Page 16 of Brutal Ice

“I told you before, Violet, you attracted a very dangerous predator.”

“A serial killer.” He’d said those actual words. Her knees definitely knocked together.

“You will need protection.”

She shook her head. “The cops said he won’t come back for me. They didn’t say anything about him being a serial killer.” A stalker, yes. An obsessed fan, yes. A serial killer? No, that had not been mentioned by any of the cops.

Royal just stared down at her.

“Royal. If you know more, tell me.”

“Go back to your brother?—”

“No.” A hard denial. “I am not cowering in fear any longer. I have a show to perform. A whole crew of dancers waiting on me. If fear controls me, I can’t step foot on the stage. I can’t do my job. And I won’t spend the rest of my life looking over my shoulder. That’s not happening.”

His gaze swept over her. “Fair enough. Then I’ll have to use my cover.”

The cover of…lust-sick fool? Her temples pounded. She needed to go back inside. Get away from him. She couldn’t think clearly this close to Royal. And she could feel the secrets oozing from him.

“Our time is nearly up,” Royal announced. “I need to kiss you.”

No. He needed to stop jerking her around. “Good night, Royal.” She brushed past him.

He caught her wrist. His grip was so careful and yet so very unbreakable. “You need me.”

She looked down at his fingers as they curled around her. “I need the truth.”

The balcony door opened. “Violet?” Micah poked his head outside.

Royal tugged her closer. “Kiss me,” he rasped.

For his cover? “I only kiss someone for show when I’m on a stage. Otherwise, I mean it.” She pulled free. “Good night, Mr. Boudreaux.” Violet walked toward Micah. His gaze wasn’t on her face. Instead, he stared beyond her as he frowned hard at Royal.

But Micah extended a hand toward her.

She started to take his offered fingers.

“Violet!”

She froze at Royal’s grated call.

“I will be seeing you again,” Royal promised her. “And thank you for the dance. Hopefully, it will be the first of many.”

She took Micah’s hand.

Jealousy. It was new for Royal and fucking annoying. His hands fisted as Micah curled his arm around Violet and led her back inside the ballroom.

Royal didn’t like the other man touching Violet.

He didn’t like the prick near Violet.

Because…

I want her.

The desire he’d felt for her hadn’t lessened. If only. Instead, as she’d stood on the balcony, tipping up her chin and facing off against him, Royal had been surprised by the force of the admiration and arousal that had surged through him. He’d truly intended to just warn her. The cops were screwing her case to hell and back, and he had to wonder if they were actually that incompetent or…

Or are they using her?

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