Page 17 of Play With Me

Everyone crowds around the desk as I read it out loud.

You made an appearance but didn’t perform. I want to see you put on a show for me, Carmela. How far are you willing to go to find out who I am?

“No nursery rhyme this time,” Anders says, more to himself than any of us.

My heart beats erratically in my chest, thumping against my rib cage so hard I fear my bones might break. For the first time since last night, it truly hits me that thiskillerwas inside my club, in the same room as me.

Watching me.

My eyes lift, finding Anders. If they saw me last night, that means they saw him, too. Was the mask enough to protect his identity? Does the killer know Anders was brought here to find him?

“He’s asking me specifically to appear more,” I say, voice shaking with trepidation. No one says athing, the silence settling heavily as everyone stares at the letter. Mick’s hand grips my shoulder, and Anders glares at him.

“Maybe that’s what we need to do to draw him out. We do the shows monthly. What if we opened the Desires hall every night for shows? If he wants to see me perform, I’ll perform.” I wait for Anders to look at me with his judgy, scrutinizing eyes. When he does—because in the short time we’ve known each other, he’s become that predictable—my voice is stronger as I speak again. “I have no problem with people watching me.”

He rolls his eyes, walking away to look out the window behind me as Mick declares, “That could work. And you don’t actually have to fuck someone. Just put on a show and pretend like you are.”

“What? No! You’re not gonna dangle her like bait. Are you fucking serious?” Anders cries out, whirling back around to look at us.

“We’ll keep eyes on her at all times. She’s tough, she can do it. Right, Mellie?” Mick squeezes my shoulder lightly.

The instant need to please him flows through me. Even after all these years, my body is still primed and prepped to do as he requests at all times, and I hate that he still has this effect on me.

“Perhaps she can perform with someone who can protect her? The killer might try and strike if they think she’s in the throes of passion, unaware. Itwould need to be someone who could act distracted with her while simultaneously alert,” Nikolai pipes up from the far wall by the door. I jump, not realizing he and Martin have joined us again.

“The only people I would trust enough to do that should be watching my back. Not pretending to fuck me,” I mutter.

“Luca?” Lenni suggests.

“Fuck no,” Mick snaps.

“Jace could do it?” Jackson offers.

“Jace wouldn’t know how to protect her if he had a gun and the killer walked right up to him. He’d probably try to fuck him, too,” Tripp mutters. Lenni smacks his chest lightly, smiling as they share a look.

A few beats of silence pass while we think about who is trustworthy enough to work with me on this.

Finally, it’s Mick who breaks the silence, surprising the fuck out of me with his proposal. “Why doesn’t Brooks do it?”

“Excuse me?!” I jerk out of his hold, glaring up at him.

At the same time I shout, Anders grimaces and says, “Come again?”

Mick smirks, and I swear to God I want to slap him so hard my hand twitches.

“You two obviously don’t like each other. So there’s no danger of you getting fresh with Mellie, given your personal beliefs. You know your boundaries, and you can keep her safe. You two will justhave to put aside your differences. There’s a thin line between passion and hatred. Do your job, blur the fuck out of it, and make it look real.” I'd never believe Mick was the one to suggest it if I wasn’t hearing the words fall from between his own lips.

“What the fuck, Mick?” My entire face feels hot, and even though I want to look at Anders, my gaze remains glued to Mick’s.

“You need to draw him out. You made an appearance at the show, and he showed up. He’srequestingyou put on a performance, so weknowhe’ll show again. Then we can bag this fucker and go on with our lives. This is gonna start getting messy if it continues, Mellie. For Christ’s sake, just do it.” Mick speaks to me like he’s talking to a stubborn child.

He turns away, and my eyes slide to Anders, who is looking at me like he really feels bad for the way Mick is treating me. We stare at each other, mulling over the asinine idea like we might actually go through with it.

“Look, can we wrap this up? My very pregnant wife is at home with the sole desire to ride my dick and eat her weight in mini cupcakes. I brought home the cupcakes earlier. The other matter is obviously a problem if I’m not there,” Jackson drawls. He rises from his seat, throwing me a look that tells me he’s trying to save me from embarrassment.

“Are you serious right now? This is important,”Mick snaps as Jackson motions for Lenni and Tripp to leave with him.

“I don’t need the details of how the detective and Carmela are gonna pretend to fuck each other,” Jackson throws over his shoulder.

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