“Why?”
“Because you are including me in things you shouldn’t, and yet you’re so damn nice to me.”
I stare at her, debating my next words. “No one should go through what you have. No one should feel like getting revenge is their only option. I just want to help in my own fucked-up way.” It’s as much as I can tell her without spilling all my secrets.
Her eyes shift between mine. The pull that drew me to her the first night I saw her on stage is back with a vengeance. My body inches forward as my hands hold onto the door frame. Waiting her out is torture, but I’m not making the first move here. There’s too much at stake.
She leans forward, sucking in a deep breath before pressing her lips to mine. It’s a tentative kiss, a hesitant one, but dammit if it doesn’t get me fired up. When she leans back, there’s uncertainty in her eyes that crushes me. If she asked me to jump right now, I would, but she’s not on the same page, and that’s probably for the best.
Stepping back, I clear my throat. “How’d you find this place?”
She hops down from the SUV and walks to a larger tree. “I come here when I need to get away. It’s quiet and far away from … everything.”
“It’s perfect. I might have to steal it.”
“I’m thinking of a faux rock thing.” She changes the subject.
“What does that entail?”
“Basically, a hollow rock with slightly more obvious colors, so we know for sure which one it is. Thing paper mâché.”
“Hollow?” I ask, intrigued. “I could put a small camera in it.” I mumble, but Nova hears me.
“You’re really going to tempt fates with a camera? Doesn’t that defeat the whole concept of only trusting a couple of people? And do you really think Cano would go for it?”
“No, but I’m hoping I can convince him.”
“Awfully ballsy of you.”
“I mean, it could get me killed, but I think he’ll go for the fact that I’m trying to prevent anyone running off with the valuable product.” I shrug. I make her think this, but in reality, it’s so my team can start flagging more people on this side of Oscar’s business. The camera will be so small, so no one would ever see it.
“Okay, let’s get this set up and made so we can get this show on the road. Sorry you have to drive back to my apartment this late.”
“I’m not.” I walk over to her, hooking my hand in hers. “It’s not too late to step away. I can place this and tell Oscar you chose not to continue and that you didn’t know much. You can move on like nothing happened.”
“I’m going to tell you this one last time: I’m in this. I want to be in this, and you aren’t going to save me.”
I squeeze her hand because I hope like hell that I actually do.
Chapter 12
Nova
Tonight is the first drop-off, and I’m on stage, fucking up whole routines. I’m antsy and unfocused. I knew before my first dance that tonight is the big test for me. Either I get this right, or I’m really fucked.
If I’m completely honest, I just want to watch the camera if Chris managed to set that up. Be safe with him in his apartment and not worry about whether our lives are on the line. Somehow, just being around Chris has eased so much of my anxiety and depression. I didn’t even realize that’s what it was until a little bit of light came my way. It’s made me realize a lot of things. Like how I never grieved for Charlie, although I still haven’t, but I’m aware it’s something that I will eventually need to focus on. Chris makes me feel like a woman, not just a dancer. Not just an object for men’s attention.
It’s problematic. After that kiss, my head’s a fucking mess. This is not the time to have a confused mind. It’s the time to take down Cano so I can focus on the future.
“I can get you out.”
Chris’s words echo in my head hourly. It’s so damn tempting. Just throw the last year of my life and chalk it up to trying to get Charlie back in whatever fucked-up way I could.
But why go all this way just to bail? With Chris by my side, I have a better chance now than I ever did before. There’s something about his confidence that makes me believe he’s not really a part of this world. I’m not sure why, but I have this hunch that there’s more to everything.
Which means I need to be extra careful.
The music starts to fade, drawing me out of my haze. Before I know it, I’m walking outside and checking the rock I quickly made. When I see it in the designated place next to the door, I head back in. My next dance, I’ll give the choreographed sign, and he’ll be on his way to pick up whatever artifact got delivered.
