The Billionaire's Inferno

heavy with white takeaway bags and a bottle of

oken version of the song I used to sing to Sa

uiet anniversary, sushi on the sofa, sticky kisses the t

lock. I winced while holdin

staircase soft, erotic music,

ghtened i

upidly and opened t

alled, laugh

ans

ing wa

d leather are like a burning fire. Not the v

y aware of each beating. My heels clicked on the fl

overh

huc

nd bre

dy s

not

open only one

ed it

orld bro

husband w

s falling o

gripped Le

st friend f

d our wedding night with c

at first. Perhaps the

guilt or perhaps a shame

li

did no

n't ev

fingers and broke into a thousan

ntually caused

and reached

lowly, looking at me as

his face. Don't w

posed to be home

t t

. Bo

about as awkward as

pulling on his shir

b and clutched th

round. My body would not move

e of me shatter

ttoning his cuffs as if he had

nked

like a snake migh

ff, Kate. Too ti

ke he was listed thi

ld be exciting

lis gave her a harsh star

it heavy and planned, thrust in

Manila e

divorce pa

niversar

not

not

ough the wine bottle pieces gleam

st w

through

ugh

rely the moment the e

face, removing the

rder a cab. I shook my h

took me

ryw

not m

e me, in a window gleaming bright

the third-floor balcony, settl

ked neatly alo

remaine

e b

cou

sest bench, my breath b

on

ed my

. No a

rayal went strai

oes to

e. Pl

Twice. Directly to t

God for the app d

p has bee

our

by

texts, feel

d. I pushed play

for the early service today! Sadie looked tired, but s

omach

picked

reply, my pho

wn nu

: Your daughter

roat

ing back but

We will contact you. You

nd onto the ground. I looked a

ps it

et light

horns, footsteps, laugh

ing mattere

d S

ter th

ont seat of a black car, obscured by d

rk hair. Eyes lik

serve

brut

en pit

ng nearer to

rief as if he a

een waiting fo

rvously. "Sir, it's

not move. His voice wa

et," he told her, "but

d the key in

next to me so quietly t

swing

tall and sharp but

t. Most likely

shoulders and put it over m

ck. "I don'

mouth turned up as if he kne

e you've told tonigh

came around

embled a badge, and the officer ackno

in cr

ves sh

hell are y

ands carelessly

Monroe," h

hole

e I g

somewhere safe

ground. "I'm not goi

d not

d not

rely

ew I'd do i

ther text from the blocked number: "Ne

i

ri

is car smelt like

s," the stranger explained soft

t him. "You

not d

smiled

rpiece attached to his jacket: "S

it off with

stay asleep, Kate," he

eone wok

until the hotel room doo

d washed and scru

t clothes and food w

t I found him waiting outside like a l

?" I questioned,

re something precious, bre

he answered quietly,

ached

ean to tou

n to let him

om both of us hungry,

inally parted

ne vib

eo broadca

di

ed in a d

yi

een tur