Page 32 of Dance of Ruin

Milena’s brows knit. “You were MIA for almost three days,solnishka.”

Her gaze lingers on me for another second before the others crowd around.

“So… What’s going on?” I say, forcing a smile even though it feels totally hollow. Empty.

Lyra lowers her puffy eyes, shaking her head. “It’s just…a lot to process. It’s been a weird few days, you know?”

The rest of them nod solemnly in agreement.

Okayyy, I’m definitely missing something.

“Have you gone to see her yet?” Evelina asks me. “I mean, I know you were sick, but I'm sure she’d love to see you.”

I blink. “I…” My head shakes. “What’s going on?”

They all fall silent.

Milena’s face softens.

"Wait... You don’t know?"

My stomach clenches. “I’ve…had my phone off for three days. What is it?”

Lyra squeezes her eyes shut, hugging herself. “Someone set off a car bomb outside the Barone house at Vito’s birthday party. Bianca almost walked right into it. Kratos pulled her back. She’s still in hospital.”

The words hit like a punch to the face.

"What?!” I scream. Vaughn catches my horrified expression and jogs over from the group of male dancers he’s been smoking with.

“You disappeared on us,” he says with a frown.

“She didn’t know about Bianca,” Brooklyn says quickly and quietly before he can launch into any of his usual innuendo.

“Fuck, are you serious?”

I ignore him and focus on Lyra. “So Bianca?—”

"She’s fine," Lyra says quickly. "She’s on bed rest now, but she’s okay."

I stare blankly at her.

"She’s pregnant," Milena says gently.

Something sparks in me.

Warmth. Joy. The first happiness I’ve felt in days.

"The baby’s fine," Lyra continues. "They’re monitoring her, keeping her off her feet for a while, but…” Her mouth twists. “She might have to quit the company. I think she was planning on staying at least into her second trimester, but now… I don’t know.”

The words hang there, heavy and looming.

The idea of Biancaquitting balletdoesn’t quite compute.

"She’ll be okay," Evelina says again, her voice hushed.

It's time. The crowd of dancers begins to trail inside. Vaughn hangs back a second, studying me carefully.

“You okay?”

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