Page 37 of Dance of Devils
Oh. We’re here.
For some reason, I don’t want to get out of this car anytime soon. Or, like, ever.
Kir glances up doubtfully through the windshield at the huge office building.
“You work here?”
I don’t miss the suspicious note in his tone.
“Just a temp thing,” I shrug. “A spare gig to pick up some extra cash.”
Kir nods.
“Well…anyway…” I smile at him, feeling my pulse thud as those dark devil eyes slide across the dash to lock with mine.
“Thanks again…for everything,” I say quietly.
I start to turn to leave. Suddenly, Kir frowns, and his hand shoots out to cup my jaw. My breath seizes as he tips my chin up and to the side, his eyes zeroing in on my temple and his mouth tightening to a line.
“Who hits you.”
I freeze.
He’s so close.
Cupping my jaw in his hand, touching my skin.
Right in my space. Breathing my air.
The heated throb tightens in my core.
“Oh, that…” My throat bobs as I touch my temple. “It’s from those four assholes the other night. I think I must have hit it when they?—”
“The bruise is older than that.” Kir’s hand releases my jaw, his eyes flickering in the dim glow of the dashboard. “It’s someone else.”
I quickly shake my head. “It’s nothing, really.”
Another pulse throbs through my lower belly before I grab the strap of my bag, open the door, and get out.
“It’snot,” he growls. “Why are you covering for someone who is hurting you?”
Sometimes, you just react without thinking, and then you’re left wondering why thehellyou did what you did.
This is one of those times.
I whirl back to him, leaning down and staring at him through the open door.
“Because theBallet Imperiya Koronaexpects talentandpedigree!” I blurt. “They want polish, and a classy image, and me getting mixed up with the police isn’t going to help with that!”
Shit.
There’s a moment of stunned silence after I say it, and I cringe inside.
“I… I should get going.”
“Indeed. Wouldn’t want to be late for yourtemp job,” Kir says quietly. He glances through the windshield again, up at the officebuilding. “In the totally dark, deserted office building…at ten at night.”
I smile weakly. Kir smiles back. “I do hope you’re staying safer out there, Ms. Ellis.”
