by Carina Adams
“How so?”
I shrugged. “Their lines were very straight, their moves calculated. Sometimes it felt like we were at a strip club, not a burlesque show. It was very fast. I’d love to see the Soiree girls have group performances.”
He looked impressed with my assessment. “You think it would work?”
I nodded. I knew it would work. We’d compliment each other well.
“What would you change?”
“Obviously, the style of dance and songs. Soiree has a niche and it works good. Did you notice they didn’t use their knees at all?”
“Makes sense. Good girls bend at the knees, bad girls bend at the waist.”
“That’s definitely one way to explain it,” a gentleman I didn’t recognize interjected as he stopped at the end of our table.
Roman moved too fast for me to resist. One minute I’d been next to him, the next he’d yanked me into his side, his muscular arm pinned me in place, and his fingers gripped my hip so hard I knew there’d be a bruise in the morning.
“China.”
The way he growled the name as his body practically vibrated in anger told me all I needed to know. This man wasn’t safe. Violet’s words from the car replayed in my mind. So, I did the only thing I could. I laid my head on his chest and played a role.
“Roman,” the other man greeted as his eyes raked over my body in assessment. “Long way from home, aren’t you?”
Roman’s fingers twitched. “Am I?”
China chuckled. “Who’s this?” He reached out a gloved hand, as if he was going to touch my face, but Roman knocked it away.
“She’s none of your business.”
While Reid and Rome looked like they’d stepped out of the Roaring Twenties, China was straight off the pages of a Victorian-steampunk comic book. His outfit was elaborate; a velvet trimmed black-tapestry Regency tailcoat over a silver-tapestry vest, high collar shirt, and black trousers. But it was the accessories—silk black puff tie with a pearl tack, black gloves, gray top hat that covered his long curly black hair, and a silver plated cane—that set him apart. Round spectacles completed the look.
He rubbed his chin and his lips quirked as he tried to fight off a smile. “You’re the new girl, then.”
Roman’s arm tightened painfully. “No. My girlfriend.”
China beamed, as if he knew it was a lie. “That’s right. I heard what happened with that sweet little fiancé of yours.”
Roman tensed even more, if possible. I needed to do something.
I tipped my face toward his as I fisted one of his suspenders. “Babe, we’re going to be late.”
He looked down at me then pressed a kiss to my temple. “Yeah.” His attention back on the other man, Rome let go of me long enough to grab my hand and slip his fingers through mine.
China didn’t budge. “You can’t leave without saying hello to an old friend.” he looked over his shoulder and beckoned someone, “Glitters would be devastated.”
My breath caught. He couldn’t possibly be talking about Livie. I would have known if she was going to be there.
Rome gave my hand a quick squeeze of reassurance as a woman joined us. It took me a minute to recognize my friend under the deep red glittery wig, fake mole, and heavy make-up. She matched him in a Steampunk-inspired outfit, although hers was much more revealing.
She swallowed as she watched Roman and blatantly ignored me.
“I leave you two alone for five minutes,” Reid stepped up to our group. “Hello, beautiful.” He wrapped Livie in a big hug, as if the two were best friends. He left his arm around her as he turned back to the rest of us, a cocky smile in place. “What’d I miss?”
Twenty-Four
Reid
I tried to stifle the annoyed sigh as I waited outside the women’s restroom for Violet, but it came out anyway. I didn’t want to be frustrated with her. She was my best friend and being back at Sway had messed with her emotions. She’d had too much to drink and needed me to be supportive.
I knew the reasons she struggled. I understood them. Yet, they still bugged me.
The trip had gone nothing like I’d hoped it would. I wanted to get back to the hotel and get away from Violet and Rome so I could finally have Cady to myself. I should have bitten the bullet and planned a weekend getaway for just the two of us. But we weren’t at that step in our friendship and I hadn’t been sure she’d come. Next time, if there was a next time, I’d know better.
The day hadn’t been horrible, just weird. Roman had been one of his moods, mad at me over Brooke, but that wasn’t anything new. Then we’d run into the MacGregor’s and got suckered into brunch, which had been completely out of the blue. Then Violet had had a mini-meltdown once we’d gotten to the club and had been glued to me the entire night.
The show had been interesting, to say the least. The Mistresses were talented and they knew how to work an audience. But I’d had way more fun watching Cady react than paying attention to what was going on up on stage. She’d been so into it, so animated, I’d wanted to grab her and take her back to our room, to steal her away and get her alone.
We were going to have one hell of a night.
I’d glanced over at our table to check on her just as Vi came back out.
“You seriously need to stop,” she snapped as she grabbed my hand, her words slurred a bit. “She’s going to see it. And it will devastate her.”
God, once Violet started down a path, she was tenacious. Like a dog with a bone, she never gave up, no matter how many times I told her she was wrong.
Yes, I’d had a moment of weakness earlier and my eyes had lingered on Roman too long. I’d known him over half my life, and saw him in a suit and tie almost every day, but there was something about him in costume that always snagged my attention. His speakeasy outfit had always been one of my favorites because he looked hot as fuck. For a few seconds I’d let myself pretend things were different and I indulged in a fantasy.
I’d pushed it away immediately and focused on what was real, what was important. Then I’d kissed Cady. And all I’d wanted since was to do it again.
If Violet had been in a better head space, I would have explained—once again—that my attention was on only Cady. She wasn’t a placeholder, someone I paid attention to because I couldn’t have the person I really wanted. Married men checked out other women all the time, but that didn’t mean they didn’t love their wife or that they were settling. The ability to appreciate beautiful things was one of life’s rare joys.
The explanation would have been lost on my friend, though. I ignored her and the same argument she’d made all night and narrowed my eyes on the figures standing with Cady and Rome. When I saw the top hat, the hair on the back of my neck prickle.
“Fuck.”
Violet spun around, eyes squinted, her face full of concern. “What’s wrong?”
I searched for the right thing to say. “I need you to go back into the bathroom and wait for Cady to come get you.”
“What? Why?”
I stole another glance at the table to assure myself that I hadn’t imagined it. “China is with Roman right now.”
The blood drained from her face and her eyes darted over my shoulder. “Seriously?”
I grabbed her waist to steady her. Being back in her old stomping grounds had put her on edge in a way I hadn’t anticipated. She’d never said one negative thing about Sway, yet she’d been a shell of herself most of the night.
China, on the other hand, was a completely different story. Violet had never hidden how much she feared our old boss, not even when we worked for him. I didn’t know what kind of a reaction seeing him in person would cause.
“Talk to me.”
She put a hand on my chest, as if to reassure me. “I’m okay. Surprised, but not. If that makes sense.”
“It does.” One thing all China’s employees learned immediately was to expect the unexpected.
She bit the inside of her lip. “Go rescue Rome befo
re he loses it and all hell breaks loose. And for God’s sake, don’t let that bastard get his claws in Ruffles.”
I pressed a kiss to her forehead. “Be right back.”
The closer I got to our table the more agitated I became. Fuck him. I shook the fists from my hands as I told myself I wasn’t going to punch China. No matter what he said or did, I couldn’t hit him.
I started to rethink my philosophy as soon as I saw the pint-sized pixie decked out in a fitted suit jacket over a leather corset, mini-skirt, and thigh-high platforms, her face half hidden by her signature tinsel wig under a mini-top hat. A costume that outrageous could only belong to one person. My teeth ground together as I clenched my jaw.
There was a time when I’d considered Olivia Parker my friend. The first one I’d made at Belle Reve, she was sweet, looked for the best in everyone, and made me laugh. Only a few years separated us, but I’d felt a fraternal responsibility for her almost immediately.
In a company that encouraged vicious competition between dancers instead of fostering teamwork, we’d bonded over our sexual orientation. Pansexual was an unheard of term in our circle. And Bi was a nasty word—especially for men—in the private party industry and most people couldn’t understand it.
There was a running joke that a man who said he was bisexual was either gay, straight, or lying. We were to flirt with either the women or the men, never both. And the gender we were allowed to flirt with was predetermined by our boss.
Women, on the other hand, were encouraged to explore their sexuality as long as it didn’t interfere with business. If they came out of the closet and admitted they were a lesbian, though, they somehow found themselves unable to book parties. Or, they were encouraged to sleep with male clients to ‘fix the problem’.
When Rome and I started Soiree, Livie was the first co-worker I’d talked to. I couldn’t leave her behind without at least asking her to go with us. I’d watched over her for too long and worried about what would happen if I left her there.
She’d declined my offer, too scared of China Dahl and his high-profile clients, but she was never able to articulate why. Like it always does, the bad got worse. I’d known the girls had it bad, but I’d never realized how bad until Livie called me sobbing one night six-months after I’d left.
She’d gotten back to the rundown warehouse that housed Belle Reve and found Violet badly beaten, lying in a pool of her own vomit and blood. I’d called one of the friends I still had in the area and he’d rushed over to rescue them and taken care of them at his place until Rome and I could get there. I’d wanted to kill China that night. I might have if Violet hadn’t begged me not to and sworn it wasn’t him who had hurt her.
I hadn’t believed her. Even if I had, I would have blamed China anyway. He owned the company, it was his responsibility to protect her at all costs.
We found her handler, the man that had been with her before she’d been hurt, and I’d taken my anger out on him. The prick had known she had grabby patrons who didn’t like to take no for an answer and he’d left her alone anyway—in one of the sketchiest parts of the city.
Roman hasn’t thought it was enough. Despite all his faults, Rome was extremely protective of the people he cared about and took care them any way he could. When he’d seen Violet, his eyes had filled with fire and he’d promised to destroy China any way he could.
It doesn’t matter what industry you’re in, or what type of person you are, when you hit someone where it hurts, they strike back. It’s a never ending cycle. Roman declared war on the man we’d once considered a friend, and we’d been fighting ever since.
There had been a time when I thought Liv was my friend, but those days were long gone.
I’d trusted her blindly and hadn’t seen the signs for what they were. I hadn’t expected her loyalty because I’d rescued her from the evil dick that was China or because we’d shared our deepest secrets. I’d expected her to have my back because I’d always had hers.
I hadn’t seen her betrayal plowing toward us like a runaway train. That was my fault. I took full responsibility. I’d learned my lesson and wouldn’t repeat it.
However, Livie’s actions hurt us—her family. That was on her. To add insult to injury, she’d run right back to China as soon as she could.
It made me question everything.
Now she was the bad penny I couldn’t shake. She showed up everywhere, and people were dumb enough to trust her. I didn’t care who her friends were or who she dated, I refused to let her hurt the people I cared about again.
Others may have forgiven her. Some held on to past loyalties. I hadn’t forgotten and I would never forgive.
“I leave you two alone for five minutes,” I joked as I put on my best façade, stopped next to Livie, and ignored the way her eyes narrowed. “Hello, beautiful.” I gave her a sinister smile as I wrapped my arms around her and pulled her close. When I finally loosened my grip, I kept my arm around her shoulders and mirrored the way Roman held Cady as I greeted the rest of the group. “What’d I miss?”
“Reid,” China scoffed, his tone ice-cold, “late to the party, as always.”
“Hey, we all know the party doesn’t start ‘til I walk in.”
“No, darling,” he drawled with a flick of wrist, “that’s cocaine.”
“You would know,” I shot back. “Try to remember, body bumps are so two-thousand-fourteen.”
“Oh?” He asked with mock interest. “And I thought that was the year of poaching.” He shrugged dramatically. “So, tell me, what are you two doing down here?”
“The same thing you are,” I told him with mock politeness. “We came to see the show. Troupes,” I widened my eyes exaggeratedly, “they’re all the rage.”
“Yes,” he tittered and I fought the urge to punch the smug son-of-a-bitch square in his artificially-altered nose. His face lost all trace of humor and he gripped his cane tightly. “Why are you really here.”
“Here?” I shrugged and shook my head. “I actually don’t know. Right now we’re supposed to be at a party across town, but yet here we are. So, I’m not sure why we’re still here.”
“China saw me so he and Glitters stopped to say hello,” Rome explained with a fake half smile.
“Ah,” I nodded as I stepped away from Liv. “Now it’s time to say goodbye.”
The tip of China’s cane slammed onto the table in front of me as he blocked my way. “I hear you have a new act. A Ruffles McGee. I also hear she’s different,” he grimaced at the word as if it hurt him. “And she’s stealing parties from me.”
I fought the urge to look at Cady. China was fishing for information, and I refused to give him anything. He had nothing but a name. If I had any control over it, that’s all he’d ever have.
Cady didn’t know it, but she was the beginning of an all new craze. Major burlesque shows had always celebrated the power of positive body image, no matter what shape, style, or personality the dancers had. Yet, somewhere along the line, little shows like ours had lost their way.
We were about to see a comeback. Dancers who didn’t fit into a neat little box or look just like every other performer. Those who weren’t afraid to rock the boat and be different. The Ruffles of the world. I didn’t know what he would do with that information, and I sure as shit would never introduce him to Cady.
“Yeah?” Rome tried to respond casually, but he tightened his grip on Cady’s waist and stared at Liv with fury in his eyes. “Doesn’t ring a bell.”
“It doesn’t matter how many people your granddaddy knows, Jupiter,” China sneered, “or how many tricks you think you’ve got up your sleeve, I’ll always be two steps ahead. Isn’t it time to stop pretending and go back to real life now? The tragedy of the poor little rich boys.”
“You’re right,” I agreed and shoved his stupid prop out of my way. “Solid advice. Thanks for watching out for us.” Ready to get the fuck out of Dodge, I stopped in front of Roman and Cady and held my arm out, motioning for them
to go ahead of me. She looked relieved, but Rome barely held his rage.
“Mr. Dahl,” A bouncer I didn’t know called as he and three others approached our group, “Marcus has asked that we escort you and your guest to your car.”
China smirked, as if he’d gotten some benefit we hadn’t. Marcus and I went back a long way and I knew this wasn’t to protect China. This was Marcus breaking up our squabble in the most democratic way possible before things got ugly.
“It was so nice to see you,” China crooned, as if we were long lost friends. Then his eyes zoomed in on Cady. “And it was lovely to meet you, Ruffles. I’m sure we’ll see each other again soon.”
Roman flew at him, fists formed, ready to pummel. I blocked him, but he’d moved with such force he pushed me back a few steps. For a split second I thought he was going to hit me.
China wasn’t worried. He’d known the the bouncers would spring into action, some helping me keep Roman back while the others formed a protective barrier between us and him. Just like he’d known exactly what kind of reaction his veiled threat would cause.
“My, my, so savage,” he chuckled at the chaos he’d caused. “Careful with them, Ruffles. They may be partners in all things, but they don’t share well. The last woman who thought she could love them both, fuck them both, swallowed a bottle of pills. They don’t care about anyone but themselves.”
Roman roared and lunged again and I almost let him go. It would have done more harm than good; too many people would have witnessed it and the MacGregor wouldn’t be able to cover it up. I held him back while the prick laughed all the way out of the club.
Cady’s eyes had grown into the size of saucers. “What just happened?”
I looked at the door to make sure China and Liv were really gone, dropped the hold I had on Rome, and hurried to my girl. I threw an arm over her shoulders and pulled her tight. I didn’t want to worry her or tell her what a miserable back-stabbing bitch her friend was.
