Page 110 of One Spicy Summer

Done.

As I reach Madame’s office, I hear her voice, urgent: "You need to tell her." I freeze.

She’s talking to someone, but when I peek in, she’s alone, holding a framed photo.

Weird.

Maybe she's just talking to herself.

I bump the door, and it creaks open. "Sorry! I didn’t mean to interrupt."

Madame quickly sets the frame down, smoothing her skirt. "Oh, it’s nothing. Just reviewing the schedule."

"Do you need me to work more?"

"Not at all. You’ve got better things to do than live here." She smiles warmly and guides me down the hall.

Stepping into the old studio, nostalgia punches me in the chest, the smell of salt, echoes of crying students, Madame’s sharp voice... all still here.

"Have you thought about picking up where you left off?" The question slams into me.

"I’m sorry, what?"

"Have you thought about dancing again?"

I stammer. "I-I’m too old, "

"You’re never too old to chase your dream, darling girl," she says, cupping my cheek with gentle fingers.

Then she turns and walks away.

I watch her go, heart thudding.

Maybe…

Maybe it’s not too late after all.

Smiling, I stash my things, crank up my music, and get to work, cleaning, dancing a little, letting the music pull me back to life.

Chapter Forty-Four

Rygaard

Ever since Rafe called about Keifer crawling out of whatever filthy hole he was hiding in, I started setting the trap. Presley was the bait.

The thought of that bastard watching her made me want to carve out his eyes with a fucking spoon.

He felt me watching him, alright. I could tell, because he ran like the coward he’s always been.

But he didn’t know we got to Kemper first.Paid him a little visit.Rafe and I made sure he'd never forget whose side he was on.

"Man, that guy’s sick,"Kemper sobbed after a few cracked ribs and a broken nose."I just wanted to get my rocks off... but he made us do things I can’t even say out loud..."

I didn’t buy a goddamn word.

He’s just another piece of filth circling the drain. And when Keifer’s dead, Kemper’s next.

I’ve never killed anyone before, but the moment I heard all the vile, disgusting things they did to my girl, claiming sheasked for it, they were as good as dead.

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