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The party ell underway, and the ornate and iuests—so circuit, and others whose faces he knew only froazines At the foot of the wide staircase that swept down froallery a raised platfor beauties with Perspex electric violins prowled and writhed around two cars

The Ca the forthco unveiled to the public for the first ti perfection, its paintwork glittered in the light of the chandeliers like polished emeralds, and its sleek lines were re, predatory beast

But it was the other one that people had gathered to look at The obscene lump of distorted metal that had once been a car and had nearly been his coffin

Whether I like it is irrelevant,‘ Cristiano said tonelessly, dragging his gaze away from itEveryone else seems to be fascinated‘

With a hiss of scarlet satin Suki turned, looking at him from under lashes that were too thick and black to be realThey‘re glad that you‘re back, that‘s all,‘

she said throatily, reaching up to straighten his collar unnecessarilyYou‘re a hero Everyone re it ho you are to have come back from it‘

Herwith the despair that lodged there, choking him Everyone reht thathe was, it would never come back

He knocked back a slug of chane It had cost Silvio a fortune, but to him it tasted like battery acid

I‘m not back yet‘

But you will be,‘ Suki purred, trailing a scarlet-tipped finger down the silk lapel of his dinner jacketYou were three tiet a couple of races—a couple of wins—under your belt I know it must be hard—‘

With a ust Cristiano broke away froh his hair Apart from Francine Fournier, Suki was the only person who knew about his memory loss, but even she had no idea about the flashbacks and the panic attacks and the palpitations that plagued hi

You don‘t know the half of it,‘ he said bitterly

Below the as he shook hands with the men and kissed the woh heels In a uests would disperse into the adjoining salons and take their places at the ga tables to play poker and roulette Suki‘s the had been decided apparently without irony, and the guests were looking forward to celebrating Cristiano‘s return by ga with Campano money

For hiher

I‘m here for you—you know that,‘ Suki said in a low voiceIf there‘s anything—‘

The twenty-four hours before the crash,‘ he interrupted through tightly gritted teethTell ain What happened?‘

She stiffened slightly, and suddenly her perfectly made-up face was as hard and expressionless as a Venetianmore‘

Cristiano‘s gaze was inexorably pulled back to the shredded metal and blackened paintwork of the ruined car

Again,‘ he said with lethal softness

He heard her give the hYou qualified in pole position So Water to interview you and I took her to the press suite to wait for you while you went back to have a shower and rest‘ Her tone was nonchalant, al were co a party on a yacht, sothat you irl by seven and gone home soon afterwards‘

What about the next ?‘

Suki picked an iht red satin dressNormal race day routine You arrived at the track—‘

According to the newspapers I missed the drivers‘ parade‘

Maybe you were a bit late‘ Suki shruggedFour years is a long time I can‘t remember exactly what happened that day—none of it seemed to matter compared to what came afterwards‘

The throbbing in his head intensified Thetheir hips and their bowsCristiano‘s gaze flickered restlessly over all of the for someone in particular

Was I alone?‘