince coming to take you away
.

I shut up that voice and nodded. “I’ll—I’ll go with you.”

He grinned. “Very well. Though I think it would be best to tell your sister where you’ll be. We wouldn’t want her worrying.” He cocked his head, almost sounding sincere.

I only bobbed my head heartily. “Yes. Of course.”

I untangled my legs, ignored the hand Bruce offered me, and jumped out of the car. I stumbled my way to the front door. I didn’t have my keys, so I had to use the buzzer.

“Hello?” answered Joel.

“Where’s Mimi?” I asked.

“Well, good evening, Giraffe. Mimi’s asleep at this ungodly hour. What can I do for you?”

“Let me in.”

“Why should I?”

I looked over my shoulder. The door was closed, but I knew Ezekiel was watching me.

“Look, stop being such a dick. I only need to grab my stuff.”

“And then where are you going? Gonna sleep around with more scumbags? You know, Mimi was worried about you all day and—”

“Let me in!” It came out less like a bark and more like a sob.

Joel was quiet for a moment before the door clicked.

I rushed up the three flights of stairs and pounded on the front door, which Joel answered. He stood in the doorway, blocking my entrance.

“My,
my
. Where have
you
been, all dolled up?”

“Get out of my way.” I pushed him back and tripped over his extended leg. Joel laughed.

“Nice move, Giraffe.”

“Shut the hell up!” I snarled. “You know, I’m not gonna have to deal with your shit anymore. I’m leaving! I’m gonna grab my stuff and tell Mimi, and then I’m out. Don’t count on ever seeing me again.”

“You go to some nice party or something with some loser client? Better not get the dress dirty if you’re returning it to the store tomorrow.”

“Since you would know
all about
losers,” I growled, fumbling to a stand. I marched to my room and grabbed my cellphone and purse. Then I walked across the hall and entered my sister’s bedroom. I turned on the light and stared at Mimi beneath the covers. Her brown hair spilled across the lumpy pillows. This was as much peace as she’d ever get.

“Mimi,” I whispered, shaking her awake.

“Oh, Melissa,” she groaned, sitting up and rubbing her eyes. She stopped when she saw me. “Holy shit, what have you been up to?” She reached out and touched my dress. “This looks expensive.”

“It’s Regina Queen.”

Mimi’s exhaustion faded, replaced by shock.

“Probably some cheap knock-off,” Joel said from the doorway.

Mimi nodded, but when her eyes met mine, she knew.

“Melissa, what’s going on?” she asked breathlessly. “Why are you dressed like this?”

“I’m—Mimi, I’m moving out.”

“What?”

“It’s hard to explain. It’s a complicated story, okay?”

Mimi frowned. “Does it have something to do with a client of yours?”

“I—look, maybe we should sit down—”

“Goddamn it, tell me!”

“I’m going to live with Ezekiel.”

Mimi’s rage subsided as she was confused once more. “Ezekiel
who
?”

I noticed the tinge of suspicion in her voice. She was thinking of the right Ezekiel, but she probably didn’t want to believe it.

“It’s the Ezekiel you’re thinking of,” I murmured.

“Tell me what Ezekiel I’m thinking of.”

“You know…” I gulped and licked my lips, my mouth suddenly dry. “
The
Ezekiel.”

Mimi gaped at me. I didn’t know else what to say to her, so I waited until she spoke.

“Ezekiel…the drug lord,” she whispered.

“Well, I’d say he’s more of a drug king, but yeah.”

“You’re going to
live
with him?” Mimi shrieked, her face reddening and her eyes bulging. I wanted to hush her and ask her to sit down before she blew up, but I had a feeling it was too late for that.

She snatched up my arm and jerked me so close her breath made my hair flutter. “Are you
insane
?”

I winced and tested her grip. “I’d be insane
not
to take him up on this offer.”

“What exactly is going on? What do you mean you’re
going to live with
him?” Her eyes grew even wider and she lowered her voice. “You’re sleeping with him?”

I flinched and wondered if I was going to get a bruise from her death grip. “Er, I will be.”

“
Are you batshit crazy?!
”

“Let go of me!”

“You’re going to get yourself killed, you know that? Ezekiel is dangerous.”

“And Blade wasn’t?” I gave her a defiant glare.

“I promised to stay out of your business with Blade. I know you’re smarter than he is. He’s scum you find a need to cling to. But Ezekiel…” She rocked back, as if struck by another wave of horror. “Melissa, if you make one wrong move—”

“It’s not that dangerous,” I assured her. I wasn’t sure if I was lying. “He’s dangerous to all the people he lends money to. But he’s not lending me anything. He’s actually paying me, so—”

“Do you think it matters to him who’s lending and who’s buying? He doesn’t have a conscience. I thought everyone in Metro knew that.”

“I wouldn’t go as far to say he doesn’t have a conscience. I mean, he’s a little
anal
maybe—”

Mimi finally let go of me, running trembling fingers through her thin, greasy hair and mumbling something under her breath. She stalked into the kitchen and I followed, noticing that Joel was not there. Perhaps he had slipped out to give us some privacy. That didn’t seem likely, so maybe he was in the other room eavesdropping.

“I can take care of myself,” I told her.

“You think so, eh?” Mimi glared at me. “Well, you’re doing a
fantastic
job. Sleeping with Blade for drugs and then sleeping with strangers for everything else.”

“Oh, shut up. You’re no princess, either. Don’t lie to me. The only reason you’re still clinging to Joel is because he’s got a job and buys you things. Don’t get all high and mighty, thinking you’re better than me. At least I get paid well to hang out with sleazy creeps. You do it for a note and a handshake.”

“Don’t start this again, Melissa. Please. I can’t take it.” Mimi pinched the bridge of her nose and inhaled sharply. “This isn’t about me, okay? This is about you. Has it ever occurred to you that I’m simply terrified for you?”

“No, it hasn’t.”

“Why
else
would I have a problem with this?”

“Because now I won’t owe you money for rent.”

Mimi’s jaw dropped, and she gasped. “How
dare
you! You’re my goddamn sister. You think the only reason I live with you is for the money you make? Hell, I die a little every time you give me money, because I know how it’s all made.” Tears gathered in her eyes.

“Now I get everything I want from him,” I told her. “I can help you, too.”

“I don’t want anything to do with this. I don’t want to be implicated. At all. I know enough to stay far away from Ezekiel and his minions. I don’t want him showing up on
my
doorstep.”

“Well, I didn’t ask him to show up on mine, either!”

Mimi didn’t reply. She pouted and stared at me with big, glassy eyes.

“I only stopped by to tell you where I am,” I muttered. “So you don’t worry. Maybe you can stop by for a visit if you want. He’s probably got a pool on the roof.”

“Don’t joke about this, sis. Please, don’t.”

Her reaction upset me. I felt a bubble of despair clog up my throat, and I struggled to keep it hidden. “I was always in danger. You know that. I’m not in any more danger now than I was in some sleazy hotel room with a stranger. Any man can pull a trigger.”

Mimi shook her head and turned to the kitchen counter, staring at the sticky rings left by glasses of beer and soda.

“If you need help—rent, furniture, clothes, food, bills—remember my offer.” With that, I put my wallet back into my purse and drew myself up taller. “Good-bye, Mimi.”

“Why do I have this feeling that you’ll walk through that door and never come back?” Mimi asked.

“You have that feeling every time I leave,” I whispered. I spun on my heel and walked out without looking back.

* * *

Ezekiel had a private elevator and an operator to work it. The operator didn’t look like I’d imagined. He was a dark-eyed young man in a suit who never even met my eyes. There was a gun nestled in his belt. I gulped and pressed closer to Ezekiel. Ezekiel noticed the direction of my gaze and chuckled. He put an arm around my shoulders.

“You’ll have to get used to that,” he whispered. “I’m always well protected.”

The penthouse was a masterpiece of glass and steel without a colorful surface to be found. The foyer alone had a black marble floor and an opposite wall made of windows overlooking Ralston and the furthest outreaches of downtown. A staircase with a metal railing twirled up to a second level, which was less like a second floor and more like a circular balcony. A waterfall trickled down from the staircase banisters and into a pool in the foyer. Exotic art lined every wall and table, some of which included a pair of elephant tusks, a china pot as tall as me, and peacock feathers so brilliant I couldn’t believe they came from an actual bird.

“It’s amazing,” I whispered in awe.

“This is my main house,” he said in a low voice. “I have others. But this place is my home.”

I found no dust, no dirt, not even a scuff on the floor. Everything was so pristine and perfect that I was afraid to touch anything.

“This way,” Ezekiel ordered, pulling me toward the staircase.

I followed him up the steps. The second floor had a hallway circling the foyer below, lined with heavy oak doors closed to whatever lay beyond. An archway at the end of the hall led into what looked like a bar and billiard room, but that was the only room I could see into.

At the opposite end of the hallway, Ezekiel pushed through double doors and invited me inside. His bedroom was enormous, large enough to make the foyer look tiny in comparison. Another waterfall covered an entire wall, with a thin sheet of water trickling down its bumpy surface to a hidden pool below the floor. The bed sat close to the window at the other end of the room, though the drapes were shut. From the ceiling hung a chandelier, illuminating the enormous black dresser, the collection of plush couches in the center of the room, the flat widescreen TV hung on one wall, and doors leading to more rooms.

“What do you think?” he asked, turning to face me.

“It’s incredible,” I whispered.

“I’ll call for some wine,” he said, pressing the button on his intercom. “Kira, bring up a bottle and two glasses.” There was no affirmative reply, but he must have been sure his request would be met, because he removed his finger from the button. “Please, sit.”

I crossed the room and sank onto the edge of a geometric couch, twisting in my seat to take it all in. Meanwhile, Ezekiel went to the dresser and mirror to remove his cufflinks and bow tie. Someone knocked, making me jolt. I barely got a look at the woman delivering the wine before Ezekiel shut the door. He came over to me, popped the cork, and poured me a glass.

“I usually don’t drink wine,” I said.

“It’s another good investment.”

I took a sip of my wine. It did taste different from the cheap stuff Mimi sometimes asked me to sip, but it didn’t seem worth the price it certainly must have cost. Personally, I was fine with a beer and some nachos.

“Eager?” Ezekiel asked as I took large sips in hopes of calming my nerves. Usually I was the one trying to comfort a jittery customer, but I’d never been in the bedroom of a drug lord before.

“Sorry.”

Ezekiel shrugged and drained his glass as well. When he’d placed both goblets on the dresser, he stepped in front of me, pulling me up from my seat on the couch.

“I’ve waited a long time for someone like you,” Ezekiel whispered to me, his lips inches from mine. One arm wrapped around my waist and pressed me against him. The other slipped up through my hair. I shuddered at the touch, not so much from pleasure but from apprehension. Usually, I could read people, and this talent had saved my ass more than once. Ezekiel existed behind a mask, and that alarmed me. I had no idea what he might enjoy sexually, so all I could do was wait for him to tell me and hope that it wasn’t anything painful or dangerous.