Page 54 of Sinful Sacrifice

“Fifteen minutes.”

I’m tempted to go bribe her boss for extra time. Hell, to give her the day off. I’d happily match Pippa’s pay and throw the owner a couple hundred for doing me the favor.

I stretch my neck. “What are your plans for tonight?”

She glances around the room, suddenly failing to meet my eyes. “Uh, nothing really.”

I shift in my chair, uncrossing my ankles. “I’ll come over then.”

“I have plans with my mom and sister,” she rushes out, her face reddening. “Maybe after, though? I’ll call you when I’m home.”

“Yeah.” I slowly nod. “You call me.”

I told Pippa I don’t like liars.

Yet, she just lied straight to my face.

I’ll punish her for that tonight.

18

“Get rid of the piece of shit,” I tell Emilio, removing my leather gloves and cleaning blood off my shoes.

“Got it.” He salutes me before spitting on the bleeding-out body at his feet.

As I leave the warehouse, I wipe sweat off my forehead and walk to my SUV. Before heading to the theater, I swing by the market to buy fresh flowers. Over the past few weeks, I’ve immersed myself in endless research on Pippa. Hell, I could have a PhD in the arts of her life.

She’s twenty-six, born in Boston but raised in New York. After a year at Juilliard, she dropped out to help her mother run a dance studio that’s no longer in business.

When I enter the dark theater, I make my way to the back row, blending in with the audience. I place the roses at my feet, settle into my seat, and silence my phone. Pippa can’t know I’m here yet. I don’t want her to see me and get nervous.

The show starts, and I’m captivated by her. As she dances, she radiates perfection, her beauty undeniable. She takes over all my thoughts, causing me to forget all my life troubles.

The hurt from losing my family.

The casino.

All of it dissolves.

I’m fully present, entranced by her.

Happiness was never in my life plan.

I never saw myself as being a man happily married or obsessed with a woman like I’ve become with her. Pippa already feels like family, like home, and I never want to let that go.

This is my first ballet, so I wasn’t sure what to expect. Pippa gracefully dances across the stage with other dancers and performs a solo near the end. I don’t know how much time passes, and I don’t care. I could sit here all night and watch her.

When the show ends, the dancers take their final bow. The audience breaks out in applause, giving them a standing ovation. I clap as the man next to me whistles.

There’s a moment where I don’t think she’ll notice me. But as she rises from her bow, she locks eyes with me and freezes.

Hello, my sweet dancer.

19

Holy shit.

Damien is here.

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