Page 126 of Claimed By the Band

"You look absolutely gorgeous," he murmurs, turning me away from the curtain to face him. His eyes glimmer as he spins me in a slow circle, making the skirt of my dress flare out around my legs.

I can't help but smile, running my hands over the soft fabric. The dress was his idea, or rather, having it custom made was. But everything else about it is purely me. I picked the fabric, the colors, the cut. It's more feminine than anything I've worn in years, but there's an edge to the dark purple fabric and the way it clings to my body.

It make me feel pretty in a way I'd forgotten I could. And bit by bit, I think I'm starting to figure out my own personal style. What I actually like and enjoy, versus what other people wanted me to wear, or the layers I had to hide behind for safety.

"Thank you," I say softly, leaning up to kiss him. "For everything. Are you ready to put on the show of your life?"

"More than ready," he grins, but then his expression softens. "Are you nervous?"

I bite my lip, considering the question. "Not about the trap," I admit. "We've planned everything perfectly. But meeting Maria and Ace..." I trail off, my stomach doing flip-flops at the thought.

They're the reason we were able to pull this off so quickly. Maria using her connections in law enforcement while Adam worked his magic with ticket distribution and the setup that's going to make sure the Sons of Epsilon won't be getting out of this placetonight in anything but handcuffs. I owe them both so much, and they don't even know who I really am yet.

"They'll love you," Asher says firmly, cupping my face in his hands. "The real you. And fuck anyone who doesn't, though I seriously doubt that will be an issue."

I lean into his touch, drawing strength from his unwavering faith in me. "I hope you're right."

"Jordan?" Sam, the band's manager, appears at the end of the hallway. "Your special guests are here. They're waiting in the dressing room."

My heart stutters. This is it. I'm about to let two more people see the real me.

"Want me to come with you?" Asher offers.

I shake my head, even though part of me wants to cling to his hand. "No, I need to do this on my own. But thank you."

He kisses me softly, pouring all his support into the gentle press of his lips. "I'll be right here if you need me. The others will be back soon, too."

Taking a deep breath, I smooth down my dress one final time and head toward the dressing room. My boots thump against the concrete floor, the sound echoing off the walls. I might be experimenting with fashion more, but I'm nowhere near ready to part with those.

I pause outside the dressing room door, my hand hovering over the handle. Through the thick wood, I can hear familiar voices. Maria's warm alto and Adam's deeper tone, discussing something about security protocols.

My friends. My allies. People who've helped me for years without ever knowing my face or even my real name.

Before I can lose my nerve, I push open the door.

They look exactly like I pictured them. Maria is petite and striking in her tailored pantsuit, her long brown hair pulled back in a neat ponytail. Ace is tall and lean but solid, his dark hair short but messy. He's wearing a hoodie and jeans, as if he's not on a top-secret mission that'll be the subject matter of all tomorrow's headlines. A man after my own heart.

They both look up as I enter, confusion crossing their features as they scan the room behind me.

"Hi. We're looking for Echo? We were told to meet him here," Maria says, her brow furrowing slightly.

I can't help but smile, even as I brace myself for rejection. I let my voice slip back into Echo's. "You're looking at her."

The silence that follows is deafening. Maria's eyes widen as she processes my words, while Ace's expression shifts from confusion to understanding to something that might be awe.

"You'reEcho?" Maria asks finally, her voice barely above a whisper. "The mysterious hacker who's been helping us take down corrupt officials and anti-omega extremists for the past three years is a woman?"

"And an omega?" Ace adds, and I realize he hasn't actually blinked this whole time.

I nod, my hands clasped tightly in front of me to hide their trembling. "My real name is Jordan, but… yeah. That's me."

"Holy shit," Ace breathes, running a hand through his choppy hair. "Didn't see that coming."

"That makes two of us, computer boy," Maria says without taking her eyes off me. I hold my breath for a few tense moments, until her lips part into a smile. "That's fucking awesome."

Now it's my turn to look stunned. "It is?"

"Hell, yeah it is," Ace says with a laugh, leaping up from his chair.

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