Page 56 of Brutal Ice

Micah grimaced and shut the door. “They have to finish their investigation.” He braced his legs apart. “They grilled me. Can you believe that shit? And I’m pretty sure that Violet’s new boyfriend threatened me.” He marched forward and rubbed a hand over the back of his neck. “But, damn, sales are about to go through the roof.” He flashed her a wide smile. “You can’t pay for publicity like this! We are going to have to extend the run of the ballet. People will be flocking here every night. They’ll all be waiting with bated breath to see if Snow White dies in her glass coffin.”

Chill bumps rose on her arms. “You said she didn’t nearly die. When—when her boyfriend said she could have died, you said that she could have just gotten some cuts.”

“Yeah, and did you see that asshole’s reaction to those words?” Micah’s expression tightened. “I swear, for a second, I almost thought he’d pull out a knife and slice me.” He rolled back his shoulders. “The man pays for one dance with her, and suddenly he’s acting like he owns her. And Violet was the fucking Ice Queen before he strolled into her life. Now she’s into screwing strangers?” A disgusted shake of his head. “Guess money does buy anything. Or anyone.”

“I saw a reporter taking pictures of the coffin.” She ignored what he’d said, for now. “I thought the theater was supposed to be off-limits while the cops were investigating.”

He winked at her. “There’s off-limits, and then there’s off-limits.”

“You let him in.”

“If you don’t have a dramatic shot to show the public, did the dangerous scene even happen? It’s like the old saying…if a tree falls in a forest, and no one is there to hear it, did it even make a fucking sound?”

Her hands twisted in her lap.

“There was a big sound today. Shatter. That glass shattered so hard it even scared me. And in order to fully understand the scene, people needed pictures. To see is to believe.”

She licked her lips. “Did you have something to do with the light falling on Violet?”

“She’s my star!”

Simone flinched at that angry outburst.

“Like I would risk her.” He closed in. Stared down at her. “Though, of course, if something did happen to her, I have an amazing understudy ready in the wings, don’t I?”

“You didn’t lock her in the coffin.” A statement.

He bent and brushed his lips over hers. “Of course, I didn’t lock her in the coffin. What kind of monster do you think I am?”

The kind that would do anything to make sure his show was a resounding success.

“I worry, though,” Micah continued as his voice turned musing, “that our poor, traumatized lead may break before showtime. I tried to get her to go and pay a visit to Leo. You remember Leo, don’t you, love?”

The psychiatrist. Leo Barnes. Yeah, Micah had introduced her to him at the fundraiser. Simone nodded.

“I was attempting to help her, but she refused.” A sigh. “Some people are their own worst enemies.”

“She should talk to someone,” Simone heard herself say. The words were the truth. After the abduction, Violet had been so different. Brittle. And Simone had thought Violet might just be in danger of breaking, too.

“If she falls apart before the show, well, you are ready, are you not?” Another soft kiss. “All you need is the wig. That wig transforms you into our Snow White.”

Was that one of the reasons that Violet had gotten the role over Simone? Because Violet looked like Snow White, no wig necessary? Hell, Simone would have dyed her blond hair in an instant. Or worn the stupid wig that was in the top drawer of her dressing table. She would have gladly worn it twenty-four, seven.

Or did Violet get the role because Micah wanted to fuck her? The dark question rolled through her.

Simone knew she was just as good of a dancer as her friend. Is this just about Violet being an unattainable fuck? Simone pulled in a deep breath.

Dammit, she is my friend. I hate feeling this way about my friend. But she’d been jealous when Violet got the role she’d wanted so badly.

“When the cops leave, I’ll be cutting out,” Micah said, completely oblivious to her sudden tension. “Want to meet me at my place?”

No, she didn’t. They were a mistake. He’d been stringing her along. Making promises he wouldn’t keep. And he’d started to scare her a bit because…I’m not sure I trust him.

But…

He kissed her again. “This show is going to change everything,” he promised her. “National news teams have picked up Violet’s story. Her getting abducted was the best thing that could have happened to us.”

God, that was cold. “She could have died.”

---