Page 16 of Twin Deception

“She wants nothing to do with you because you’re tainted by your father.”

That was the line that she gave them. And it was true. I was half my mother, half my father. And she hated him so much that her resentment included me. Her own child.

“Hey there.” A man reached his arm around my waist, getting too close when I wasn’t paying attention in my mad rush to get through the crowd. Now that I knew my stalker was closing inon me, I wanted to escape out through the other side of the building.

This guy dancing like he wanted to be a porn star was telling menot so fast.

I played along, though, not wanting to cause a scene. Causing a scene was the last thing I needed to do. I had to just get out of here. Blend in. And blending into this club would mean dancing.

Pushing him back, I moved to the music and smiled while checking for my stalker again.

“How you doing, baby?” he asked as he tried again to crowd in on me.

I put my hand to his chest, keeping him back but still looking like I was just any other woman dancing. One who didn’t want him to touch me. Using this position to look past him again, I caught sight of that thick black hair. The glint of silver in his earring.

Dammit.He was getting nearer. People writhed and moved to the music between us, but he was closing in on me.

Without replying to the man, I sidestepped and eased away from him.

What does he want?

Why is he after me now?

What’s going on?

This fear that had gone dormant within me rose to the surface and made it seem like my skin was too tight, like the room didn’t have enough oxygen. Panic attacks were a frequent issue back before I struck out on my own. I didn’t suffer from them onceI left that life as Louis’s daughter. But the creeping sensation returned now.

Being followedwasnothing new. I’d dealt with the possibility of my father’s enemies targeting me back then. He was that unscrupulous. That corrupt. That much of a sneaky cheat that all kinds of business associates and rivals could try to take his family as leverage, to manipulate him into bending to what they wanted.

But I distanced myself.I did all I could to show the world I was separate from Louis Flores. Annoyance cut through this rising panic, and I seethed that whatever my father was up to couldstillreach me somehow.

I don’t want to be dragged into his bullshit.Again.

And on a vacation?

Anger replaced the annoyance. I couldn’t even panic anymore. Fury ruled now.

How dare they?

How fucking dare this man insinuate that I have any tie to him?

I had nothing to share or reveal. Blissfully ignorant, I had nothing to be targeted for. Nothing. Zilch. No secrets. No wealth, since I lived on what I made. I was nothing to Louis Flores, just like I intended to be.

So it was with deep fury that I damned this man to follow me.

The audacity…

Reaching the other side of the crowd dancing to the music, I paused and tried to locate a sign that would indicate an exit outthe back. There had to be one. There were way too many people in here for the front door to be the only point of egress.

Relying on the safety of numbers, safer in this crowd than on my own yet, I kept on dancing—by myself—within the crowd. Blending in was key. Until I could scope out a clear exit, I’d stay right here. As soon as the lights could point the way out, I’d hide among these dancers. Then, I could bolt.

Screw this vacation.I’d already been debating whether I should give up on a change of scenery to make me feel less alone. But now this pushed me closer to that answer.

I’ll go.

As a couple of men danced with me, blocking me from sight, I planned.

I can fly home and get my supplies, then go to Tampa and start that mural.

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