Page 10

Rain squeezed his phone and stared at nothing.

He was on his five-minute break between scenes.

Ballet was ballet. He would learn his routine quickly.

These performances had nothing on the steps he had to learn for his second career.

Those were true dances. Beautiful art designed by Shadow and him.

Rain leaned against the wall. Dancers stretched and twirled.

Did he still love this place? Yes. Did he want another year-long run doing eight shows a week?

No. As much as Rain hated to admit it, no.

His gaze swept the room. When had he gotten so much older than everyone around him?

He had survived this game way longer than dancers typically did.

Honestly, Rain couldn’t believe they still hired him for these parts.

Before his surgery, he had fully believed he would keep at this until they tossed him from the building.

After six weeks of being nonstop pampered by Austen, he didn’t feel the same.

There was something he loved more. Plus, it wasn’t like Rain would never dance again.

He found music in everything he did. Not to mention, he had Shadow.

If he wanted, he could call Kylo. He didn’t have to stop enjoying this thing he loved.

Today, this didn’t feel like love or joy.

It felt like an exhausting chore standing in the way of those things.

Austen wanted to hold him every night. Rain wanted that too.

He just wasn’t sure Austen was ready for what that might look like.

Rain wasn’t sure he could leave his brothers.

They would all be more vulnerable. He didn’t know what to do.

Music filled the air, signaling their return to rehearsal.

Rain twisted his phone between his hands.

It was now or never. If he stayed, Rain might never walk away.

He loved this place too much. Rain needed advice.

Yet he also knew he needed to make this decision alone or he would have someone to blame if he regretted it. Goddamn it.

Rain: Are you home? I need to talk to you.

Edge: Yeah. You know I’m always here for you.

He knew. That was why Rain couldn’t leave his family, but he had heard the longing and fear when Austen admitted to never wanting to sleep apart.

Austen would never bring it up again. Rain already knew that.

That was who Austen was. He would never complain or guilt Rain.

Austen would simply accept whatever scraps Rain gave him.

Rain wanted Austen to have everything. He had said this was real, and he meant it. Now was the time to prove it.

Without saying a word or looking back, Rain grabbed his bag and headed for the door. He almost made his escape.

Shadow appeared at his side and linked arms with him. “So it’s over, huh?”

Horror raced through Rain. “No. You don’t have to go with me. You still have all the years of dance you want left in you.”

A sweet smile flashed Rain’s way. “No, I don’t. I’ve only stayed because you do. It’s always been us with you leading the way. Honestly, I’m ready to go home.”

It had never occurred to Rain that Shadow stayed on stage for him. Shadow was two years younger than him, but that was still old as far as dancers went. It seemed he had been selfish. That ended tonight.

“My feet hurt.”

A loud bark of laughter burst from Shadow at Rain’s admission. “Mine too.”

They shared a smile. It was time to go home. Rain had a feeling it was long overdue.

The house felt empty as hell without Rain.

Austen had made a few house calls. He had paced the floor.

His mind never stopped stewing over what Rain did at every given moment.

Likely, he worked himself to death. He overdid it like he hadn’t been down for six weeks.

Austen felt that in his spirit. There was nothing he could do, though.

That was just Rain, and Austen loved him exactly as he was.

The phone Austen held like a lifeline finally buzzed.

Austen raced to open his messages. He smiled at the sight of Rain’s name.

Relief poured through him. Maybe it was foolish, but a small part of him half expected to never hear from Rain again.

If that happened, he knew Rain would be out of his reach with his brothers looking out for him.

That wouldn’t stop Austen. He would just likely end up dead.

It was possible Austen shouldn’t have mentioned Rain staying in his bed every night from now on.

Admittedly, he had danced around saying the actual words that he wanted them living together.

Still, Rain wasn’t dumb, but he might have run scared.

That had been a genuine fear the entire day.

Rain: If you’re bored and/or not too busy, you should come to the dance studio.

Austen didn’t need to be told twice. He was on his feet in an instant, grabbing his keys and finding his shoes.

The drive to where Rain’s small private dance studio was on the other side of town felt like it took forever.

He didn’t even realize he had forgotten to turn on the radio until he pulled into the parking lot.

Only a black van sat outside. Austen tried not to race to the door like an over eager idiot.

It was hard, but he measured his pace. He was more than a little grateful when the door easily opened.

Austen resented anything between him and Rain.

His steps slowed the moment he stepped inside.

In the middle of the dance floor, back-to-back, Rain was in all white while Shadow wore all black.

They each wore virtual reality glasses. Austen couldn’t look away.

They moved perfectly in sync. Whatever Rain did, Shadow did in reverse.

It looked as if Rain ducked, slipping beneath whatever he saw inside his glasses.

Shadow bent over backwards, staying perfectly glued and mimicking every move.

They were amazing. He was enthralled. The talent they possessed was unlike anything he had ever seen.

Whereas Rain was blond and light in every way, Shadow was dark.

They were the same size. Almost identical.

They each used the other’s back for balance and strength.

It also helped to keep time with each other and maneuver their virtual world.

He didn’t want to look away, but he couldn’t ignore the rest of the room.

Tracker sat behind a laptop, giving the occasional order. He looked up and saw Austen. Tracker gave him a quick smile before going back to staring at the screen. Pairs of the brothers sat around the perimeter with their heads together, going over what looked to be schematics.

Edge appeared at his side with his own set of plans. “Hey there. Feel free to speak. You won’t bother them. They’re wearing noise-canceling earpieces. All they hear is Tracker.”

Austen shook his head. He couldn’t look away from the pair on the dance floor. “They can’t even hear each other?”

Edge’s dark gaze stayed locked on the papers he held.

“They don’t need to. They can feel each other.

Now, Rain tells me you two briefly discussed living together.

” That brought Austen’s head whipping around.

Edge still didn’t look his way. “It’s not safe for Rain to leave the family.

” Edge finally focused on him. “He would. Rain would leave us for you. But I’m asking you to consider an alternative. ”

Austen was so blown away, he didn’t know what to say or how to react. He couldn’t believe Rain had told Edge they talked about moving in together. They hadn’t, but that was what Austen wanted. It was obvious Rain didn’t intend to ignore Austen’s hints.

Edge kept talking like Austen wasn’t reeling.

“Obviously, we can’t have patients showing up at our house.

That’s a security nightmare. However, we have a few supply buildings.

” He moved even closer and showed Austen the paper he held.

“This one is the closest and easiest to convert to an office slash surgical facility. We could have it finished in no time, if you’d be willing to live with us instead.

Let us keep Rain safe. You safe. He loves you.

That’s a weakness that can be exploited. Just think about it.”

Austen had nothing. He had never considered leaving his home behind to live in a compound with a bunch of professional assassins.

Hearing Edge say Rain loved him was hard to see past. He couldn’t think of anything else.

Not only had Rain admitted to loving him, but he had told his family too.

It was humbling in a way he had never experienced.

These people were dangerous. His gaze slid toward the dance floor.

In perfect harmony, a knife appeared in both hands of each man.

They spun in flawless time, taking down invisible targets.

It was the first time he had seen Rain as the killer he was.

He didn’t know what it said about him that he thought that shit was sexy as hell.

Definitely nothing good, he was sure. That didn’t stop him from seriously considering Edge’s suggestion.

He didn’t know if he could give up the quiet privacy he enjoyed now.

His gaze followed Rain’s every move. He didn’t know what to do, but he knew he couldn’t lose Rain. No matter what it took.