sol

ance

had I gotten

mmered in my mi

the spotlight burning d

he nightclub was a den of

wn dressed in se

bed, slow and s

d like it had a mind of i

wasn't just a performance.

re me. Unde

as, Rafael Mon

among mortals. His dark e

s lips curling into a smir

ancing for him

they'd broken me. For th

eding in the dark. I was s

ld

te hung in the

body trembling not from e

lause erupted like thunde

g of my own

of the stage,

s is just th

ght, I stood

ayers of makeup that mas

jagged lines on my arms,

he story of the night m

ess then, lyin

parents and siblings echo

. I was somethi

ng too loud,"

rough my

ind him leani

ttoned at the collar, his

ay that made my

nt?" I snapped,

storm brewin

oser, his mov

ator circling its prey.

compliments,"

I'm not here for

epened, but

ere because you're danger

me

a shiver down

gaze. "Is that why you sav

e use

wer immediate

brushing against the scar

ing a jolt of

he said finally

ving. But don't mistake my

ol. And I alw

t me to

was infuriating

o in, get the intel, and

st

at?" I asked,

re as good as I

l him to go to

ded this. I need

was a front fo

nt me to one of his compe

sweat and desperation. M

, a low-level thug with

long to find hi

nk and leering at the wai

the hem of my dress ride

ent

k?" I asked, m

lse swe

, his eyes taki

ng like you doing in

letting my li

le. "Looking

on was easy, a

gant, spilling secrets li

hairs on the back of

was watc

d slightly, my

n with a scar running do

t a wave of col

was

the

nd racing. It

the scar. One of the men

to stay calm,

embled as I clutched my gl

rumbeat that drowned

I murmured, s

oo

the exit, my

n followed, his gaze bor

to run, but I c

ir was cool an

ire raging inside me. I t

d at my

" he asked, his

ck

ream, to lash

ne. But I couldn't b

my voice ste

me. "I don'

pping closer. "

ili

f to smile, ev

I get tha

or a moment, hi

"Maybe I'll r

nd walked away

here, in Rafael's world.

ow what h

swirled in m

n't wait any longer. My

was here, stari

uld make

htclub, I confr

barely contained

eyebrow, hi

able.

he scar," I sna

ight. Do yo

darkened, and

of recognition. But th

o be more specific, queri

s in this

ream, to deman

t let him see how much t

d to leave, hi

e

risol," he said

t quite place. "You're p

back. I couldn

d see th

laying a game.

r