Page 47 of Sinful Sacrifice

My body tightens.

Does he know about Cernach coming to my apartment?

There was no missing the disdain on Damien’s face when he found out our relation at the funeral.

I play with my napkin in my lap. “Work, dance, then home before the girls came and we went to the spa.” I smile and raise my fingers to the necklace, playing with it. “Another thank-you for making my day so special.”

“When can I watch you dance?”

A flush runs down my neck. “I think you already have.”

He cracks a smile, as if reliving the memory. “While I love that dancing, when can I watch you perform for an audience that isn’t only me? I want to see you in your natural environment.”

“I get too nervous when people I’m close with watch me.”

“Just act like I’m not there.”

“If I have any upcoming shows, I’ll let you know.”

“How did you start dancing?” He laces his fingers together and leans closer, resting his elbows on the table, giving me his full attention.

I’m thankful for the conversation change. “My mom was a dancer, and for as long as I can remember, I knew I wanted to follow in her footsteps.”

“Why are you working at the coffee shop instead of something dance-related?”

“Stalking me?” I tease.

“Doing my research.”

I sigh, a pang of sadness hitting me. “My mom had a studio I used to teach at. I loved working there, especially with the younger kids.” My shoulders slump. “She doesn’t have the studio anymore, hence why I’m at the coffee shop.”

“What happened to her studio?”

“Someone burned it down.” I squeeze my eyes shut at the memory of the day we found out. The studio was reduced to nothing but ashes.

“Do you think your father had something to do with it?”

“He either did it for the insurance money or someone he’d pissed off did it.”

“Can you not work at another studio?”

“If I worked for a studio that wasn’t hers, she’d see me as a traitor. Even though she broke her loyalty to her family when she married my father, she still believes it should be held in other circumstances. She wants me to wait until she’s able to open another studio. Until that happens, I’ll stay at Brew Bliss.”

My mother grew up in a Mafia-ran home, and while she doesn’t follow everything to their code, loyalty is important to her.

You don’t work for another family’s business.

You tough it out with yours, no exceptions.

Sacrifices are always made in life. You must think about the good of your family before personal happiness. That’s why I sacrificed my dream of finishing school to support hers of running a successful dance studio.

He nods in understanding. “I get that. Family over everything. It’s been my way of life as well.”

“What about you?” I ask. “What have you been up to?”

He cradles his glass in his hand, gently tapping his fingers against it. “Working.”

“Working?” I repeat slowly.

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