Page 51 of Ashes

I glance up at Victor, who’s smiling at me.

Maybe we can win this thing.

Or at least catch Gianni’s attention.

A man starts toward me, and he reaches out for my leg.

Victor’s fingers curl around the man’s wrist before he can touch me. The man winces, and I guess Victor’s grip is really tight.

“No one touches my wife except for me,” Victor says.

“I apologize.” The man withdraws his hand when Victor lets go of him. “You’re a lucky man.”

As the man leaves, Victor wraps his arms around me and pulls me close, shielding me from everyone.

As if they haven’t seen all of me already.

But it feels nice anyway.

We’re no longer performing.

It’s someone else’s turn now.

Victor’s lips brush the top of my head.

“We only have one more thing to do, right?” I ask.

“Yeah, I think so.”

Good.

We’re getting closer to our goal.

***

“THAT WAS ACTUALLY REALLYfun,” I say with a grin once we’re back home.

“Yeah.” Victor is smiling too, and it’s a beautiful sight.

It’s a genuine smile.

One that spreads across his face and fills his eyes.

It feels real.

“Victor.” A cold voice cuts through the air.

Victor’s mask falls back in place in seconds.

“Go to your room,” he says to me.

I glance at his father who’s standing in the corner of the living room with an unreadable expression on his face.

Yeah, I don’t like that man at all.

As I head to my room, I only have one wish.

I don’t want that icy cold man to take my Victor away.