“Cops are on their way.”
“Okay.”
Jordon takes the body and flips it over his shoulder as one of my other guards pulls up.He takes off with the corpse and Jordon’s gun.No one will say anything, and if they do, we’ll take care of them.The body will find its way to the desert after we get their fingerprints and determine who it was.Find out who hired them.
Jordon walks back over to me.
“I’m leaving this guard with you so I don’t have to answer any questions.”
“Go,” I say.
He gets in the passenger seat as another guard walks up.Before the cops show up, I direct Hayes to take Daria back inside.
“I’ll see you soon, sweets.Okay?”
“Okay.”She turns to go back in as the others do.
I pull my gun and shove it into the soldier’s stomach.“This close, the shot won’t kill you right away, but it will do a lot of damage and you’ll eventually die.Who do you trust?Who are you loyal to?”
“You and the MacEvoys only.”
“Do you have a problem with Daria?”
Without breaking eye contact, he answers my question.“Not at all.I don’t judge or care who you see as long as you’re happy and the family is stable.”
“Good.”
Cops surround us, and we have to answer questions for hours.
ChapterNine
Daria
My final performance had so many hitches, but the audience didn’t have a clue.I noticed Teena wasn’t in the corps de ballet.I was going to confront her, but she wasn’t there.Other dancers said she left town unexpectedly.
Then there was Masha, who tried to get me to leave so she could dance in my place.She said my heart was breaking and dancing wasn’t my focus.Then after the shooting, she warned me that Patrick would get me killed next, or that he was only using me to get to my brother and the rest of my family.
I was so upset, Hayes ended up giving Masha a warning.She could either walk away or never dance again.He told her he knew how to break the bones in her feet that would prevent her from ever going on pointe again.
As soon as I’m changed into a pale green, spaghetti-strapped dress and a pair of strappy heels, I slip my wool trench coat on and step out of the dressing room.I’ve already turned in my costume, and I’m ready for a break for a couple of weeks.Maybe I’m done.I don’t know yet.
Hayes is waiting for me.When we step out the back door of the theater, several men surround us.I look at Hayes, and he nods.I’m led to a new SUV and climb into the back.Hayes sits next to me.Another man drives, with a second in the front passenger seat.
“May I ask your names?”I ask as soon as I’m belted in.
“I’m Sloane,” the passenger says.“And that’s Harry.”He nods toward the driver.
“Nice to meet you both.”
“Same, mistress,” they both say.
I turn to Hayes.“Okay, is this because of today?Or is there more I need to know?”
“Your brother and Paddy feel there is a threat to you too.Because of that, you’ll have more than just me as your guard.I need you to wear this for me.This one is from me, not Paddy.He knows I’m giving it to you.”
He hands me a silver bangle bracelet.I slip it on my wrist with the others I wear all the time.A couple are from my brother, and I suspect there is a tracker in one of them.I’m fairly certain there is one in this bangle.
“Tracker?”I ask him.
