Page 43 of Lethal Lover

“It’s a filthy habit.” I chuckle just as Elena walks back into the room.

Her face is lit up with happiness at our laughter, and she sits down next to me and picks up her glass of wine to have a drink. “What’s funny?” she asks, and Dad brings his trimmed cigar to his lips.

“Dad is making jokes about needing grandchildren. I told him all in due time.” I place my hand on her back and let my fingers rub over her shoulder, and she blushes.

“Now, on with the business at hand.” Dad lights his lighter, holds the flame to the end of the cigar, and puffs until the cherry is burning brightly before extinguishing the open flame. “We thought it only proper to tell you that I have purchased the theater.” Dad’s announcement makes Elena look at me in surprise.

“It’s true,” I tell her. “Dad saw it as an excellent opportunity. Not only did he want to invest in your career because he believes in you, but expanding our business allows us to do better for people.” I’m really selling this benevolence thing, and I think she’s fully buying it. She doesn’t have to know about the money laundering we plan to partake in via the theater.

“Wow, that’s incredible.” Her eyes bounce from Dad’s face to mine as she sips her drink. “But isn’t it going to look like nepotism if I’m gaining the lead role?”

Her concern is genuine, but I assuage it. “Not at all. Dad will make the announcement that he’s the owner, but everything will be run by Mr. Monroe.” We’ve had him fully vetted, and he understands it cannot look like nepotism at all. So, when Elena tries out and scores the lead role at a different theater, she will take a backseat at our theater. She doesn’t have to know how many strings I’m pulling, and to others, it will look like she’s doing it all on her own. Besides, I don’t think I’ll even have to pull those strings. She really is amazing on stage.

“Best of all,” Dad tells her, “you will always have an in with the boss.” He winks and continues. “You can help us discern what shows the cast is hungry for, and we’ll make sure our eager fansare fed! It’s a win-win.” He puffs on his cigar confidently, and she sits back in her seat and grins at me.

“I think it’s wonderful, and I am so happy to be a part of this amazing enterprise.” I can’t tell if it’s the wine or if she’s genuinely happy, but this is a very different Elena Cortez from the one I encountered with the lie about my identity. I’m convinced she truly loves me, and I couldn’t be more pleased.

“Now, about those grandchildren,” Dad jokes, and Elena joins us in a laugh. Her smile is radiant. I feel like she has been a part of our family for ages, that she was born for this.

When I first met her, my only thought was her stunning beauty and how I could make her mine. But beneath it all lay a resilience I’d never encountered in a woman, and I’ve had my share of women. It takes a special person to join this family and fit in, and I feel like in only a few short minutes with my father, I’ve found a lifetime partner.

The relationship is built on some unspoken truths that will forever remain that way, things I cannot ever tell her lest she leave and I am forced to do something I will forever regret. But it won’t come to that. Not with her. She is content to give me space and privacy so long as I give her confident reassurance of my love and my heart toward her. And that’s all a man could hope for.

“Shall we get you home, young lady?” I ask her, standing.

Elena sways to her feet, further proof the wine has affected her, and we say our goodbyes. And for the entire drive home, she rides my lap like she was made just for me. I’d say this will work out perfectly.

28

ELENA

The stage lights are up. Trixie is out there singing her heart out, and Liam stands beside me in the wings. His father is here tonight. They will make the announcement to the audience and the cast and crew that the Salvatores have purchased the theater and intend to promote Mr. Monroe to head of the theater. We’ll get a new director soon, though Mr. Monroe will be heavily involved.

I’m glad they didn’t cut him loose. After every negative thing Liam said about him, I assumed he’d be fired. But after some interviews, they agreed to keep him on. I heard a rumor that they tripled his pay and gave him excellent benefits. If that’s true, then I don’t ever see him leaving. He loves this job as much as all of us actors and actresses do.

“You’re going to be fantastic,” Liam says, kissing my cheek. I’ve been nervous about this final scene all day. I’ve had a cold and I can’t hit the high notes, but he gave me hot water with honey and lemon in it and my vocal chords seem to have loosened up a bit. I clear my throat and turn to face him, grabbing his lapels.

“Thank you for believing in me. It means the world to me.” I kiss him hard, and I don’t even care when I pull away and my lipstick is smeared on his lips. I know he pulls strings to get me jobs, and even though he does that, I don’t feel offended at all. Mom told me she thinks he pulls those strings because he doesn’t believe in my talent or ability to get the role I deserve. I told her it doesn’t matter because the fans adore me, and so do the critics.

“Get out there and break a leg,” he whispers just as the lighting on stage shifts from bright white to a dim red. It's my cue to enter.

The music gets quiet, hauntingly so, and I creep out onto the stage in my witch costume to play the role. I’m not the lead this time because I wanted Trixie to do this. After almost dying, I think she deserves it, and Liam thinks so too. He was so emphatic about supporting my choice that he paid a dozen reporters to come and give their honest feedback about the entire performance—for the whole cast.

I belt out the lyrics, making sure to hit every note and make every step correctly, and when it comes time for Trixie to kill the witch and save the day, I fall to my “death” in an incredibly dramatic fashion, which brings the audience to their feet in uproarious applause. Trixie takes a huge bow just as the curtains begin to fall, and then she helps me to my feet.

“Oh, God, that was incredible.” She throws her arms around me and squeals. We’ve become very close over the past few months, ever since her time in the hospital. I visited her every day, told her the entire story of what was going on with Warren and the crap he pulled. He’s in jail now, and we have a new co-star, approved by Liam and his men.

“You did an amazing job,” I tell her, hugging her back. I lost Nina, but I have Trixie, and I couldn’t be happier with her as a best friend. Our relationship started off a bit rocky, but it’s amazing how a tragedy can bring you close to someone you never thought you’d ever even like.

“Let’s get to the wings.” She ushers me toward the right wing where everyone is lining up for curtain calls.

The emcee announces names as he does every single show, and one by one, the cast members filter out onto stage. I look for Liam, hoping to see him back here, but he’s not around anywhere. It’s disappointing, because I thought he’d be here to congratulate me like normal. He’s taken to waiting in the wings now instead of my dressing room.

Trixie pulls me forward when the line moves up. They always announce extras and chorus members first, then leads. When my name isn’t called with the other secondary leads, I’m surprised, but I don’t take the stage. I know better than that.

So when Trixie’s name is called alongside mine, I am happy and content to take my bows with her. She walks with me arm in arm and forces me to keep her pace as she says, “I asked them to let us do bows together.” Her words warm my heart. This isn’t the act of a powerful boyfriend. This is the act of a loving friend. She deserves this spotlight on her own, but she wants me with her. My heart is full.

We bow, accepting the insatiable cheers and applause of the audience, and as I bend low, my eyes are shielded from the glare of the spotlight. I see my mother, seated front and center. Her eyes sparkle with pride and emotion as she claps her hands furiously and whistles loudly.

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