“Your husband is a lucky man. He has you, and this room.” He grinned and took a mouthful of gentleman’s nectar. “I imagine there are only three others like it.” He referred to the other three corners of the building.

Genevieve took the other chair. “Actually there is only one other opposite this in the front of the building.”

“Where’s Ed tonight?”

“Who cares?” Genevieve let the alcohol loosen her guard. “But he would be upset if he found us in here.” She covered her mouth to hold the liquor inside, laughter threatened to release it.

“You married the wrong man.” Tom rolled the ember of his cigar in an oval obsidian dish and avoided her eyes.

Genevieve opened a window to let some of the smoke out and the sound of traffic filled the room. She stared at the stars. “There are some things I would have done differently. But everyone can say that.” She turned around. “Want another?”

“I have to drive.”

“Don’t be silly, Charles can take you home.” Genevieve began hacking at the half-thawed lump of ice in the sink.

Her shriek brought Tom from his seat to her side.

“Oh Christ!” Tom stepped back like he could erase what he had just seen. “Oh Christ Genevieve!”

Three fingers, all severed past the second knuckle, looked like they were crawling out of their glacial prison.

Three women shared wine on a tiled patio overlooking the rocks of Faraglioni. They held their champagne glasses together, the bond between them evident. All hands that held the Riedel stemware were deformed, missing an index finger from the second joint. The ceremony didn’t last long. Vicki and Rachel left the suite carrying a Louis Vuitton satchel in each hand. Twenty million for each of them.

A car took the surgeon from a private airstrip to the docks where she boarded a hydrofoil to the island of Capri. I am free, she thought. My husband is in prison and a divorce is forthcoming.

Veronica met Genevieve at the door of the suite with two glasses of champagne. “Finally, it’s just you and me.”

Genevieve took a glass and kissed her lover’s hand. “Yes, I never liked sharing.”