Page 65 of Lovely Venom

“I’ll give you all the juicy details when the deed is done,” she sings.

“Do you really think he went for it?” Kenzie frowns.

“Who knows with that one.” Jackson shrugs.

“Okay.” I force some levity into my tone. “I need to go get ready.”

“I’ll come with,” Kenzie says.

“I’ll paint you, then I’m going to flirt with the bartender,” Jackson announces.

The three of us traipse back to the dressing room, and I do a quick costume change while Kenzie and Jackson gossip about the latest drama. Last week, it was a mysterious lipstick thief making the rounds. This week, two of the ensemble dancers realized they were both dating the same wealthy patron. It happened mid-act on a night they weren’t usually working together, and a fight broke out on stage. The patron tucked tail and ran, and Viktor ended up firing both women.

“Somehow, I always manage to miss the juicy stuff,” I remark.

“That’s the luxury of being a headliner,” Jackson teases. “You’re only here three nights a week, so I guess you’ll just have to live vicariously through us.”

“I’m good,” I grumble. “It’s not like I need another reminder of how disappointing humanity is.”

“Someone’s jaded.” Jackson grabs the body shimmer and starts painting me for the final act.

“I’ll own it.”

“Speaking of jaded…” Jackson launches into a story about his ex, getting so carried away my body ends up looking like a disco ball.

“I think we’re good, Jackson,” I interrupt him. “You can put down the shimmer.”

“Eh.” He sets the brush aside to assess me. “You can never have too much sparkle. It’s giving untouchable goddess in a gilded bath.”

“Every rich client’s fantasy,” Kenzie muses.

“Okay, well, my work here is done.” Jackson brushes off his hands and blows each of us a kiss. “I’m going to catch me a hot bartender.”

“Good luck,” I call after him.

He waves as he disappears around the corner, and it takes all of three seconds for Kenzie to shoot me a questioning glance.

“Are you going to tell me what’s going on?”

“What?” I organize the clutter on my vanity.

“Why are you under Vitale protection?”

“Oh, that.” I grimace, more annoyed by that development every second. “Probably because they found out about my number one fan.”

“You mean the stalker?” Her eyes widen.

I nod, and she releases a breath.

“Okay, I know Andreas says the Vitales are like the Greeks’ mortal enemies for some reason, but honestly, I don’t hate this. I’ll sleep better at night knowing someone is looking out for you. Who knows, maybe they’ll even figure out who it is.”

“Yeah, maybe.”

I’m sure that’s why Cristian’s sitting in the audience right now, undoubtedly clocking every customer in here tonight.

“I still think it’s stupid we have a no-cameras policy,” Kenzie says. “I understand the dressing room, but the hallway should be a safe zone.”

“I think secrecy is the whole point.” I shrug. “The Society is big on that.”