STOLEN SMILE

CATERINA

"That was the beginning of the end of our thing."

-Anthony Casso

†*******†

"COME IN!"

The door of the penthouse on the twenty-second floor swung open, and Grace stood on the other side. I didn't believe that even someone who knew Grace would be able to guess what she would wear next.

Tonight, it was a small black dress with a hem cutting diagonally from one hip to the opposite knee. Tall red pumps. Fishnet stockings. Wavy hair that was half-up, tied in two knots on the top of her head, and no makeup. Really, she didn't need it.

"You're early!" she exclaimed. Her eyes shone a little too bright, her pupils too large. She was high. Cocaine, most likely.

"I've brought some bruschetta and seafood salad," Mamma said, moving into the kitchen with a tiny bowl of tomatoes while Bradley  struggled with everything else.

Audrey  and I stayed in the hallway, hesitating.

Why was Grace answering Jennifer's door?

A sliver of something unpleasant curled in my chest, and for a split second, I didn't like Grace. The feeling was so strong and sudden I had to inhale a breath to push it away.

It was an unreasonably jealous reaction I shouldn't have had, especially after yesterday. The problem was, I could still feel her hands on me, like I'd been branded for life. The only other women who'd gotten as close as Jennifer had a warm, gentle touch which faded to memory only seconds later. What I would give to reverse the two.

Audrey  stepped into the apartment, her eyes taking it all in. "So, this is going to be my prison cell."

Mamma gasped and spun around to shoot her a look. "Audrey !"

My sister walked further into the room with me following behind.

Grace laughed. "Thankfully, this prison comes with great amenities. I'll give you a tour!"

Apparently, Jennifer owned a few properties in New York and she'd chosen this one for Audrey . It wasn't as quaint or as homey as her red-brick house, but it was upscale in every meaning of the word.

It was modernly decorated, with white and silver marble floors, lots of glass tables and chrome finishes. The lighting was dim and romantic, twinkling off the wall of glass that showcased the city. It was breathtaking, but I knew my sister would hate it.

"I hate it," she said sourly, examining the view.

"Oh, come on," Bradley  responded, throwing an arm around her shoulder. "It ain't so bad. Look, it's even got a pool."

It did. The blue water lay still, the railing nothing but glass before a two-hundred-foot drop.

"If you like it so much, then you live here," Audrey  said.

"Don't think Jenn likes me like that."

A hint of a smile tugged at my sister's lips.

Grace and Mamma took the tour by themselves, my mother's "oohs" and "ahhs" drifting down the hallway. Nobody else had arrived yet, not even the groom.

She was probably planning to leave Audrey  here and to only show up when conjugal visits were necessary. My cousin Cici, who lived in Chicago, got the same fate. Though, she didn't despise it so much because she hated her husband.

With the thought of "conjugal visits" sticking around like a bad aftertaste, I decided I needed some alcohol. So I went in search of some.

My head was in the fridge when I heard her behind me.