Sex to Georgio over the years had become visual; he liked to enact blue movie sequences with women, liked to see them enjoy themselves as much as he was. Not make love like Donna wanted, with the mattress under her back and words of love whispered constantly. Sex to Donna was a reassurance of his love for her. He had known that for a long time. He had climbed from his bed some mornings with a raging hard-on and had left her there, wanting him, because he enjoyed the power he had over her. Now, though, Donna had the power. The power to get him out, the power to get his money and the power to call the shots. Until he was out of here, that was. Once he was free he could do what he wanted, and he would. He needed Donna to get his money because she was the only person in the world he could really trust.

His Donna, the most trustworthy of wives.

But Georgio, being a realist, knew he could never, ever trust himself. And Donna wanted him to want only her, and after all this was over she would demand his allegiance, feel she had earned it even, and Georgio knew he could never promise that to anyone. Not even Vida.

Not even to himself.

Donna couldn’t sleep; the day’s events had thrown her off balance. She sat in Georgio’s office, a cigarette and a glass of whisky her only companions. She sipped the burning liquid, enjoying the bite as it hit her throat and belly.

Meeting Eric had really shown her what she had let herself in for. She had looked at Alan and Anthony, listened to their easy talk, their easy acceptance of what was to happen, and real fear had enveloped her. Eric was right. Could she live with the constant thought of a knock on the door? Of a police raid? Could she live as a fugitive? She knew instinctively that Georgio could, she had few illusions left about her husband. All that was left, all that was certain, was her deep-seated love for him, a love he had ensnared long ago and which had grown over the years.

She stood up and walked to the window. Glimpsing the car parked to the left of the driveway, she knew that she was still being watched and the knowledge depressed her even more. Once the house was sold and they were off, would this become a way of life? Would they be watched constantly, would they ever know peace? Would Georgio be able to sleep easy in bed only because he knew hired help was watching his house for him? Would she be able to sleep knowing that? Would Donald Lewis find them or the police? Had Georgio told her everything or were there other people he had to watch out for, as if Donald Lewis and the police weren’t enough?