Page 30 of Downfall

When the waitress makes her way to me, a seductive smile on her face, I wave her off and turn to Ryan, making it clear she can fuck off.

“Here,” I say, handing Ryan a roll of ones and hundreds from my suit pocket. “Get in as many lap dances as you can before you tie yourself to that—”

“Don’t say it, man,” he cuts me off. “I know how you feel about Hazel, and believe me, she feels the same about you. But it would make my life a lot easier if you two would at least pretend to get along.”

“I’ll get along with her just fine if you make sure she signs the prenup.”

“This again? If it makes that much to you, have the lawyers draw something up. I’ll look it over and think about it. That’s all I can promise right now.”

“Fine,” I concede. This is the most I’ve gotten in months of bringing it up, so I’ll take it. I already have the file in my email from our lawyers, but I’ll forward it tomorrow.

Ryan’s gaze catches on the ass of a dancer walking by and he stands, following her like a puppy to get a dance. I watch as a slow smile transforms her face from flirty to seductive, and she grabs his hand, leading him to the back of the club toward the private booths. I can only hope that one of these women will make him realize Hazel isn’t his only option.

Just as he disappears down the hallway, a new song starts, and my skin tingles. Abby takes the stage in a deep green lingerie set that I sent her last month. It looks amazing on her, just like I knew it would. Watching her dance has become a secret pleasure of mine. I pay off the bouncers to keep a dark back table available for me, and the waitresses know my drink of choice and that I tip well. No one knows my name, and Abby has never seen me here. But since I’ve been sending her weekly gifts over the past six months, I’ve enjoyed seeing her wear the clothes, the lingerie.

The building she lives in belongs to me, so it’s easy to leave my packages for her. For months, I considered putting cameras inside her apartment, but I manage with the cameras in the hallway outside her front door and only mics inside. And a tracker on her phone, of course.

My siren moves with such grace, controlling her body the way only natural dancers can. Her father forcing her to go to school for anything but dance was idiotic. Anyone with half a brain can see that dancing is what she’s meant to do.

Dropping to her knees, she throws her head back, tossing her hair and pauses, missing a beat in her routine as her eyes meet mine. She recovers quickly, forcing herself to focus. But her gaze lands on me each time she turns our direction, and by the end of the song, when she moves to the next stage, her eyes are wide and her legs are shaking.

Chapter 24

Abby

Ican’tbelieveit’sactually him. It’s been so long, and he’s here, where he’s known I work this entire time. Did he know I’d be here, or was he hoping I wouldn’t be?

What the fuck am I supposed to do?

God, he looks amazing, too. Of course he does. Sitting at our largest VIP table, surrounded by attractive men, and all I could see was him. But he couldn’t take his eyes off of me either. I was the one on stage, I guess. Maybe he doesn’t even recognize me.

Fuck.

I have two more dances on the side stages before my set is complete, and I’ll just have to avoid his table when I go out on the floor. It shouldn’t be a problem if I stay on the smaller side of the club.

My routine goes smoothly for the next two songs, then I hightail it to the dressing room to catch my breath. Throwing tight, black boy shorts and an ultra cropped tank over my lingerie, I take three deep breaths. I can do this. He’s just a guy. He left just like all the rest. And he’s not worth this anxiety.

I give myself a nod in the dressing room mirror, steeling myself, then walk confidently out the door on my six-inch platforms.

And he’s there. Waiting in the back hallway, his navy suit tailored perfectly to his body and his jade green eyes boring into me, is Kolson. The last man I slept with, the demon I never saw coming.

“Hi, siren,” he murmurs, leaning casually against the wall of the hallway with his hands in his pants pockets.

“Really, Kolson? I don’t really think you get to call me that after all this time. What are you doing here?” Fuck him. He doesn’t get to come into this club and soak my panties with two words.

“Best friend’s bachelor party. Did you ever work with Hazel? They’ve been together since she worked here, and they’re getting married next week, but—”

“He’s a fucking idiot,” we finish his thought together.

He chuckles and I frown, looking away.

“How about a dance?” he asks, and my eyes snap to his. He can’t be serious. When I don’t respond, he continues, stepping forward and running his hand down my arm. “A private dance. As long as you want, and I’ll pay as much as you ask.”

Willing my confidence to return, I say, “Five grand for half an hour.” I expect him to laugh. Anyone else would.

“Let’s make it a solid hour for ten.” Grabbing my hand, he takes a step toward the private rooms, and I follow, unable to do anything else.

I don’t want his money, but I am definitely intrigued by the changes I see. He’s a different person than he was back then, and I find myself wanting to know everything that’s happened. Including the reason he left.

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