Page 169 of Lethal Torture

He’s gone,I think dully.I’ve lost him.And now I have to see this through.

I asked for this. I wanted it. My reputation was built on nights like these.

But despite knowing that going back out onstage will cement my legend, every nerve in my body is screaming at me not to do it.

“Ready?” Shelby tucks my robe artfully around me, casting a covetous glance at the throne. I know how much she loves being Queen. If getting turned on by the performance is something new to me, for Shelby, that stage is her greatest aphrodisiac. I’ve seen her orgasm from nothing more than the touch of eyes in the crowd once she’s on that throne.

I close my eyes briefly, trying not to betray the tension racing through my body.

You can do this, Zin.

Then a large hand closes over my shoulder, and a familiar voice speaks with the low, calm command that makes my stomach curl with wanting.

“I need to get Zin out of here. Shelby, you’re going to have to take over.”

I wonder if I’m the only one who can hear the faint growl behind Luke’s words, sense the hard tension in his body.

Because I canfeelhis barely restrained savagery.

In the lightning swiftness with which he plucks the comms from my ear.

In the bear paw holding me in place.

In the spicy, fresh heat so close I can fucking taste him.

“What’s happened?” Rocco looks around as if someone could come at us any minute. “Is there an active threat?”

I keep my eyes down. I don’t want anyone to see into them, especially my staff.

“It’s neutralized,” Luke says. “It’s just Zin who needs to get out of here.” He looks at Shelby again. “Can you take her place?”

“Of course.” Shelby doesn’t attempt to hide her delight. Her eyes cut to me. “But are you sure—is this okay—?”

“It’s not up to her.” Luke thrusts my bag into my arms and lifts me out of the throne as if I’m a paperweight. He sets me on my feet, then tightens the belt of my robe so I’m covered. “It’s a security issue.” He gives Shelby a small, reassuring smile. “Make this work, Shelby. I know you can.” He wraps an arm around me, edging me toward the door. “Oh, and Rocco,” he throws over his shoulder, a hint of laughter in his voice. “I have a special assignment for you. Mak’s VIP booth, woman in the silver mask.”

“Si?”Rocco’s face brightens. “I go now.”

“Christ,” says Paddy dryly from behind Luke. “You’re sending him to thehome secretary?”

“It will be the best night of her life.” Luke cups my head against his chest, the rumble of his laughter vibrating sweetly through me. “And you’ve got point on security, Paddy, but I want you to defer to Charlie’s judgment when it comes to our guests. She knows the crowd better than you.”

As he virtually carries me out of the room, I hear Charlie’s Cockney accent: “Hear that, you sweet piece of Irish clover? Shelby might be running the cocks on the floor tonight, but your ass is all mine, bitch.”

39

LUKE

I drive straightto my apartment, instead of hers.

I carry Zin into my apartment building, ignoring her protests entirely.

Picking her up is a mistake.

The silk robe is rich with her heady scent, and it barely covers the naked paradise I can picture all too clearly. It was bad enough when I hauled her out of the theater. After watching her seduce an entire crowd, the line between wanting to kill her and fucking lose myself in her is so blurred it’s nonexistent.

Carrying her into my apartment doesn’t help. The heat of her body burns through my suit. I don’t dare look directly at her. She’s tense and still in my arms, but at least she doesn’t fight me. I kick the door open and deposit her on a stool by the kitchen table. I turn away to make drinks, but mainly to get my shit together.

When I turn back, she’s staring at me. I put the table between us for safety and push a glass of Disaronno across to her.