Page 41 of Dance of Devils

“Say it again and maybe it’ll sound truer.”

He turns to glare at me. “How’s taking your clothes off for money going?”

“Okay,cheap shot,” I mutter with a grin, raising a middle finger as he chuckles.

This is part of our strange dynamic. We’re each other’s secret-keepers. I haven’t wanted to tell anyone about my stripping, but I’ve told Roman because I guess I just knowI can.

Roman sighs. “Fuck, that was low. Sorry, I don’t know why I said that.”

I lift my shoulders. “All good.”

We end up having one more drink each, then he offers to drive me home. I ask if he can give me a lift to the Mercury instead, claiming I left some stuff there.

I hit the ladies' room before we head out, and groan at the text from Diego.

Diego

Talked to the new forensics guy. He’s actually $17k, and he’s booking up fast. If we want him, I need to get him half his fee in the next couple of days.

Ugh.

I decide to file that under “shit I’m not going to deal with right now” and step out of the restroom. Somehow, in the four minutes I was gone, Roman’s managed to get some drunk, giggly girl on his arm.

“Brook, this is Sandy.”

“Mandy,” the girl laughs, turning to slap his firm chest playfully.

I give Roman a “Seriously?” look. He just shrugs.

“Look, why don’t you guys hang out,” I smile at them. “I’ll grab my own ride?—”

“Nah, c’mon.”

Roman insists on driving me to the theater. The only reason I agree to get in the car with him is that even though he’s had some drinks, he’s alsohuge, and doesn’t seem intoxicated at all.

I slip into the back seat of his Mercedes G-Wagon, with Mandy-or-Sandy up front, nibbling on his neck the whole drive there.

“Thank for the lift,” I say after I get out at the theater, talking to him through his window.

“Any time, dude,” he grins.

I arch a brow, looking past him to where Mandy is taking selfies in the passenger seat. I exhale slowly. “Be…true to yourself, Roman.”

I couldn’t have Roman drive me to a parked car. But I also wanted to come to the Mercury because Idefinitelyneed to shower, and I didn't want to at work because Lou was giving off extra predatory vibes.

Also, I've sobered up enough and wouldn’t mind getting some extra practice in. I’m shortlisted with theImperiya Korona, and have my callback in a month or two with Liliya Rostova and Ivan Yelchin when they come back to New York.

I quickly rinse off, change into dance clothes, and head to the studio. I keep the overhead fluorescents off, only flicking on the low floor lights around the perimeter, bathing the room in a warm glow. I sink into a stretch on the floor, trying to clear my mind completely. Then I stand and approach the barre.

“You don’t work a temp job in that building.”

I almost jump out of my skin, a choked gasp sticking in my throat as I whirl toward the dark figure standing in the doorway.

Heat pulses in my core as Kir slips into the room, his eyes locked on mine.

“That’s thelasttime you lie to me, Ms. Ellis.”

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