Domino Read Online Free Page B

impish
smile.
    "Don't be silly, Hugo. Morgan is wonderful.
This is what I've wanted all my life. "
    "He scares the hell out of me."
    "I'm going to be okay. I just don't want to
end up back on the streets."
    "Have you told your brother?"
    "Andy wouldn't understand. He never wanted me
to model or do anything but go to college. After mother died, he
insisted that I come to Egypt or Kuwait and live in some American
oil company settlement for two years. That was thirteen years ago.
He's still there. I don't know how his wife stands living in that
pile of sand. I couldn't."
    "So you thought the streets were
better?"
    "I've made my mistakes. I can't afford to make
any more. I'm not Andy. I'm not that smart. Not exactly college
material. I made a good living and Morgan has invested my money in
some good businesses. This is my security, Hugo. My protection from
ever having to scrap and crawl up from the streets."
    "You were on the streets for exactly two weeks
when your mother died and you decided to run away... Little miss
rich bitch on the streets for two weeks."
    "My mom and I were dirt poor, Hugo. We lived
in east Hollywood, in a one bedroom apartment filled with Armenian
immigrants that were little better off than we were. My mom worked
nights in a photo lab and my brother sent us a little money from
time to time when he had it. When mama died, Andy wanted me to go
to the Middle East with him. Do you know that women, even American
women over there can’t drive a car, go out even to the store
without a male escort? What a life would that be? That’s why I ran
away I was not exactly a rich bitch."
    "That was still a long time ago. You'll never
be back on the streets, Clary. That's behind you. You've made it.
You can't go back. You've got to forget the.....alley.
Okay?"
    As soon as he said it he regretted it. He
could see the fear in her eyes, the sudden tenseness in her
shoulders. He wanted to hold her like he had done all those years
ago. He put his hand over hers and smiled at her in the
mirror.
    "I'm sorry, Clary. I didn't mean to bring that
up."
    "I still have the nightmare sometimes. I can
still see their faces, feel their hands..."
    He squeezed her hand, wanting to do more but
not knowing exactly what.
    "I saved you,” his smile brightened. "I was a
damned hero. All I needed was a cape and a sword."
    "I think you were wearing tights," Clarissa
returned the smiled. Hugo's bright humor had broken the black
spell.
    "And how did you repay me? You lied to
me."
    "If I told you I was fourteen would you have
given me the job?"
    "No, but then you did make me a famous
hairdresser. Did you see me on that morning show last week? I was
marvelous."
    "I was a good receptionist, too."
    Hugo sighed wistfully. "Until a New York
modeling agency took you away from me. I was
heartbroken."
    "You were not."
    "I was, Clary. Honestly."
    "Can you do my hair tonight like you did for
the Harper's cover we shot in Paris? Remember?"
    "That? You want that? Really, Clary, that was
two years ago and way out of style. Alright, whatever you want. You
know, I still worry about you. Morgan Wolfe scares the shit out of
me. Clary, if you need to talk, you call me, okay? Anytime. If you
need me, you call. Promise?"
    "I will. I promise."
    "This shampoo is drying out your hair. I'll
bring you something new next week. Come down to La Jolla, why don't
you? You'll love it. I did the new place all in silver, black and
pink."
    Clarissa smiled up at Hugo's image in the
mirror. "What would I do without you to worry over me,
hon?"
    Hugo leaned forward and kissed her forehead.
When he looked at her, there was a grin on his face. "You'd look
like hell."
    Hugo planted a kiss on her forehead. On the
surface, everything looked perfect for her, but he couldn't shake
the apprehension he felt. Morgan Wolfe did scare him and the
thought of Clarissa married to that dark eyed man made Hugo's
stomach knot.
     
     
    Clarissa checked her make-up one last time in
the mirror. Hugo had