Page 2 of Reign or Shine

When the rap verse hits, I go all out. While undressing, I moonwalk over to the first layer of my dress, grab it and begin to use it as a floppy microphone. When the song draws to an end I dramatically throw my arms out wide and belt out the last word, holding the off-key note until there wasn’t any more breath in my lungs.

A slow clap sounds behind me.

My eyes shoot open. I spin around so fast I briefly feel the sweet heat of the carpet burn my foot.

A pair of shocking blue eyes lock with mine.

I give a gasp of surprise.

And immediately start choking on my own spit.

Chapter Two

Henry

It was the wailing that alerted my guards. Something was wrong. It sounded like a cat was dying somewhere on this floor.

“What the hell?”

Was coming from my suite of rooms?

One of my men ran ahead, hand already clutching the gun hidden under his suit jacket as he cautiously approached the door. A young man I didn’t recognize, no doubt one of my cousin’s hired security people, raised his hands to stop us. An odd look was on his face.

“Stand down!” he called out, taking a step in our direction. “It’s not a threat.”

Neither Toby nor Jonas believed him, instead they silently communicated with one another before drawing their guns and stealthily opening the doors.

Toby went in first as Jonas covered him from behind. Ignoring their commands of stay here, I continued into my suite. Whoever or whatever was making all this noise was not a threat. I was sure of it.

Until I got a look at her.

My heart jumps into my throat, causing me to lose my breath for a moment. The sight before me is one of the strangest things I’ve ever seen but also the most beautiful.

A woman with long dirty brown hair and a strong lean body is jerking her body to the music. Her movements aren’t on beat, and I don’t know if I would call what she’s doing singing, but there’s such passion in her voice.

I can’t take my eyes off her.

Jonas and Toby only lower their guns slightly. Giving them a signal not to interfere, I let the woman finish her song. And she does, in a big way. I have to press my lips together to hold in my laugh.

When her arms extend wide and she finishes the song, I can’t stop myself from applauding her.

Which was probably the last thing I should have done.

Her eyes pop open in fright. She gasps, a scream seconds away.

Then she starts coughing. Violently coughing.

Fumbling backward, she trips and falls, clutching the bedsheets. Her choke-coughing continues as she tries to say something, face getting red from the strain.

“It’s okay. Breathe. Breathe,” I gently coo to her, holding up my hands to show I mean no harm.

Her eyes are watering now, tears threatening to fall. I cup both hands to the sides of her shoulders and direct her to sit on the edge of the bed.

A shimmer of something catches my eye behind her, and I quickly look over my shoulder to see a pile of clothes. The colors of the fabric look familiar but I don’t know why.

I start to sit down beside her but she makes a frantic squeaking between chocking coughs and reaches for something.

“Oh my God,” I shout, pushing myself up to standing. She’s grabbed a ball of hair that freaks me out. For a second I thought it was alive.

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