Page 56 of Raine

Sniper lets out a full-bellied laugh. “I am not getting involved. Your secret is safe with me. In you go, ladies.”

He steps back and presses the remote in his hand to open the gate. We creep through and pull into my usual spot. Reaching behind me, I grab my mask for tonight and turn to Kenzi.

“Did you bring your mask?”

“Sure did.”

“Will he notice?”

“Not until it’s too late,” she sasses, and I chuckle.

“He is going to turn your pasty ass red.”

“Counting on it,” she says, winking and unbuckling her seatbelt.

I follow suit and exit the car. We walk the short distance to the door and I punch in the code to allow us entry. The red carpet under my feet feels soft, and there is a faint trickle of music to be heard before we open the door to Arcane.

Opening the door that leads into the club, I spot a few dancers on stage rehearsing. No other lights are on except for the one on stage.

The club is shrouded in darkness and shadows, sending a shiver down my spine. It feels so cold when it’s empty. One glance toward the hidden door behind the curtain that leads to our meeting room and to the dungeon where the stolen are kept — I know that’s the reason for the shiver.

I need to focus. I can’t help them right now, but soon enough, I will. I’ll make damn sure of it. Kenzi follows me through the club, weaving around random tables and chairs that the cleaner clearly didn’t stack away.

One job. One fucking job. It irks me more than usual. I scratch my arm again, and I know why. My body is craving the oblivion it needs to forget, to kill the incessant voices and chattering in my skull. But I won’t give in — not yet anyway.

I offer a wave to the dancers, my feet moving over the carpet until it weaves into hardwood flooring like I’m on autopilot. The lights twinkle and shine off the polished floor of the stage, catching my eyes before we descend the stairs behind them that leads to our dressing room.

I press in the code, and the door opens, granting us entry. We walk in, and my eyes immediately connect with Starr’s through the mirror. Her gaze darts to Kenzi, and then she looks away from us, something passing over her features that I can’t name. After I show Kenzi to a section where she can practice, my legs start moving toward Starr as if someone is controlling them.

I walk over the polished floor until I’m standing behind her. She’s sitting down at her dresser, the white globes around the mirror giving her skin an ethereal glow.

Her green eyes find mine once more, and I hold her stare, finding the emotion she was trying to hide earlier. She hadn’t intended on me finding her at the club; a sliver of shame reflects back at me, and I know that feeling all too well.

Placing my hand on her shoulder, her eyes follow the movement before landing on mine again. “Are you ok?”

Her mask falls briefly, but then she plasters that fake-ass smile she’s mastered so well back on her face, and it reminds me so much of myself. She nods, her faded emerald hair bobbing with the motion.

“Of course I am. Why wouldn’t I be?”

“Ummm… Are we really going to do this, Starr?”

She huffs out a breath and looks away from me, grabbing her brush to busy her hands. “Does it matter?”

“I’m your friend. Why didn’t you tell me you needed the money?” I ask, assuming that’s why she’s working two jobs.

She whirls around on me, anger slashing through her beautiful features, and I want to run my finger over the lines now sullying her face.

“You think I’m working two jobs because I need the money?” she scoffs. “Of course you do.”

My brows nosedive, and I look at her in confusion.

“Why else would you be working two jobs?”

“Because I have to.”

“Ok?”

“It doesn’t matter.”