Page 28 of East

She tilts my chin up. “I’m not saying it’s a bad trick. Quite the contrary. I’m just an extremely perceptive woman.”

“I see.”

“But if the secret does lie in the turntable, it’s an easy fix. Simply devise a route for the disappeared person to exit the theater. They can reunite with their family after the show.”

“But then why would it matter if⁠—”

“For the theater, Aus!” she shouts as she jumps up from the couch. “For the drama! The spectacle!” She blinks a few times, dusts off her gown. “My apologies for the outburst.” She sits back down, crosses her legs. “I have a friend coming into town in a few weeks. Just in time for your next show, if I understand your schedule.”

“Would you like me to arrange for her to have a ticket?”

“I’ll make the arrangements.” Rouge grabs my hand, rubs her fingers into my palm. “But when it comes time to do your house act, I want you to pick her out of the audience.”

“What’s her name?”

“Don’t worry about the name. I’ll give you a physical description. She may not volunteer when the time comes to do your act, but you must choose her anyway.”

A chill runs down my spine. “Okay…”

“You’ll bring her onto the stage, get her into the tent.” She grabs my wrist. “You’ll drop the house on her, and then…”

“Then what?”

She grips my wrist with so much strength that her nails dig into my skin. “And then, Austin Waverly, she must disappear.”

11

THEA

Christ, I’m horny.

I’ve got a healthy sex drive for a woman of my age, but I haven’t been this hungry for a man in a while.

Sometimes an itch pops up and you have to scratch it.

And Wick Blackwood can scratch me anywhere he wants tonight.

I left the Jade Sanctum on Wick’s arm. Aus wasn’t looking in our direction, thank God.

Not that I owe him anything. We met, exchanged a few words, and then parted ways.

I’d rather be going home with him, but beggars can’t be choosers. And my pussy is begging to be pounded into oblivion. I can’t wait for Aus. I need it now.

And Wick is hot. He’s getting hotter by the minute, if I’m being honest.

I want those black-nailed fingers inside me. Want to feel the cool metal of his lip ring. Want to run my hands through his hair that is darker than the moonless night.

I bet he has a fantastic dick, too. Full of darkness like the rest of him.

I’m following Wick to his car in the Jade Sanctum garage. It’s a bit of a jaunt from the club, but we are in the middle of downtown Chicago. Parking is a premium here.

I’m not watching where I’m going and⁠—

Fuck!

My high heel catches in a sewer grate. I whip my arm out of Wick’s grasp and nearly tumble to the concrete sidewalk.

He looks back, his mouth open. “You okay?”