Page 39 of Dirty Dancer

Theo frowned. “Are you going to send security with me too?”

“Maybe.” I cut his pizza first then mine. “Depends. We protect our own, Theo. You’re ours.”

The explosive sigh he released made my heart ache for him. I had some ideas of what his life had been like before we found him. That made my heart hurt for him. We were also trying to build bridges over the chasms between us. Fractures in the bedrock of who we should be to each other.

If he’d been with Milo or me, we’d have done everything we could to protect him. We weren’t there then. We were now.

“I’m going to go tell Levi I’m going to have lunch with you.” He hesitated. “If that’s okay?”

“It’s more than okay, but I can always take the pizza out there and watch you guys play if you want. I don’t know much about the game, but I am very good at cheering players on.”

Theo laughed. It was a rusty sound at first, but it came out a little more warmly by the end. “I don’t mind just eating lunch, but there were new levels that came out today and a whole new area opened up…” Animation bled into him. It was like watching the sun come out on a stormy day. “It’s pretty bad ass, I can show you how to play if you want to learn.”

“Maybe next time.” I loaded our pizzas up on plates. “Grab some sodas and let’s go see this game.”

The animation remained as he stared at me. It was like he was trying to decide if I was serious, and then finally he grinned. I swore it was the first time I saw a real smile on him. While he did look like our father, it wasn’t King I saw when I looked at Theo. I never would either.

“Thanks, Em—” Another hesitation. “Should I call you Ivy too? I know that’s what Milo calls you.”

“You can call me whatever you want,” I said.

“I like Em,” he offered. “But Ivy feels more personal.”

I didn’t disagree. “Think about it, we don’t have to decide anything now.” I’d caught the hint of movement outside of the kitchen before I led the way out. If I were to guess, it was Freddie checking on us but leaving us to talk. He wouldn’t have interrupted unless he perceived a problem. Now he’d ghosted out, looking after us in his own way.

Ten minutes later, I was ensconced on the sofa in the living room eating my pizza while Theo and Levi devastated hordes of zombies. It was bloody, vicious, and more than a little graphic.

It was also kind of funny when the guys were shit talking each other. I think I liked that part best.

CHAPTER 16

LIAM

The plan was just this side of crazy, but it was also sexy as hell. From the first time she proposed it, I’d been curious as hell to see how she would pull it off. Notifshe could, buthowshe would. Kellan stood three feet from me, arms folded and his expression a mask of contained concern.

“She’s been practicing,” I reminded him. We’d segregated the warehouse to create a stable background for her target and to give her the room for mistakes. We’d also banned all the rats during her sessions, as much to keep their eyes off her while she practiced. Particularly since most of it involved her being in leotards with lots of skin on display.

While she might not care if they stared at her, she was used to performing, it was better for the rest of us and the rats’ health if they didn’t indulge in any wolf whistling or other behavior. Hellspawn was gorgeous, and grew more beautiful with every single day. She had all the right curves in all the right places.Her muscle definition was back and she wore a smile like some women did a ten thousand dollar diamond necklace.

Perfection.

“I get that. I’ve even watched her practice.” The even tone Kellan used didn’t betray his opinion of the practice rounds.

“She got better.” The first few rounds had been… Well, painful and entertaining are not two words that should be linked as they were. I’d winced more than once and damn near laughed on far too many occasions.

“She’s—something else,” Kellan admitted and I heard every definition of “something else” that he didn’t say aloud. I agreed with all of them. He blew out a breath. “It’s not that I don’t think she can do it. I know shecan,whether it’s today or tomorrow. Shewilldo it.”

“It’s that doing it opens doors to more challenges?” I’d seen it coming on the road with her performances. I wasn’t alone in that. Vaughn, Freddie, and Rome had all said variations on the same thing since the tour began. I’d been anticipating Rome getting up there with her as a partner, and that was coming with the next run of shows.

He’d been more than ready for it, but he’d waited for her to be ready. The past year had been one challenge after another for Hellspawn. From ending Bradley Sharpe to backing Milo and the others in Prague when it came to dealing with King—the world was so much better off without either of those men in it—, she’d come into herself and cemented the ties between all of us. She’d helped us as much as she’d let us help her, sometimes I thought more.

The tour? The tour was just her reclaiming another piece of her own life, making her mark. It had taken her time, sweat, and effort, but I’d watched the joy bleed back into her. Reclaiming the stage let her take back another piece they’d tried to stealfrom her. She was getting back every damn piece she wanted and more besides.

“She can handle it,” I said when Kellan hadn’t responded to the question. Hellspawn was setting up the bow and the arrows while Vaughn rechecked the targets. Freddie had claimed a seat on one of the crates with Jasper standing there, arms folded and looking like tension vibrated around him in a cloud.

Rome appeared to be perfectly relaxed. Then again, little worried my other half, particularly when she was directly in front of us. Nothing would touch her that we didn’t allow the privilege and he was within arm’s reach should she require anything.

“Doc is on his way,” Kellan said after he pulled his phone out of his pocket.

---