Page 76 of Steal My Heart

The mayor is focused on pressing his keys, and I quickly rise and dart behind him. Tapping him on the shoulder, he turns to where I was just seated, realizing I’m gone, and the music stops.

The crowd erupts with laughter as I’m now seated on the other side, and I run my knuckles down the length of the piano.

Lightening fast, I grab his phone and slip it in my pocket before moving both hands back to the piano, continuing my own version of chopsticks.

I finish out my bluesy tune, and the crowd goes wild.

“Thank you, Mr. Mayor, for being a good sport. I’ll hand this over to you if you’d like to say a few words to your supporters.”

He accepts the mic, and I go to slip offstage, but he grabs my hand. “Let’s give another round of applause to our entertaining pianist. What’s your name?”

Oh shit.

I snatch the microphone, wagging my finger. “This is a masquerade party, Mr. Mayor, and what happens at the inaugural party stays at the inaugural party.” The crowd whistles boisterously. “Have a little fun. Get into a little trouble—all legal, of course.” The audience playfully boos. “But above all,laissez les bon temps roul.” I wave to the cheering crowd before passing off the mic and hustling off the stage.

My heart’s pounding a mile a minute as I make it backstage, only to run into a pissed off band leader.

“What the hell was that?” He gets in my face.

I cross my arms.. “My moment in the sun, and I took it.”

“We ain’t got room in this band for divas. You’re out.” He points to me.

I would argue, but this is my escape handed to me on a silver platter. “Whatever.” I storm past him and out the back door.

My next hurdle appears, blocking my path.

“Ma’am, I’m going to need to see some ID,” the police officer says.

“I’m in the band.” I flash him Devon’s lanyard, keeping my breathing steady. “It’s a break, and I need to run to my car real quick to grab a cigarette.”

“I’ve got you.” He reaches into his back pocket and pulls out a pack.

Ugh!

“Look, I didn’t want to say it, but I need a tampon because I’ve started my period and it’s like Niagara Falls down there.”

With a squeamish look, he motions me along.

There are officers swarming the front of the building, so I hurry down to the river walk.

A triumphant smile spreads across my face as I do a little happy dance. I freaking did it!

But the good times don’t roll nearly long enough; a man dressed in a tux and party mask appears, blocking my escape. He’s familiar, but I can’t quite place him.

“Ms. Landry.”

My skin prickles. I remember that voice.

“There’s been a change of plans. Give me the item you took from the mayor, and I’ll pass it along to Mr. Calvani.”

Angelo and I never discussed a third party being involved, and my gut is telling me this man is lying. “I don’t know what you’re talking about,” I say in my most Cajan accent. “Excuse me.”

I go to pass him, but he grabs my wrist, jerking my body to his. A gun barrel is positioned against my temple. “I’ll say it just one more time. Give me what you stole from the mayor.”

Reaching into my pocket, my shaky hand holds out a tube of lip gloss. “Turns out the mayor’s lips aren’t naturally lustrous.”

He rips the lip gloss from my hand and chucks it into the Mississippi River. His threat is wordlessly empathized with theclickof the gun’s safety.