Page 315 of Once an Angel
away when you found us?"
A beatific smile curved his lips. "And give up the sheer pleasure of watching you destroy each other? You've always misread my intentions. I never wanted to kill you, Justin. I just wanted to watch you bleed."
"Where is she? What have you done with her?"
"Nothing." Nicky took a deep draw from the cigarette; his eyes glittered. "Yet."
With one smooth motion Justin drew the pistol from his waistband and pointed it at his old friend, his hands oddly steady. "I want to see her."
Nicky slid the cigarette case into his pocket and held up both hands. "Please don't shoot me. I'd never
get the bloodstains out of this suit, and you know how expensive Egyptian linen is."
"Take me to her."
He dropped his hands, giving Justin a beleaguered smile. "I've always found your singleminded sense of purpose quite dull. I told you. She's safe for now. At least until I tire of her."
Justin started for him. "You ruthless bastard."
Nicky's low laugh rippled. "Ah, so that's the way of it.
I thought so. I wonder what your precious David would say if he knew you'd been tumbling his sweet little Claire between the sheets. I don't think that's quite what he had in mind when he asked you to take care of her. But I do hope you rode her hard and broke her in well for me. "
Blinded by rage at the full extent of Nicholas's betrayal, Justin rammed the pistol back in his waistband and rushed him, coming in low and hard. His shoulder slammed into Nicky's stomach. The cigarette flew from his elegant lips. They rolled to the powdery sand in an explosion of flailing arms and legs.
Justin's right hook connected with a solid crack, rocking back Nicky's head. He wanted to pound his face to a bloody pulp, but all he got in was one more blow before he realized Nicky hadn't lifted his fists to fight back, but had balled them in front of his face to protect it. A keening whimper escaped him.
Grabbing his lapels, Justin slammed him to his back and straddled him. He shook him with each anguished word. "How could you do it, you son of a bitch? You were my friend! "
Nicky slowly lowered his hands, and Justin realized with horror that he was crying. Tears streaked the
grit on his cheeks but didn't dim the virulent hatred in his eyes. "You don't know what it was like," he screamed. "You always had it all. You never had to scrounge in the sewers of Rome for food or pennies, selling whatever you could to stay alive—even yourself."
Justin sat back on his haunches, stunned.
"We could have had it all, you and I, but you gave up your inheritance! You just threw it away like it
was nothing. And why shouldn't you? You never had to let some fat Sicilian pig maul you with his
sweaty hands in the hopes he might give you a loaf of bread afterward for your trouble!"
Justin turned his face away. "I never knew, ' he whispered. "I swear I never knew."
He was completely unprepared when the sharp heel of Nicky's boot slammed into his jaw, knocking him backward. Before he could react, Nicky rolled up. Striking with the speed and cunning of a serpent, he snatched the pistol from Justin's waistband and leveled it at him.
Justin stood, backing away. Nicholas followed, scooping up his hat as he rose and tilting it back on his head at a rakish angle. His grip on the gun wavered wildly. "You ruined everything, you rich brat. Together we could have had the world."
There was a sigh then, softer than the wind, and they both turned to find Emily standing in the sand, the moonlight pearling off the barrel of the derringer cradled in her palm.
Chapter 35
Know in that moment that I'd cheat even death
for one last glimpse of my little girl. . . .
Emily looked so beautiful with her skirts blowing in the wind and her hair tousled by its fingers that
Justin wanted to weep. He was surprised she couldn't hear the crack of his heart breaking.
