And Chris is using your dress to transport it.If Cano puts two and two together, it’s beyond game over.
A hand slides down my thigh as I walk the edge of the stage, jolting me out of my panic. The big step back combined with my wagging finger telling him no will probably lose me tips, but I’m far too lost in my new problems to give a shit.
As I continue my half-assed dance, my confusion ramps up.
Why was Chris picking up something like that from a very sketchy cave area? Why was it just sitting out there in the open for anyone to see? Granted, I had no idea there was anything like that there, but it doesn’t mean people don’t stumble upon it.
And what happened to drugs? This change in … product is throwing me for a loop. Drugs are easy. Artifacts, artwork, or veryexpensivethings that are most likely stolen? I have absolutely no clue where to start with this.
It’s not like I can ask Chris outright.
“Hey, remember when you took my dress so you could hide a precious and old-as-fuck stone with hieroglyphs on it? What was that all about? Am I going to die for even knowing about it?”
Yeah, that would not go over well.
Fuck.
As my song ends, muscle memory is the only reason I leave the stage.
My ass plops down on the chair in front of my locker as I stare at the wall.
What do I even do now?
Oh, that’s right. I’m still on shift for another three hours. At least it will kill some time for my head to catch up on these new developments.
My last dance is over at midnight. It takes me minutes to change before I head out and walk to the park that’s nearby. Shockingly enough, it’s just down coast from the cave.
The swings provide somewhere for my nervous, unsettled energy to go while I think.
I know I told Chris to wait for me, but now I’m not sure what to do or say. Do I call Chris? Do I wait to see if he calls me? Am I able to act like nothing happened?
I’m not sure if I can, but as I think about the images on the stone, I start to think about my options. If I can use this to my advantage, maybe I can help Chris with this side of the business. Or at least make him think that I’m helping. Maybe get close to him and see if I can get more information. Use it to blackmail Cano and get my revenge for Charlie.
I nod as I kick my feet back and forth, sending me higher and higher. The wind in my face is the only thing making me feel alive.
“This seat taken?” Chris’s voice shocks me to my core. So much so, I almost fall off the swing.
“Holy shit, clear your throat or something.” I gasp.
“Sorry. Shit. I’m sorry.” I feel his hand on my back, slowing me down. The worry on his face is real.
He sits in the swing next to me, but neither of us talks.
I’m not sure what to say, honestly. It’s best if I act like I didn’t see what I did. It’ssaferfor me. I still don’t know Chris all that well, although I do trust him more than most men. I can’t trust his intentions yet. All thoughts of blackmail disintegrate because who am I kidding? I can barely get Chris in the palm of my hand. There’s no way I can blackmail a fucking drug kingpin.
“Thanks for letting me borrow your dress.” He holds out the wadded-up fabric, which I grab and nod. “No one knows you saw it or helped me.”
“Okay,” I whisper.
“No one will know,” he says firmer.
“Okay.” I match his tone. One thing I do know is that I need to be strong. Show no weakness even if I was starting to melt for this man. It’s too risky, and I should have remembered that earlier.
“Talk to me.” There’s a panic in his voice that doesn’t soothe my frayed nerves at all.
“I think it’s best if I don’t talk. And pretend like I don’t know what you’re talking about.”
His sigh makes me nervous. “But you did see it, and something like this isn’t easy to just forget.”
