I Left The Jester For The King

he table was thick and unbreathab

fabric of her uniform in a rhythmic, familiar motion. It was an intimacy

chair scraped against the f

aking from a trance. He pulled his hand a

," I said. My voice was lo

response. My heels struck the polish

e cold porcelain edge of the sink, staring at my own face

oor o

she moved with a loose, disjointed rhythm, taking up more space than she nee

playing on her lips. "Di

ou're playing a dangerous game, Camill

r sort of poison. "He doesn't want you. He wants your last name. He tells

low, but I held myself rigid, dete

tly, "you wouldn't be serving

e. "That ring is a copy

ow,"

disbelief cro

dle of the door jiggled. Then a

It was

ed. She let out a th

the tiled floor with a heavy thud. She came down hard

en. The lock splintered a

the sink, arms at my sides, impassive. He saw C

ointing a trembling finger at me.

ere was no question in

ng with you?

her," I said calm

red, and already beginning to swell. "You think because you're a

at me with

ay of hardship in your life. This girl works for a livi

ed to multiply against the tile and porcelain. "You are the

d Camilla up into his arms, bridal style. She

spital," he spat at me. "

, past his friends, past my associates, leaving his fi

b five minutes later. X

ust... he's heated

ad to me

a cab

thouse. I went direct

l Franco had written for me for our

wall. I tore it in h

very piece of jewelry he had ever bought me. I piled them in t

through supple leather, tore the weave of silk, and shredded the velvet

three hours later, t

e bedroom d

h panic. "Gia, open the door. The doctor

, staring at

ping in the hallway if

n't a

he floor. It was w