After I Fall (Immortal Billionaires #1) - Melissa Sercia Page 0,59

from his terrace. The doorman recognized me and made no attempt to stop me as I raced to the elevator and hit the button to Ozi’s floor. Before the doors slid open I could hear the commotion. It sounded like a party. There was music, bottles clanking, and multiple female voices. A pit of dread sat in my stomach. I hesitated at his door, contemplating turning around and going home. But my curiosity got the best of me. That and the familiar feeling of jealousy. That same feeling I had when I heard the female laughter on the other side of Alex’s office door. I was going to be sick.

I twisted the doorknob and to my surprise, it opened. I almost fell over as I took in the room. Naked women stretched and bent over his furniture, empty liquor bottles, white powder on the glass coffee table, and some chubby pant less guy hovering over the women. The guy was so strung out he didn’t even notice me standing there.

“Where’s Ozi?” I said louder than I’d planned.

The guy and all three women froze and turned their sights on me. “He’s not here. You should leave.” The man’s gaze trailed upward toward the second floor.

I started toward it and he jumped in front of me. “Look, you don’t want to go up there.”

I avoided looking down at his erection and kept my eyes on his face. “Get out of my way.” I tried to push past him but he blocked me. “Ozi,” I yelled.

The guy grabbed me by the shoulders and nudged me back. “He’s busy. Seriously, leave. You don’t belong here right now.”

“Take your hands off me or I’ll scream.”

Heavy footsteps raced forward, landing at the top of the stairs. Ozi stood there, fully dressed, but disheveled. “Raven. What are you doing here?”

I jerked away from the guy and folded my arms. “I came to talk to you about us. To tell you how I feel. I didn’t realize you were throwing a sex party.”

Ozi ran a trembling hand through his thick black wavy locks. “I’m not. It’s not what it looks like. I mean it is, but it’s not my party. I just walked in on this. I swear.”

“This is your house, Ozi. Do you think I’m that stupid?” I was furious and humiliated and shaking so hard my teeth were chattering.

“I can explain. Charlie uses my place sometimes. Look, let’s go somewhere else and we can talk.” He started down the stairs when a lingerie clad brunette emerged from behind him and draped an arm around his neck. “Come back to bed, baby.”

It was as if the air had been sucked out of the room. My chest constricted and I clutched my neck. “Oh, I have seen enough. That,” I pointed to the woman, “explains everything. I’m done letting you lie to me.”

“Raven, wait. I’ve done nothing with this woman. You have to believe me.” He shoved the woman away, sending her a seething look at the same time. “Just wait, please.”

Everything in my heart was hardening all over again, filling the cracks that he had managed to pry open. I wasn’t just breaking; I was freefalling into a dark abyss where my emotions couldn’t find me. Where love could no longer find me. “Camille was right. You betrayed me just as you betrayed her. I never should have trusted you.”

I spun on my heel and leapt toward the door before he could catch up with me. Running, I slid into the elevator and frantically hit the button to close the doors. I could hear him calling out my name behind me. I caught one last glimpse of his dark eyes right before the elevator doors slid closed.

I ran as fast as I could up Fifth Avenue, skidding every few feet as the rain poured down around me. In the near distance I could hear Ozi calling out my name. It was only a matter of time before he caught up with me. He was fast and my legs were starting to ache.

My apartment was too far to run to. I’d have to hail a cab or jump on the subway. But he’d no doubt follow me there. I needed to go somewhere he wouldn’t find me. But where? I couldn’t face him tonight. Maybe not ever. I knew from the start he was a player. I let him convince me he wanted to change. He told me I was different. Now I knew that was just a