Page 43 of Never Sleep with the Enemy

Katrina swallows hard, her eyes wide as she looks out at them. Her lips curl into a wide smile and she gives a quick bow. She’s been on stage more times than she can count, part of the biggest rock band in the nation. But right now, something about the way she’s looks at them feels different. Like she’s just discovered a new piece of herself, something hidden deep within.

She catches my eye, chest rising and falling with each rapid breath, and she laughs. The sound is soft, almost muffled, but it reaches me and warms me all the same.

Goldie counts us into the next song, and Tesla’s guitar roars to life. The audience erupts forIgnite the Night, our biggest hit by far.

Thinking Katrina might try to slip away after this, I bridge the distance between us in one stride and lean close, my lips grazing the shell of her ear as I say, “We’ll talk after the show.”

Katrina’s brows wrinkle for a moment before she nods and disappears into the shadows backstage.

13

KATRINA

“Oh, my god!Katrina!”

Goldie throws her arms around me the moment she steps backstage. I startle from instinct, but relax, the friendliness in Tesla’s smile over her shoulder putting me at ease.

“You were so good!” Goldie says, her sizeable chest pressing against mine.

Damn, she really did fill out that corset better than I did.

“Thanks!” I say, the sound of the audience demanding a second encore nearly drowning us out. “You guys were incredible.”

“I can’t believe we’ve never met before. Have we?”

“Not officially, no,” I confirm. I nod at Tesla. “We’ve met, though.”

Tesla grins. “Hey, sweetie, how you doing?” she says as she leans in, planting a quick kiss on my cheek before squeezing me in a bear hug.

I chuckle. They’re so damn friendly.

Despite... well,everything.

“It’s good to see you again,” I say.

Behind them, Logan lingers in the wings, simply watching our meeting play out with amused eyes. I stare him down, giving a simple bow in greeting, insisting he step forward and fucking explain himself.

Goldie taps my arm with her drumstick. “We should do it again sometime. Seriously. How high do those pipes go, by the way?”

“Oh, uh... high C, I think,” I say.

“Damn, girl. That’s some opera shit right there!”

“No, no,” I say. “I can hit it, but I can’t hold it.”

“Still impressive. I need a drink,” she says to Tesla.

“You in?” Tesla asks me as she and Goldie hook arms.

My eyes hop from them to Logan and back again. “Actually, I need to head out?—”

Goldie pouts. “You sure?”

“Yeah, sorry,” I say.

“Don’t sweat it. We’ll see each other again soon.”

I nod, not as sure as she is.

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