Her Dark Melody

by Michelle Love

  Elli shook her head. “It’s fine. He’s worried about my psycho stalker, is all.”

  “Well, I can understand that. Any news on that?”

  Elli half-smiled. “Well, whoever he is, he’s certainly imaginative in the ways he’s thought of to kill me.”

  Vivienne shuddered. “Don’t joke.”

  “There, see? That’s how Aldo feels, so I’m handing over a little bit of control to make him feel better. He knows better than to push it.”

  But Elli wondered if he did know the boundaries she had set. As they packed, he told her to bring certain dresses or clothes—mostly red or white—and in the end, she got annoyed. “Who made you Anna Wintour?” she half-joked, half-snapped at him.

  He didn’t find it funny. “I’m just advising you because you haven’t traveled in the same circles as me and I don’t want you to be humiliated.”

  Elli flushed with anger. “Are you concerned that I’ll be humiliated or you’ll be humiliated? I’m sorry I’m such an embarrassment to you, Aldo.” She threw some of her favorite clothes into the case—pinks, browns, blacks, and lilacs—and then left him alone. She went out to the balcony to seeth, but five minutes later, she felt his arms slide around her waist and his lips on her neck.

  “Sorry,” he mumbled. “I’m a jerk.”

  “Big jerk.”

  “Big jerk.” He pulled her back against him, and she felt his erection press into the small of her back. “Got a bigger jerk for you, if you’re interested.”

  Elli had to laugh, and then he was pushing up her skirt. “Don’t turn around. Play our game. Pretend there are men down there, all wanting to fuck you.”

  He was inside her, but Elli felt strangely disconnected. Sex hadn’t been the same since Indio, but she didn’t want Aldo to know that so she made all the same noises. And it wasn’t as if the sex was bad—far from it. She just felt exhausted all the time, drained of emotion.

  Now, as she sat on Aldo’s private jet, flying over Paris at night, she gazed down at the lights beneath her. Aldo was watching her, a smile on his face. “Have you ever been?”

  “To Paris? Once, a couple of years ago. I was invited to interview a candidate in the election. Why, I don’t know. Anyway, I did it, and Le Monde picked it up after we published it.”

  “Feather in your cap.”

  Elli smiled at him. “It was, actually, although I never knew why he would choose an Italian journalist to cover his run in the French election. It did open a lot of doors for me.”

  “Your talent did that, sweetheart. As for the Italian thing, your writing transcends nationality.”

  She smiled at him. “Thank you, baby.”

  Aldo got up and came to sit next to her. “Elli, we can be happy, can’t we?”

  “Of course.”

  “Because, right now, I don’t think you are happy.” He swept her hair back over her shoulder. It was on the tip of her tongue to lie to him, but then she just sighed.

  “I’m trying, Aldo. I swear. It’s just with this stalker thing and the crap in the gossip rags about me …it’s getting to me.”

  “And so is Indio Navaro.”

  Elli leaned her head on his shoulder. “I’m trying, Aldo.”

  “I know. We’ll have fun in Seattle, I swear. I have a few meetings, but after that, we’ll go do the tourist thing.”

  “I’m looking forward to seeing Jess Storm, I have to say. I really liked her.”

  “Hmm.”

  Elli looked up at him. “You don’t like her?”

  “What’s not to like? She’s lovely. I just wonder at seeing someone who might remind you of the night at the party.”

  Elli nuzzled his neck. “You know, seeing Indio wasn’t the only thing that happened that night.”

  Aldo smiled genuinely then. “Yes, the Masquerade orgy …I was surprised you took to it so quickly.”

  Was that a slur? She couldn’t tell, but chose to give him the benefit of the doubt. “I wanted to make you happy.”

  He kissed her. “Watching you get fucked by those men …god, that was a turn on.”

  Elli grinned at him. “Me and my vagina could tell.”

  “Talking about your vagina …there’s a bedroom in the back and I’m feeling a little …”

  Elli laughed, sliding her hand onto the growing bulge in his pants. “Well, well, well, hello.”

  With a growl, he bore her off to the bedroom, Eli giggling as he tickled her while undressing her.

  They made love slowly, kissing and enjoying the time together. This time, Elli actually felt something and was glad. Elli stroked the hair back from his forehead. “Your hair is getting so long,” she said, suddenly noticing how long and curly his previously short hair was. Why hadn’t she seen it before? She felt bad then; how self-involved she had been.

  “You like it?”

  She nodded. “I do.” She didn’t add that it reminded her of Indio’s unruly mess of hair. That would kill the mood in a minute.

  ***

  After making love, Elli fell asleep, and when she woke, it was lighter outside the plane windows. Rubbing her eyes, she was suddenly aware of Aldo’s voice, angry and shouting in the main cabin. She pulled her dress back on and padded in to see what was wrong.

  Aldo’s face was red and contorted with anger as he yelled into his phone. “What the fuck? Who got those records? Well, I want them in my office in Seattle tomorrow. I don’t fucking care if they’re in Sydney. Make it fucking happen. And find out who sold the story to the papers.”

  He hadn’t seen her, and Elli watched him, with growing anxiety, beat his head with his hands, his face red and full of rage.

  “Baby?” Her voice was small, and he looked up. For a second, the murderous rage in his eyes terrified her. But then his expression softened.

  “I’m sorry, little one. I didn’t mean to wake you.” She went to him, and he kissed her. “Did you sleep okay?”

  She nodded. “What is it, honey? What’s happened?”

  Aldo drew in a lungful of air, obviously trying to keep his temper. “Someone sold a bullshit story about me in the papers. They’re saying my work in Uganda is a front for gun-running. Can you believe it? Why the hell would I need to sell weapons? I’m already a billionaire, for the love of god.”

  There was a sharp pang of adrenaline spiking through Elli. “Why on Earth would anyone say something so …random, like that?”

  Aldo sighed, pulling her into his arms. “Don’t worry about it, cara mia. I’ve had bad press before.”

  “Aldo, it’s not just bad press, it’s libelous. Have you spoken to your lawyers? What are the records you were talking about?”

  Aldo looked at her sharply, and for a second, she saw real anger. She took a step back.

  “Aldo …”

  “You don’t ever question me again, Elli. Do you understand? Ever.”

  Elli swallowed hard as he stepped toward her, his voice low, dangerous. You’re not safe. Indio’s words came back to her. “It’s fine, Aldo. Forget I said anything.”

  But he didn’t back down. Rather, he advanced, his hands gripping her shoulders painfully. “I have been patient. Very patient with you, Elli, and your first thought is to condemn me.”

  What the hell? “I did no such thing,” she said, trying to keep her voice steady, though his fingers were biting into her flesh so hard that she knew they would leave bruises. “I was trying to figure out our next move.”

  “That’s my job to figure out.” His hand was under her skirt, pushing her legs apart. “You know what your job is.” He freed his cock from his pants, and then he was in her, fucking her against the wall, his arm across her throat, his eyes fixed on hers. Elli was scared, scared of this man she was seeing for the first time. What the hell had happened? He’d changed in a flash.

  She went along with his love-making, although it was far from love, feeling trapped and frightened, and afterward, when he’d withdrawn and immediately sat back down to his paperwork, she went back to
the bedroom and let hot tears stream down her cheeks.

  She fell into an uneasy sleep, only waking to feel him slip an arm around her waist. Elli immediately stiffened, afraid. “Scuzi, Elli Bella,” Aldo said softly. “Forgive me, my darling. I was riled up and angry. I would never hurt you.”

  Still upset, Elli turned over to face him. “You treated me like a hole, Aldo. Just a hole to fuck.”

  “I’m sorry.”

  Elli was silent, studying his expression closely. He had all the appearance of contrition …but she didn’t believe he was sorry. She could see something else in his eyes …triumph. Nausea rose in her throat. She couldn’t speak, then, and just closed her eyes, wanting the pain to go away. She felt him kiss her, but she didn’t respond.

  “Elli Bella?”

  “Don’t call me that, please.” It hurt too much to hear Indio’s name for her in this man’s mouth.

  This man. God, like she hadn’t been dating Aldo for months. This man. Like he was a stranger.

  Elli sighed and turned away from him. Aldo curved his body to meet hers, spooning her, but she didn’t respond.

  The tension between them remained as they landed in Seattle, and Elli was relieved when, after they had arrived at the hotel, Aldo excused himself to work. Elli went out into the city to walk around and see it for herself. She was excited to be there, and even more so when she saw the beauty of the place. The views over to the Olympic Mountains were breathtaking, Elliott Bay glittering in the late spring sun. It was a clear, blue-sky day, and Elli lost track of time, gathering tourist leaflets and mixing in with the Seattle crowds. In Pioneer Square, she found a small coffee house with outside seating and sat down to people-watch and catch her breath.

  Soon her mind was drifting back to the scenes on the plane. Now that the shock had passed, she was left feeling angry. How dare Aldo treat her like that? He’d made her feel like a whore, and worse than that, like a stupid little girl. He knew she’d had experience with handling bad press—and very recently too—so why on earth would he behave like that?

  The answer was in front of her, but she didn’t even want to consider it. There was no way, no way Aldo was a gunrunner. It was ridiculous …wasn’t it?

  Elli drew in a deep lungful of breath. She was a journalist, right? So, go investigate, she told herself. Find out for yourself. She wondered if she could persuade Vivienne to sanction a trip to Uganda—without Aldo knowing. Now that he was an investor, Elli didn’t know how privy he was to the magazine’s accounts records. He would know what was up immediately if a plane ticket to Uganda showed up.

  Speaking of records …Elli’s investigative hackles were up now. Aldo worked from home …did he keep his records there? She would have to be careful, really careful. If he found out she was snooping …

  Elli felt energized for a second before the realization hit—she was about to investigate her boyfriend. The man she loved—didn’t she? She stared unseeing out into the busy street. What if she found out something that could put Aldo away? What if he was corrupt? What if his humanitarian causes were a cover for something more insidious? She kept returning to what Indio had told her. Aldo Constanza is a dangerous man.

  The familiar prickling started on the back of her neck, and she scanned the street for anyone who might be watching her. Elli had to admit; since Indio, her paranoia had been off the charts, and so she would have to make sure any investigation she made was balanced. She knew she could rely on Vivienne for that.

  “Elliana Moretti, what the fuck are you doing in Seattle?”

  Her heart suddenly soared and she jumped up, turning to see Tandy Lee grinning at her. Almost in tears, Elli hugged her friend. “Oh my god, Tandy …Tandy …”

  Tandy hugged her, and when Elli released her, Tandy was frowning at her. “What’s up, bro? You look weird.”

  Elli tried to smile, but her emotions were in turmoil now, and instead, much to her great embarrassment, she burst into tears.

  ***

  Tandy whisked her friend to the nearest bar and bought them both double scotches, rubbing Elli’s arm as she tried to calm down. She had never seen her friend so distressed.

  Tandy had come to Seattle straight from her trip to India to see an old friend, but, as her friend had a last-minute meeting for work, Tandy had decided to mooch around the city. She loved Seattle and always went there for a week or two to bookend a bigger trip. When she had seen Elli, of all people, sitting in that café and looking as unhappy as she’d ever seen her, she had been astonished.

  Now, though, worry was the only emotion she could feel. Elli, despite her natural beauty, looked drawn, ill, pale, and thin. Tandy made her sip her scotch as she waited for Elli to explain herself. Eventually, Elli told her about Indio, about his anger, about fucking him, about her guilt, and about things with Aldo going downhill …fast.

  When she had told Tandy everything, Elli rubbed her eyes, sighing. “I’m a mess, Tand.”

  Tandy blew out her cheeks. “Look, Els, let’s get to the crux of this. There are two men, both of whom you say you love. Both hate each other. Both have said pretty vicious things about each other. Both of whom have, and correct me if I’m wrong, been aggressive towards you.”

  “Indio wasn’t aggressive towards me. He was just trying to …”

  “Stop making excuses for Indio. He behaved appallingly. Didn’t you say he came at you—that the sex between you wasn’t lovemaking, but almost violent? And what happened with Aldo on the plane? Wasn’t that the same thing?”

  Slowly, Elli shook her head.

  “Why not?” Tandy was amazed, and Elli dragged a shaky breath into her lungs.

  “Because I wanted Indio to fuck me and I didn’t care how he did it. He could have taken me at knifepoint and I would have still wanted him. I remember every single second of it, Tandy, and it’s like heaven to me. Even with what happened afterward.”

  Tandy stared at her in dismay. “You’re never going to get over him, are you?”

  “It’s why I feel so hopeless,” Elli muttered. “And now that it’s affecting how I feel about Aldo …”

  Tandy chewed her bottom lip. “Els, can I be brutally honest?”

  “Please, please do be. I need a kick in the butt.”

  Tandy sighed. “I think you need more than that, darling. I think you need to break things off with Aldo and get some space from both of them. Go back to work, do your thing, and be you again. Don’t fuck Indio again. At least not while you get your head together. If he wants you, he’ll come get you once he knows you’re not with Aldo, and then you’ll know for sure.”

  Elli listened to her friend, and Tandy could see her shoulders easing and the tension fading. “You’re right. You’re right. God, of course that’s what I should do. Space. “

  Tandy’s cell phone rang. “Excuse me, bub. Yeah, hey, Jess.” She listened as her caller spoke. “Well, sure …I do have another friend with me …Elliana Moretti.” She listened, then laughed and handed Elli her phone. “Someone wants a word.”

  Eli took the phone. “It’s a damn small world, Elli Moretti,” Jess Storm said, and Elli laughed.

  “Yes, yes, it is.”

  Jess met them a half hour later, hugging them both, her lovely face lighting up as she greeted them. “Two of my favorite people,” she said as she sat down, and Elli felt a rush of warmth. She’d only met Jess once, but she had formed an instant bond with the other woman. Jess Storm was a stunningly beautiful woman, with big, brown eyes, long chestnut hair pulled up in a scrappy, messy, sexy ponytail, and jeans and a t-shirt that were her obvious choice of uniform. A tomboy, Elli thought with a smile. Just like me and Tandy.

  Jess tucked her legs up under her as she took a sip of soda. Tandy ribbed her gently about not drinking, and Jess flushed. Tandy gawked at her. “You’re not?”

  “Ssh, I’m not supposed to be telling anyone yet. I’m not even three months. We haven’t even told Lily yet.” Jess grinned widely. “It was an accident. We hadn’t planned to h
ave any more—we were happy with Lily Bean. But now …god, I cannot wait to see him or her.”

  She suddenly studied Elli’s face. “Hey, are you okay? You look a little stressed out.”

  Elli smiled. “I’m okay. Just jetlagged.”

  Tandy gave a noise of disgust. “Elli, we’re all friends here. Tell her.”

  Stammering slightly, and first asking Jess to keep it to herself, Elli told her an edited version of what she had told Tandy.

  Jess frowned. “Indio? Are you talking about Indio Navaro?”

  Elli’s eyes opened wide. “Yes …jeez, it is a small world. How do you know Indio?”

  Jess’s eyes were warm. “He’s good friend. A very, very good friend. He built our house out in the San Juan’s a couple of years ago. He became a part of our family …oh gosh, I just realized.”

  “What?”

  Jess squeezed her hand. “You must be her …he would talk about his great love and how he broke her heart—and his own—when he had to go away. He said it was his only regret.”

  Elli felt her throat close. “He did?”

  Jess nodded. “I can always see it in him, Elli. He carries you with him, in his heart and soul.”

  Elli could feel the tears threatening. “He doesn’t want me now, Jess. He made that very clear.”

  Jess studied her, then shared a look with Tandy, who nodded. “Elli, I have a confession. You may think that because we invited you and Aldo both to come see us that we’re close friends of his. Elli …we’re not. We only know Aldo very slightly, and mostly from what Indio has told us. It’s you I wanted to see again, so I asked Theo to extend the invitation to both of you. I wanted to talk to you, and I didn’t want Aldo to grow suspicious.”

  Elli stared at her. “Jess, you’re scaring me.”

  Jess took her hand. “Sweetheart, listen. I know something or two about dangerous men.” She pulled up her t-shirt and, with horror, Elli saw a mass of silvery, jagged scars on Jess’s belly. “Courtesy of my now-deceased step-brother.” Jess dropped her shirt. “I never underestimate a man’s propensity for violence. I know that might sound melodramatic, but I had to put a bullet in Jules’ head, or he would have killed me and Theo and Lily, while she was still inside me. Indio told me about Yvetta.”