Page 6 of Sin & Secrets

All I can do is shake my head as his fingers press firmly into my skin. That extinguished flame inside me rallies to ensure I don’t wince.

“It’s just girl stuff,” I whisper back, more defiant than I’d usually dare. “I’ll settle in with them once I’ve gotten used to this place.”

Claudio’s expression in the mirror crumbles and the mask he wears in front of everyone else slips away to reveal the boy beneath it. “I thought you loved me.”

I swallow down my cry of pain as his fingers press harder. I whisper as soothingly as I can. “Of course I do, darling.”

The pressure eases on my arms, but I don’t check to see if he’s left a bruise. Breaking eye contact with him would be like somehow admitting I was lying.

“It’s just you and me, right?” he breathes in my ear as he stokes my arms up and down, as if reassuring himself that I’m still here.

“I’m with you, Claudio,” I reassure him as he moves on to touch my hair. His fingers run through the dark, thick strands, and for a moment, I think he might pull at it like Danny did.

But he sucks in a long breath and finally steps away.

I can’t help the way my shoulders sag in relief.

“I just want you to be a star. I knew you were one the moment I set eyes on you.” His usual cold mask slowly slips back onto hisface. “That’s why I brought you here. I saw your potential and knew I had to be the one to guide you to your destiny.”

“I know, baby, and you will,” I say as earnestly as possible.

“You wouldn’t be here if I hadn’t found you in Ohio, drowning alongside mediocre talent.”

I turn to look at him, eyes snagging on the bills bulging out of the pocket of his jeans. “I will always be grateful that you did.”

But it’s clear he’s stopped listening to me, the facade of theCandelabra’stalent manager taking over once more. As he stalks back to the door, a sinking feeling settles into my stomach.

“I need you to go out there and close the show better than ever. The Italians are here, and they’re going to be pissed that they missed Daniela’s performance.”

“Right.” I nod absently but can’t tear my eyes from his pocket.

“I mean it, Cas. You need to make this up to me, remember?”

He lingers at the door, and I try to persuade myself that he’s just forgotten. That asking my next question isn’t unreasonable.

“Before you go, could you give me my tips back?”

Claudio stares at me blankly. “You owe me rent.”

It feels like he’s just punched the air from my lungs. “Right.”

His gaze rakes over me once more before he leaves. The act sends a shiver down my spine that I convince myself must be derived from desire. Because what else could it be? My heart thrums rapidly in my chest at the truth in that stare.

He is gorgeous, passionate, and committed to my success. He’s the angel who swept into my boring old life in Ohio and promised me the world was ours for the taking.

It’s so easy to convince myself that I love him, because he’s already done so much for me. He got me this job, housed me, clothed me.

If that’s not love, what is?

“Fuck.”

I examine my arms in the mirror with a gnawing sense of dread. Hand-shaped bruises are already forming on the tops of my arms, and my strappy black dress does nothing to conceal them.

The intercom buzzes. “Cas, you’re on in five!”

There’s nothing else I can do. I don the worn leather jacket hanging on the back of my chair and allow the familiar musky scent of it soothe my rampant anxiety. Danny will give me so much crap for wearing it on stage, but I don’t care.

The woman in the mirror stretches her face into a smile, and we rise as one, ready to take on the world. Seven thousand dollars lighter.

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