Page 55 of Savage Ruin
“I’m not so sure. He was so stubborn and wanted everything done a certain way, which meant we argued quite a bit,” I state with a laugh. “We’d try to outdo each other with logic to explain why one of us was more right than the other. Suddenly, his big belly would start shaking and he’d be laughing instead of arguing.”
Thiago brow furrows. “Big belly? Marcos didn’t have a big belly.”
“In the metaverse he did,” I quip, and describe the avatar Marcos used in our lab. “I think he thought I would be more at ease. It was a shock to see him in the video that morning and realize he was handsome. I wouldn’t have guessed it was him, but he exudes intensity whether he’s an avatar or an image on a video.”
The emcee announces the singer, and Thiago’s eyes light up. “Dance with me.”
On the dance floor, he swings me into his arms. The woman on stage is singing the cover song for Adele’s “Oh My God.” It starts out slow, but switches quickly to something fast and upbeat. She’s singing about a woman having fun and letting go. I throw my head back and laugh.
He lets my hands slide out of his, and I dance in a circle by myself for a minute. I dance back into his arms, and he expertly twirls me. I raise my hands in the air and dance around him, my body barely brushing his with each circle. The song starts to come to end, and I slip back into his arms.
“Thank you,” I say breathlessly. “I needed this.”
His strong arms wrap around me, and we sway to the slower song they’re playing now. “I’ve been waiting to dance with you since the ball,” he admits, his voice husky. “This was worth the wait. Do you want to keep dancing or go back to the table for a drink?”
Enraptured with this version of Thiago, I can’t bear to return to the table. “Dancing, definitely.” Feeling free and unencumbered, and a little tipsy, for the first time in ages, all I want is to dance the night away with him.
The songs vary wildly, but most of them stay in the realm of romantic. The singer switches to a new song from Sofia Carson, called “It’s Only Love, Nobody Dies,” and I turn my back to his front to dance. I love this song, but I can’t stare into his dark eyes when she’s singing about kissing.
It makes me want to sing the same words to him, to kiss me now, but it wouldn’t be fair. I shove it all away and lose myself in the dancing. He wraps his body around mine, front to back, together and apart, face to face, and everything in between.
After another hour, I’m exhausted. “I’m going to the restroom. Meet back at the table?”
He signals to someone off to the side, and I swivel around to see the female bodyguard I saw on Grayson’s yacht the other day. “She’ll be nearby if you need her.”
The haze of the night lifts, and reality starts to creep back in. “Thank you,” I tell her on my way to the bathroom.
“Absolutely,” she replies with a smile. After sweeping the restroom, she positions herself outside the door. “It’s all clear.”
With all the dancing, I expect to see a mess in the mirror. My face is flushed, but surprisingly, most of my makeup is still intact. I use the restroom and reapply my lip gloss. When I come out, she’s waiting to escort me to Thiago.
“Here,” he says, handing me a glass of water. “Do you want to stay longer or leave?”
I sway slightly and laugh. “I’m ready to go,” I confirm after taking a sip.
His arm swings around my waist and he pulls me in close. When we get outside, I hear the music start up again, and I can’t help swaying to the beat. He smiles down at me and shakes his head.
A few minutes later, he glances at his watch. “It’s been too long.”
The female bodyguard from earlier is standing with us. “I agree. Let’s get you both back inside. I’ll call Thomas and let him know we have a situation.”
She steps in front of me and twirls her finger, but before we can turn to go back inside, she’s collapsing. Her body falls forward, and I automatically reach out and grab her. Vacant eyes stare back at me, and I start screaming. I lay her on the ground. Blood pools around her head.
Thiago pulls the gun from her holster, grabs my hand, and jerks me up.
“Wait,” I scream, and bend down to get the radio in her hand.
When I stand up, something whizzes by my face and strikes the brick next to me. Thiago’s arm comes around my head the same time the brick splinters, sending shards in every direction. I hear him grunt. Did he get hit? Or shot? Panicking, I run my hands over his body.
“Get inside now,” he orders, pushing me in front of him.
The doorman is bravely holding the door open for us. When we get close, Thiago takes the radio and shoves me through but doesn’t follow.
“I need to check on the other guard. I’ll be right back.”
“NO! Thiago!” I scream, but he’s gone.
Please, please don’t let anything happen to him, I keep praying silently over and over.
