Slash flipped her gaze towards her as the woman moved into view.
No way. Could it be?
“Melody, is that you?” the woman repeated.
I haven’t heard that name in years.
“Jilly?” Slash asked.
“Yes, it’s me!” Jilly hugged her. “Damn, girl, you look good.”
“You too,” Slash said. “I go by Slash now.”
“Love the name,” Jilly said.
“Did you dance together somewhere?” Deb asked.
“We knew each other a while ago,” Jilly replied.
It had been fifteen years since Slash had seen her one-time foster sister. Jilly Linder hadn’t changed much. Her ebony skin shimmered in a light dusting of gold glitter, and false eyelashes made her warm brown eyes pop.
Jilly was a little taller than Slash, a fuller-figured woman with long, black hair. What Slash remembered most about her friend was that she had the heart of an angel.
“I tried to find you,” Slash said. “But I couldn’t.”
“I keep a low profile,” Jilly said. “You got time to catch up tonight?”
“I’d love that,” Slash replied.
Jilly gave Slash’s outfit a stern look-over. “You’re not auditioning in that, are you?”
Slash had worn the same outfit as the night before. Black leather halter top and hot pants.
Slash glanced down at herself. “Guess not.”
“We’ll find you something,” Jilly said.
Five minutes later, Slash was ready. Between Jilly and Deb, they’d found her a tiny string bikini that covered the essentials. The scant outfit provided an eyeful without her having to remove the top. It was the five-inch stilettos that worried her.
“What’s the deal on topless?” Slash asked.
“Most of us do,” Jilly said.
“Bigger tips when you show the nips,” Deb said, and she and Jilly laughed.
“You can lose the top on stage,” Jilly said.
“Thanks for your help.” Before Slash left the dressing room, she flipped her head over, ran her fingers through her hair, then flipped it back. She glanced in the mirror, eyeing her now-mussed hair.
Then, she headed toward the stage entrance.
Despite what she was about to do, her pulse hadn’t quickened. She had every confidence she could pull this off.
All four stages were connected with small walkways that led from one stage to the next. The farther out a dancer walked, the larger the audience, which is why Karen was placing her on the main stage.
One shot to get this gig.
It had been a lifetime since she’d danced, and she vowed she’d never do it again. Tonight, however, she was doing it in the name of justice, so she held her head high, and she stepped into the spotlight.
