The King and the Courtesan Page 6

  I took the drink Ezekiel offered me and sipped, not really caring what it was. Anything to take the edge off my nerves.

  We made our rounds. Ezekiel talked to men twice his age who laughed at what they thought were jokes. When Ezekiel didn’t respond, their laughter died into awkward silence. Ezekiel could turn on charm as if it dangled from a chain, and if he didn’t find someone worthy, off it would click, leaving a much colder and harder man beneath. Cushioned by money and privilege, most didn’t seem to think anything of it. But I’d heard the rumors about him, so it made me wary. I knew what he was capable of, even if they didn’t.

  Older couples observed me with curiosity and interest; one woman decided to single me out.

  “Ezekiel, I don’t think I’ve ever seen you come with a date. Have you found that special woman?” she asked with a grin.

  “Indeed I have,” Ezekiel responded. His grip on my waist, which had remained there throughout most of the night, tightened.

  “Oh, isn’t that wonderful! I love true love, don’t you, Henry?” She turned to her husband, who only nodded.

  Ezekiel and I looked at one another. Ezekiel’s eyes had thawed, leaving his expression warm and open as he smiled. It startled me, so I did my best to mimic it, imagining for a moment that we were what this older couple saw—two beautiful people in love and so rich they had no better use for their evening.

  “She sure is quiet,” the woman continued. “Don’t you have anything to say, my dear?”

  “She’s shy,” Ezekiel offered.

  “No need to be shy, sweetheart! I won’t bite.” The woman giggled a bit, then turned her glossy eyes to me, as if waiting for some deep revelation.

  “I have nothing to say,” I replied softly.

  Ezekiel squeezed me a bit, as if to say that my answer had been correct.

  “And what a lovely necklace! I am a bit of a diamond enthusiast myself. Can’t get enough of them…”

  Both older women and bored trophy wives sought out Ezekiel to flirt. Women caught him at the bar, at the railing, and below deck, thrilled by his air of mystery. One woman went so far as to touch his sleeve with a seductive smile. I saw his jaw twitch as he removed his arm from her hand. His reaction was not well received, and the woman gave him an offended look before marching off. Ezekiel sipped his wine for a moment, then turned to me.

  “That is a woman without class,” he said.

  “I’ve never met someone who disliked pretty women who threw themselves at him.”

  “I don’t like shameless people.”

  I nodded dumbly and stared out across the water to where the lights of the city danced along the ripples. Away from the clatter of glasses and laughter of people, I found it relatively peaceful out here on the bay.

  “How have you liked the party so far?” Ezekiel asked, his tone light again.

  “It’s very nice.” I knew it was stupid before I opened my mouth, but I couldn’t think of anything more clever or insightful to say. Normally, clients didn’t expect much conversation out of me, and if they did, they mostly wanted me to listen. “I’ve never been to a party like this before, and I don’t think I’ll get the chance again.”

  “There’s a myth,” Ezekiel said, leaning his back against the railing and gazing into the depths of his drink, “that you can climb society’s ladder through hard work and perseverance.” He tipped his head to the side slightly. “I don’t imagine you’re a believer.”

  “How can you climb a ladder if you’re never given one in the first place?”

  One side of Ezekiel’s mouth lifted, though the smile seemed fake. “There is no ladder, Melissa.” He flagged down a young man in a catering uniform, then gave him his wineglass. Hands free, he slid an arm around my waist and briefly leaned in to whisper in my ear, “You have to climb on top of other people.”

  Chapter 8

  We left early. I might have liked to stay longer simply because I didn’t know if I’d ever have another experience like this again, but I was sweating more than usual and my hands kept shaking. I didn’t know how much longer I could hide it from him. The problem with parties was that they stretched on forever, and there was no real polite time to say good-bye. At least a trick was wham-bam-thank-you-ma’am. You both knew when to leave: when he climbed off.

  I had downed one glass too many of champagne, but it was probably a good thing, because in the back of my head the usual voice had started telling me how much I wanted to get high right now, and the fog of alcohol helped. I longed for a nice, quiet room and a syringe full of dust, even as Ezekiel herded me down the gangplank to the waiting black car.

  We headed for Metro. Bruce had gotten another car while we were at the party, because now we were in the black sedan that had first picked me up two nights ago. I figured it was a good move. People would wonder about the sedan, but they’d wonder even more about a limo.

  “My public appearance is finished for the month,” Ezekiel said solemnly. “I hate parties, but I must keep up my image.”

  “Why?”

  “So I can continue doing what I’m doing. If those with no social standing know of my true occupation, it’s of no danger to me because they are no threat. However, if my equals suspect me…that can get messy. Hence why I must subject myself to shallow conversation and inappropriate groping,” he sneered. His eyes had that tinge of rage, but it quickly vanished.

  “I think I should give you back this necklace and earrings,” I murmured, reaching up to unlatch my necklace.

  “If you like.”

  If I like? I considered asking him if I could keep them because of course I’d like that, but at the same time, I didn’t want to be rude, especially not to him. So I gave them back, and he said nothing more about it.

  At last we turned onto my street and stopped outside my apartment building. The homeless man who occasionally slept on the bench by the entrance lifted his head and gazed blearily at us, but I knew he was harmless, so I ignored him.

  Bruce opened my door. As I slung a leg out onto the curb, Ezekiel grabbed my wrist.

  “Melissa, I want to make another deal with you.”

  I thought I’d been freed. Compared to Blade, I should have been thankful to have Ezekiel. But there was something lurking under his surface that unnerved me. Blade, despite his follies, allowed me some independence. He knew about my prostitution and never told me I couldn’t do it. He lived his life, I lived mine. But Ezekiel didn’t see me as a hooker or a girlfriend. He saw me as something else, and I had yet to figure out what.

  “Yes?” I asked slowly.

  “You can walk away. You can take this briefcase,” he pointed to the briefcase that sat between us, the one that contained my payment of street dust, “and walk away forever. You’ll never see me again. You can return to your normal life, cooking for a thankless moron by day and sleeping with strangers by night. Even if you leave Blade because of these drugs, you’ll eventually run out. And back to Blade you’ll go. Do you want that?”

  “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 d
ie 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 h
im,” 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.