Page 91 of A Wild Darkness

I wonder if the women knows what type of people they’re dancing for. Could they be targeted or are they simply for entertainment?

As the lights are dim, I keep my focus on Sebastian, trying to block out my surroundings.

“Did you learn anything?” Sebastian asks sarcastically, leaning against the wall in the cigar lounge.

“Not much,” I reply. “Most of it I already knew, anyway.”

“Oh yes, the daughter of a detective. I almost forgot.”

I chuckle and give his shoulder a playful shove. “Don’t patronize me.”

Sebastian’s bright white teeth shine as he smiles wide. I return his smile while tiny butterflies fill my stomach.

“Well.” He runs a hand through his dark hair, glancing at two of the women who are locked in an embrace. They kiss and rub their hands over each other’s bodies. “Shall we get to work?”

It bothers me when he looks at them. I take my hand, resting it gently on the side of his face and move it away from the stage. “Yes. Let’s get to work.”

Again he grins, a knee-buckling smile. “I’m not into women sharing their bodies.”

“Sharing?” I play.

“I am a possessive man, Stevie. I’d rather find one woman to make love to over and over for the rest of my life. Because it would be me and me alone who had the power to disrespect her as I wish.”

My breath hitches. His response is not what I’m expecting, because truthfully, I would have never pegged him as a one-woman man.

Then he shifts his body close to mine, leans down, bringing his mouth to my ear. “You need to make conversation with Larry.” His breath dusts my skin, making it hard to focus on his words. “Try to lead him toward the bathrooms. There’s a utility closet tucked into the back corner. I’ll follow you.”

“And? What’s the plan with him?”

“Hayden hid a gun between the vines on the trellis of our balcony.” Sebastian’s eyes capture mine, then slowly drag them down to his feet. I follow his line of sight, knowing exactly what he’s showing me. “That’s why we had to run upstairs after the documentaries earlier this evening.”

“You have it on you?” I whisper.

He nods. “Once you get him to the bathroom, I’ll do the rest. Your job will be to return to the cocktail hour like nothing happened. If someone asks—which I’m sure they won’t with how entranced they are with the entertainment and drinks—tell them Larry mentioned needing to use the restroom and he’d be right back.”

My palms sweat as my nerves kick up now that it’s show time. “Okay.”

Sebastian’s expression softens as he clasps his hands around mine. “Can you do this?”

My thoughts bounce around the inside of my skull for a moment, second-guessing every decision I’ve made so far, but they circle back to who I am and why I’m here. “I can do it.”

He nods reassuringly. “I’ll have my eyes on you the entire time. Don’t worry. Focus on getting him to the hallway.”

“Okay.” A low tremor of adrenaline pulses through my veins. I release his hands, turn to Larry sitting in the corner toward the back of the lounge, and make my way over to him. Without a plan for what to say, I simply give in to instinct.

“Is this seat taken?” I ask, gesturing toward the chocolate brown leather chair at his side.

Larry’s gaze slides up my legs, to my breasts, and then settles on my eyes. “Ms. Annabel.” His nasal voice greets me. “You may sit.”

“Great show, isn’t it?” I make conversation, but not before leaning close to him and inching my dress higher to expose my legs. “Can’t wait to have my turn to dance on the stage.”

He takes the bait and zooms in. “Where is the Dark Prince?”

I smile. “We had a tiff.”

“Oh no.” Larry moves forward in the chair, pushing out his bottom lip in a disgusting pout. “What happened?”

My heart is pounding against my rib cage. “Sometimes he doesn’t get how independent I am. He wants to be the boss of all our kills. But I think I might be suited for a better partner, you know?”