My eyebrows jump as my jaw drops, and I try to keep my voice to a whisper. “You didn’t know about Dominick, about the mob?”
Allie shakes her head, whispering back just in case we’re overheard. “No! I mean, I knew Dom was a bigwig, but I thought it was just . . . here, as the owner of a fancy strip club. I didn’t know he was big, like in charge of the city. Who wants to work in a mob-owned strip club?”
I nod, knowing that especially with Allie’s background, that’s the last place she ever imagined she’d end up. “So, what happened?”
Allie turns back to her table and starts working on her makeup again. “That guy’s blood was all over me. Dominick carried me into his office and helped me get cleaned up. He was furious, the anger buzzing around him like a force field, but he was gentle with me. Tucked me in on the couch in his office and went out to talk to the guys.”
“That was about the time Shane was hustling me out of the club,” I reply. “He was so worried about me. Looking back, it was touching.”
Allie finally gives me a ghost of a smile, looking into the mirror. “I bet. I don’t know what Dom told the guys. I guess I just avoided thinking about it because I was in shock. He gave me a couple of days off, even offered to let me stay upstairs in the apartment you’re in, but I just wanted to go home and hide in my own bed, you know? So he drove me there himself and came by morning and night to make sure I ate and was okay. He took care of me, and when he wasn’t there, Nick or Logan was downstairs, making sure I was safe. And then you called with the whole meeting thing, and he said he needed me to be there, for him and for you. And the three of you just sat there and spouted off all this big scary shit like it was normal conversation.”
I realize that while everyone always teases me about my innocence, this time, it’s Allie whose bubble of innocence was burst. “I’m sorry you found out like that. I didn’t know what you knew, but we needed you there because we thought Dominick wouldn’t hurt us in front of you.”
Allie smiles sadly, turning around to face me. “You used me. I figured out that part, at least, and I guess I can see why. I just wish I could go back to being blind to all of this around me. I mean, Dominick’s a great guy who’s been taking care of me, a good boss who makes it feel safe here, considering it’s a strip club. But now, I’m just . . . lost.”
Her words break my heart, and I step closer, putting my hands on her shoulders. “You’re not lost, Allie. Nothing here has changed. You’re still you, Dominick is still Dominick, and I’m still me. Now, the veil is just lifted and you’re seeing behind the curtain a bit. It’s shocking, but it’s better to know the truth, even if it’s ugly, than a pretty lie.”
Allie puts a hand over mine and looks over her shoulder. “That’s me, the pretty tragedy. Don’t worry, I’m just still adjusting. I don’t know what to think about all of this. Tonight was the first night I’ve performed since the shooting. I was just in total mind dump mode, not thinking at all. Although I practiced so much at home that I finally got that spinning death-drop move perfected. It was flawless.”
I grin, even as her eyebrows pull together. “I might need to rename the move though. Seems a bit dark, considering what’s been happening.”
I rub her shoulders gently. “Call it whatever you want. Allie, what’s awesome about you is how even in the deepest of valleys, you’ve never given up. You keep working until you find a hilltop, and that’s where you make your stand for the next journey. You sort of helped me, too. So many times over the past couple of months, I kept telling myself, ‘be like Allie. She’d keep going.’ And it was true.”
Allie takes a deep breath, nodding. “I like that. So . . . Shane? Is that where you’re standing for your next journey?”
I smile, feeling the mood shift to some semblance of before, when we’d dish about how hot the security guys are and lament Dominick’s no-fraternizing policy. Even as she cheered me on, she also thought it’d never happen. Guess we were both wrong.
Grabbing a chair, I sit down next to her, grinning foolishly as she raises an eyebrow. “What can I say except . . . he’s amazing, even better than what you used to tease me about. The last few days have been scary, especially when we had to explain the huge web of lies and get everything untangled. But he’s been there for me, kept me safe.”