Page 100 of Mafioso's Muse

‘Well, when you’re done, I’ll be waiting to add another forty-five thousand pins to your hair.’ Lili frowned in Vaughn’s direction before returning inside.

He took a step back. ‘I should probably get to my seat and let you finish getting ready.’

Willow straightened. ‘Would you like to come have a drink with us after the show?’

Her hopeful expression made his chest tighten. ‘Where?’

‘Maybe Titian on Chapel. We know the owner there,’ she said playfully.

‘Is that right?’

Her cheeks coloured. ‘We can go somewhere else if you’d prefer.’

If Willow was going out drinking, he wanted her safe inside one of his venues, where she would be taken care of in every way. He began to wonder what all of these invitations were adding up to. It was possible the destruction caused by their separation was worse than the damage that came from being together.

‘I think Titian is a great choice for an end-of-season celebration. I’ll find you after the show.’

She stepped up to the dressing room door and opened it. ‘Wish me luck.’

‘You don’t need it.’

With a final smile, she disappeared inside.

31

July 2024

The air backstage was thick with excitement as Willow waited to go on. She took several deep breaths in an attempt to calm her racing heart.

‘Willow,’ Harrison whispered behind her.

She whipped her head around, and he gestured for her to relax her shoulders. She dropped them an inch. While she knew with certainty that she could never trust him as a friend again, she held out hope that their professional relationship could be mended.

‘Now breathe,’ he mouthed.

Closing her eyes, she breathed slowly while waiting for the change in the music. When she heard it, her eyes opened and her spine lengthened. She conjured a joyful smile, the most joyful, then ran out onto the stage, letting the music take over her body. The stage lights were deliciously blinding as she leapt and turned, rose and fell, her body telling a story. She could sense the audience beyond the lights, and it fuelled her. It was all going so perfectly up until that point.

But then an ominous creak rang out.

She could have sworn she felt the stage tremble. The smile fell from her face, but only for a second. Shaking off the distraction, she refocused.Smile, she told herself.Don’t lose the joy. She was the Fairy of Joy, for goodness’ sake.

Willow was determined not to lose the magic.

But the magic was siphoned from her when a second creak sounded, louder this time. Loud enough for the violinists to skip a note and for the percussionists to miss a beat. Still, she continued to dance, because what else could she do?

More creaking, louder still. Willow looked around, trying to find the source of the noise. The other dancers stared down at the ground, panic on their faces. Willow could feel unfamiliar vibrations travelling through her feet and up her body with every step and jump she took. A growing sense that something was very wrong settled in the pit of her stomach. One of the dancers backed off the stage. The others looked between themselves, no doubt wondering if they should do the same. Willow had less than a minute to go of her routine. If she could just?—

‘Clear the stage!’ someone shouted from the wings.

But the warning came too late for every dancer still on that stage. There was a deafening crack as the timber began to come apart. The floor tilted, throwing Willow sideways. Her head smacked the wood before she plummeted down into darkness.

Willow’s eyes snapped open. Unable to see, she blinked multiple times, trying to clear her vision. Panic gripped her when she realised there was dust in her eyes. It was everywhere. Inside her nose, ears, mouth. She spat, then coughed. In her throat too. She could hear frantic screaming nearby. Or maybe not nearby.

‘Willow!’

That was Lili.

Willow tried to call out, but the words were drowned out by the sound of the stage, which was still coming down around her. She turned her head, recognising nothing and seeing no one. Shock replaced the panic, bringing some calm.

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