Page 51 (1/2)

As he stood in the kitchen he cursed He’d removed all the alcohol, with the exception of a couple of bottles of white wine reserved for Julianne But ould not satisfy his craving Not tonight

No, tonight he desired Scotch The sue, the quick burn in his mouth and throat, the latent warmth that would spread to his insides

Just one I just need one

But it was no use The Scotch was gone

Gabriel thought of Julianne, upstairs in his bed She was sleeping peacefully, unaware of the deued hih the twelve steps of Narcotics Anonyreater than myself can restore me

Help n of the cross, his soul desperate and conflicted

He knew that the keys to the Mercedes were steps away He knew that he could drive to a local tavern and drink Julia was sleeping soundly He could return to their bed afterward and she would never know

His eyes opened

He reached for the keys

Chapter Thirty-two

Gabriel?” Julia’s voice floated out to where he was seated on the balcony

He was in a dark corner, brooding He could hear her feet padding across the tiled floor and through the open doors as she approached hiarette he held in one of his hands and the drink in the other

“Nothing” He placed the cigarette to his lips and inhaled slowly before turning his face to the sky and blowing the smoke heavenward

“You don’t sars”

She looked frolass in ri”

“There isn’t any”

“I know that,” he growled “The house is bereft of alcohol except for wine”

“Only white You prefer red” Her eyebrows knitted together “Did you go looking?”

“What if I did?” he snapped

Julia began chewing at her bottoarette in the ashtray and reached up, pressing his thuainst her arette, turning away from her

Silence stretched between them, an iht, Gabriel”

“Wait” He placed a hand to her hip, pressing into the gauzy whiteness of her nightgown “I need to ask you soht and you’re asking about rim “Please”

She pushed her hair back from her face “I’m healthy I have low blood pressure and I tend to have low iron levels, so I take a supplement”

“I didn’t know that”