The Ninth Time He Left

I remembered the file Maria had compiled for me.

Three years ago, the reason Isak and Julia never got together was because she'd met Sandro, a man with more power than Isak.

She'd left Isak for Sandro, spending three years in New York with him. The only reason she was back now was because Sandro's family wouldn't let him marry her. They'd had a huge fight, so she'd come running back to her ex, hoping Isak would marry her as a final 'fuck you' to Sandro.

After a long hesitation, I grabbed my car keys, the wound in my side throbbing.

I didn't know what I expected to see. Maybe I just needed to see him risk his life for another woman one last time. Maybe that would finally kill the last bit of hope I had left.

Russian Roulette. The cruelest duel. One bullet in a six-shooter. They take turns until someone's dead. Sandro was arrogant and brutal. Isak wouldn't stand a chance.

I had just reached the parking garage when a black Bentley blocked my path. Julia got out, that sickeningly smug smile on her face.

"Leona. Where are you off to in such a hurry?"

"Move, Julia," I said, trying to get to my car.

"Going to save your husband?" she scoffed. "You think he needs saving?"

I stopped. "What do you mean?"

"When Isak accepted the challenge, do you know what he said?" Julia lit a slim cigar. "He said, 'For Julia, I'd do anything.'"

"He's insane. Sandro will kill him."

"Maybe," Julia said, blowing out a puff of smoke. "But that's love, Leona. Your husband is willing to die for another woman."

The words stabbed me in the chest.

"And you?" she continued. "You're what, still licking your wounds in a hospital?"

"You fucking bitch…" I clenched my fists.

"Easy, Leona. Just stating facts." Julia blocked my path. "Besides, I want to try a little experiment."

She plucked my phone from my hand and dialed Isak's number before I could react.

"Julia, what the—"

She held a finger to her lips, putting the call on speaker.

It rang a few times before he picked up.

"Leona?" Isak's voice was distant, muffled by the sound of a crowd.

Julia looked at me and nodded, prompting me to speak.

"Isak, I heard you're at the Calabria club…"

"I'm busy right now, Leona," he said, his tone impatient. "Whatever it is, we can talk when I get home."

Julia leaned in and whispered in my ear, "Tell him you were attacked. That you're dying."

I hesitated, but then I said it. "Isak, I was just attacked, and now…"

"What?" His voice sharpened. "Are you okay?"

My heart sped up. Maybe he did care.

"It's bad. I might need…"

"Leona, whatever's happening, you need to hang on," Isak cut me off. "But I really can't leave right now. There's something important I have to handle. Get to a hospital. I'll be there later."

Julia gave me a victorious smile.

"Isak, that game is dangerous, you can't…"

"Leona, I told you, I'm busy!" His voice was ragged with irritation. "God, you always call at the worst possible time. I'm hanging up. We'll talk later."

Click.

He hung up.

The air was still, the only sound the distant traffic.

Julia slowly handed my phone back. "Did you hear that, Leona? Your husband thinks your life is less important than his game for me."

I took the phone. It felt like it weighed a thousand pounds.

"This is reality," Julia said, patting my shoulder. "Isak chose to die for me, not to live for you."

I wanted to argue. I wanted to say he was just being impulsive, that he still loved me somewhere deep down. But the phone call said it all.

Between "Leona is in mortal danger" and "Russian Roulette for Julia," he didn't hesitate.

My hand, which had been raised to argue, fell limply to my side. I looked at Julia's triumphant face and whispered, "You win."