Hideaway (Devil's Night 2)
We both stopped and looked up and then around.
And I couldn’t believe what I was seeing. Suddenly, a beautiful woman came twirling out from around the stage, onto the dance floor, her black ballet slippers laced up her ghostly white, but strong, legs, while her midnight hair danced around her. She stepped and spun like a dream to the eerie melody, her tattered, but fancy black costume like a swan around her, adorned with feathers and sparkles. She was dream-like.
“Do you see what I’m seeing?” Kai whispered.
“Yeah,” I replied, unable to tear my eyes away. “It’s the dancing woman.”
Kai
Present
“Hey, kid,” I called Banks as she walked past the office door. “Come here for a minute.”
She stopped, hesitating before she entered. I took in her clothes, all dry and back on her body, covering every possible inch of skin again. She just couldn’t wait to get Alex’s stuff off, could she?
I stood behind the desk and picked up a set of keys on a ring, tossing them across the room to her.
She caught them, studying them. “What are these?”
“Keys to the dojo. In case I need you to pick something up, drop something off... There’s also the showers, cots upstairs, laundry, food in the staff kitchen…” I drifted off, stuffing the month’s receipts in a folder in the drawer. “Come and go as you please.”
“I have a shower, a bed, and somewhere to do laundry.”
I looked up, meeting her stubborn eyes and not the least bit surprised at how clever she was. Yeah, okay. Maybe I was leaving a not-so-subtle hint.
But I blew if off. “I’m not saying you don’t. You need keys as part of your job. It’s not complicated.”
“How do you know I won’t rip you off?”
I closed the drawer, a smile pulling at my mouth as I stood up straight. “Because I’m a great judge of character and petty thievery doesn’t strike me as your style,” I told her.
She might need the keys on the off chance she had to get in here while it was closed, but her initial suspicions were also correct. Gabriel let her live like a rat—that was apparent in her attire—and I still wasn’t sure what her living situation was like. She said she lived in the city, but I couldn’t imagine her residence was the least bit safe or nice. I wanted to make sure she had another option should she want it. The dojo was secure, clean, and she would have everything she needed here.
Except a car. I should make sure she has one, so she doesn’t get caught in the rain like she did this morning.
She shoved the keys in her pocket and turned to leave.
“Clothes are dry, I see.” I let my eyes fall down the backs of her legs—legs I’d only ever seen the skin of once.
“I have some more provisions for the contract you can take to Gabriel,” I told her, clearing my throat. “It’s on the table.”
She walked over and grabbed the envelope, holding it at her side. “Anything else?”
No, not really.
But I didn’t want her to go yet, either.
“Yes.” I stuck my pen in the holder and raised my eyes to her. “No matter how you cover yourself, it’s never enough. You’re beautiful.”
She frowned, and then turned on her heel and headed out the office door as quickly as she could.
I shook my head, smiling to myself. The most stubborn woman I’d ever met in my life.
Alex crossed the open doorway, heading down the hall.
“Alex?” I called, turning and walking around my desk again.
She entered the room, a white towel over her shoulder and sweat glistening across her chest.