The Millionaire's Secret Read Online Free Page B

Adam gave her a kiss on the cheek, a gesture she was coming to appreciate it, before pointing her up the stairs.
    Her mind was too preoccupied on what was waiting for her on the top to think about what he was hiding from her. She took the stairs two at a time, smacking on her gum, and practically skidded into the room, locking the door behind her. She paused a moment, listening for anyone outside the hall, before heading to her drawer and opening it. There, beneath her leotard, was her stash, waiting for her and gleaming in the dying light.
    At first, she had hated the needles, waiting to pierce her skin and always leaving a trail of blood behind. She bruised easily, and it was hard to cover them up in the morning. But now, she was an expert, tying a stocking around her arm and finding the vein in under a minute flat.
    The second the drugs hit her system, she sighed a great sigh and fell back onto the bed, closing her eyes and letting them do their work. This was a different kind of floating, of falling through bliss and landing in heaven. The trembling stopped, her stomach paused in turning over and her head felt like a million stars had exploded inside. She could see the sounds from downstairs, each mummer a colour. The sensation of her bed sheets felt like silk and she rolled over, enjoying the simplicity of breathing in and out, feeling her breath hit her arm. She was in bliss, and she never wanted to move.
    After a moment, she loosened her makeshift tourniquet, and opened her eyes. Thank God traffic hadn’t been that bad, she wasn’t sure she’d have been able to last another moment. And thank God Adam hadn’t followed her upstairs. No doubt he’d disapprove, or worry, as always.
    Downstairs, Adam’s mind was not on what Behati was or wasn’t doing. He straightened his tie in the mirror, and headed into the kitchen, where Rick was sitting with Maurice, a tumbler of whiskey in both their hands.
    He gave Rick a pat on the back as he passed, reaching to shake Maurice’s hand. He tried to understand how hard Rick was trying to act normal, when, as the doctor’s explained, his mind was like a poisonous fog rolling in every afternoon. The effort he made was appreciated, although his brother was a shadow of his former self.
    “Maurice,” he said, cautiously. “I didn’t expect you.”
    Maurice was a big man, probably weighing more than both the brother’s combined. And unlike the brothers, he did not have an aura of attractiveness about him. His face was pock marked, with huge cheeks hanging off his face, and a nose that had been broken more than once. His eyes were a non descript brown, and squinty, almost pig like. And he had a leer about him, even if he was being friendly that made other’s uncomfortable. His teeth were yellow, and some were missing, and his clothes, while expensive, seemed unkempt. Adam did not like him on sight, but if they were to be in this business, he was the one that they needed to do business with.
    “I just wanted to come to make sure our deal was done,” Maurice said, smiling with his broken smile. “The product will be shipped out tomorrow.”
    “Starting tomorrow, yes,” Adam said, as he poured himself a drink. He wasn’t a big drinker, he enjoyed having a clear head, especially when dealing with clients. But Maurice was the kind of client who you dealt with, shot by shot, no matter how much of a lightweight you were. “16 of the shipping containers will have varying amounts of cocaine in them, due to cross the border in America on Wednesday. If they happen to choose those ones to ship, they will never find the false walls inside. I can guarantee your supply will be safe or I will take the hit myself.”
    “You will indeed, Mr. Katz,” Maurice said. “Because I’m always leery about bringing someone new on board. This is a small payout, a million or so, but you do a good job, and they’ll be many more like this.”
    ‘Our trucks have a reputation and they are backed by